Dataset: Sparging Chamber Testing: radon activity - experimental

Name: Sparging chamber test results of radon activity from laboratory experiments to optimize chamber configuration for Radon-222 analysis
Published: 2020-10-19
Keywords: oceans

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Temporal Extent: 2010-09-21 - 2012-08-02

Project:

Collaborative Research: Development of a Submersible, Autonomous Rn-222 Survey System (Submersible Rn-222)

Principal Investigator:

Richard N. Peterson (Coastal Carolina University)

Co-Principal Investigator:

John Breier (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Nancy Copley (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

Version Date:

2020-10-19

Restricted:

Validated:

Current State:

Preliminary and in progress

Sparging chamber test results of radon activity from laboratory experiments to optimize chamber configuration for Radon-222 analysis

Abstract:

These data were collected in order to optimize a new method for degassing dissolved radon-222 from water. The general premise is the use of a sparging chamber (‘Bell’) that is deployed underwater and uses bubbles to degas the radon. This dataset includes the experimental (Bell) results. See also the control dataset (https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/826844). See methodology outlined in Peterson et al., 2013 (Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry). The sparging chamber is connected to a commercially-available radon-in-air monitor (RAD7; Durridge Co.) via a closed air loop. Air exiting the RAD7 circulates to the bottom of the sparging chamber where it enters via aquarium bubblers. The bubbles rise through the sparging chamber and accumulate in a headspace, from which air is pumped through desiccant back to the RAD7. Our control to which we compare the sparging chamber is the commercially-available RAD-Aqua (Durridge Co.) which sprays a water sample into a chamber rather than using bubbles. Otherwise, the setups are similar. Data contained herein are various laboratory testing configurations to optimize dimensions of the sparging chamber, number and type of bubblers, and any benefits from adding an additional sprayer capability to the top of the sparging chamber. All configurations tested are accompanied by a number of replicates.

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Description

These data were collected in order to optimize a new method for degassing dissolved radon-222 from water. This dataset includes the experimental (Bell) results. See also the control dataset (https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/826844). The general premise is the use of a sparging chamber (‘Bell’) that is deployed underwater and uses bubbles to degas the radon.

Methods & Sampling

See methodology outlined in Peterson et al., 2013 (Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry). The sparging chamber is connected to a commercially-available radon-in-air monitor (RAD7; Durridge Co.) via a closed air loop. Air exiting the RAD7 circulates to the bottom of the sparging chamber where it enters via aquarium bubblers. The bubbles rise through the sparging chamber and accumulate in a headspace, from which air is pumped through desiccant back to the RAD7.

Our control to which we compare the sparging chamber is the commercially-available RAD-Aqua (Durridge Co.) which sprays a water sample into a chamber rather than using bubbles. Otherwise, the setups are similar.

Data contained herein are various laboratory testing configurations to optimize dimensions of the sparging chamber, number and type of bubblers, and any benefits from adding an additional sprayer capability to the top of the sparging chamber. All configurations tested are accompanied by a number of replicates.

Data Processing Description

BCO-DMO Processing Notes:
- data submitted in 57 Excel files, Sheet name "Bell_2675" and an Excel file "Sample Summary.xlsx", sheet "Run Summary", and extracted to csv
- the 57 files were concatenated and joined with the summary file, adding columns: Date, Chamber, Bubblers, Sprayer_Status, Water_Source, Bell_RAD7_SN, Exchanger_RAD7_SN.
- added conventional header with dataset name, PI name, version date
- modified parameter names to conform with BCO-DMO naming conventions
- added 'ISO_DateTIme' column, re-formatted date from m/d/yyyy to yyyy-mm-dd
- in 'Chamber' column, replaced " with -inch
- replaced #DIV/0! with nd for /no data'
- formatted date-time column to ISO_DateTime (yyyy-mm-ddTHH:MM:SS)

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-1029223
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-1028990

Deployments

None available yet

Instruments

RAD-7 Radon Detector

Supplied Name: RAD7 radon-in-air monitors (Durridge Co.)

Supplied Description:

Data presented here were analyzed with 4 different RAD7 radon-in-air monitors (Durridge Co.). These instruments were calibrated annually by the manufacturer. Relevant serial numbers and corresponding Sniff Mode Sensitivities (in pCi/L) are:
2172: 0.236
2604: 0.383
2675: 0.224
2685: 0.401

Instrument Type

Generic Name: RAD-7 Radon Detector

Acronym: RAD7

Generic Description:

The DURRIDGE RAD7 is a radon and thoron detector. The RAD7 is a computer-driven electronic detector, with pre-programmed set-ups for common tasks. It's built to withstand everyday use in the field. A rugged case encloses the detector, which is self-contained and self-sufficient. The RAD7 comes with a built-in air pump, rechargeable batteries, and a wireless infrared printer. (https://durridge.com/products/rad7-radon-detector/)

Temperature Logger

Supplied Name: HOBO water level data logger (Onset Corp.)

Supplied Description:

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Temperature Logger

Generic Description:

Records temperature data over a period of time.

Parameters

Date and time formats are described in python strftime() syntax.

