Experimental deployment of wireless sensor network for radiation monitoring

Abstract

To understand and predict the chemical behavior of fuels, coolants, fission products and structural materials Radio Chemistry Laboratory (RCL) has been established at Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research. RCL has structured facilities like hot cells, lead mini cells, radioactive sodium chemistry loops, glove boxes, etc., in which radioactive materials are being handled. This necessitates the radiation monitors to be placed in various locations of RCL to ensure that the ambient radiation is within the stipulated level. To reduce the intricacy involved in cabling, the wireless sensor networking technology has been introduced. This paper describes about the experiments conducted to check the feasibility of establishing wireless sensor network for radiation monitoring and to test signal penetration across the lead and concrete shielding of cells at RCL.