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
resource_name	file name of originally submitted Excel file; suffix -1 indicates first sheet; suffix -2 indicates second sheet	unitless	file_name
Date	ISO-formatted date when data was logged (yyyy-mm-dd)	unitless	date
Chamber	description of the sparging chamber: height and width??	unitless	treatment
Bubblers	?number and type of bubblers: default = ??; micro = ??; bubblestone = an aqurium air stone was used to create bubbles	unitless	treatment
Sprayer_Status	indicates whether a spray chamber was employed or not	unitless	treatment
Water_Source	water source; tap water ; high to low = ??; withers swash = ??	unitless	treatment
Bell_RAD7_SN	serial number of Bell RAD7 Radon detector	unitless	inst_serial_numb
Exchanger_RAD7_SN	serial number of the Exchanger RAD7 Radon detector	unitless	inst_serial_numb
Test	RAD7 test (cycle) number	unitless	replicate
ISO_DateTime	ISO-formatted date and time when data was logged (yyyy-mm-ddTHH:MM:SS)	unitless	ISO_DateTime_Local
Year	2 digit year during which data was logged	None	year
Month	2 digit month during which data was logged	None	month_local
Day	2 digit day of the month during which data was logged	None	day_local
Hour	2 digit hour of the day (24 hour clock) during which data was logged	None	hour_local
Min	2 digit minute of the hour during which data was logged	None	minute_local
Tot_Count	Total numbers of counts logged by the RAD7 during the cycle	counts	count
Live_Time	Time during which active counting occurred for the cycle	minutes	time_elapsed
Win_A_pcnt	Percentage of total counts falling in Window A (radon sniff mode)	percent	radioactive_isotope_conc
Win_B_pcnt	Percentage of total counts falling in Window B (thoron 1 window)	percent	radioactive_isotope_conc
Win_C_pcnt	Percentage of total counts falling in Window C (radon Po-214 window)	percent	radioactive_isotope_conc
Win_D_pcnt	Percentage of total counts falling in Window D (thoron 2 window)	percent	radioactive_isotope_conc
HV	High voltage level	volts	no_bcodmo_term
HV_duty_cycle	High voltage duty cycle	percent	no_bcodmo_term
Temp	Air temperature within RAD7	degrees Celsius	temp_air
RelHumidity	Relative humidity of sampled air	percent	humidity
Leak_curr	Leakage current	milliAmps	no_bcodmo_term
Batt_Volt	Battery voltage	volts	no_bcodmo_term
Pump_Curr	Air pump current draw	milliAmps	no_bcodmo_term
Flags_Byte	Bit 0 indicates whether pump is in Timed Mode; Bit 1 indicates whether pump is On continuously; Bit 2 is not defined; Bit 3 indicates whether tone is in Geiger mode; Bit 4 indicates whether beeper is activated; Bit 5 indicates if spectrum will print after each test; Bit 6 indicates if there are multiple (recycle) tests; Bit 7 indicates whether RAD7 is in Sniff test mode	unitless	flag
Bq_m3	Radon Concentration in sampled air	becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3)	radioactive_isotope_conc
Error_2sigma	2-sigma uncertainty of the radon concentration in sampled air	becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3)	radioactive_isotope_conc
Units_Byte	Bits 0 and 1 indicate the concentration unit: 00 = counts per minute; 01 = number of counts; 10 = Bq/m3; 11 = pCi/L; Bit 2 through Bit 6 are not defined; Bit 7 indicates the temperature unit (0 = deg. F; 1 = deg. C)	unitless	flag
Elapsed_Time	Amount of time elapsed into the entire measurement	minutes	time_elapsed
Count_Rate_Win_A_cpm	The total counts multiplied by the % in window A (divided by 100); then divided by the Live_Time	counts per minute	radioactive_isotope_conc
Win_A_error	1-sigma uncertainty of the Window A count rate (taken as the square root of the total counts multiplied by the % in window A (divided by 100); all of which is then divided by the Live Time)	counts per minute	radioactive_isotope_conc
Rn_Activity_Air_dpm_L	Radon activity in the air calculated as the count rate in window A divided by the RAD7 Sniff Mode sensitivity; then multiplied by 2.22 to convert from pCi/L to dpm/L	decays/minute/liter (dpm/L)	radioactive_isotope_conc
Air_error	1-sigma uncertainty of the radon activity in the air (taken as column AB divided by the RAD7 Sniff mode sensitivity then multiplied by 2.22 to convert from pCi/L to dpm/L	decays/minute/liter (dpm/L)	radioactive_isotope_conc
Water_Temp	Temperature of the water; measured via an Onset Corp. HOBO water level logger	degrees Celsius	temp
Conversion_Factor	Solubility coefficient for radon; calculated as 0.105+0.405EXP(-0.0502Water Temp)	unitless	no_bcodmo_term
Rn_Activity_Water_dpm_L	Radon activity in the water calculated as the radon activity in air multiplied by the solubility coefficient	decays/minute/liter (dpm/L)	radioactive_isotope_conc
Water_error	1-sigma uncertainty of the radon activity in the water (taken as column AD multiplied by the solubility coefficient	decays/minute/liter (dpm/L)	radioactive_isotope_conc
Smoothed	3-point smoothing function for the radon activity in water	decays/minute/liter (dpm/L)	radioactive_isotope_conc
pcnt_Equilibration	Percentage of radon activity in water measured by the Bell relative to that measured by the Exchanger (control)	percent	no_bcodmo_term

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Dataset: Sparging Chamber Testing: radon activity - experimental