무선통신을 이용한 방사선측정 시스템 개발

Developement of Radiation Measuring System using Wireless Communication

GM 계수관을 방사선 검출기로서 사용하고, 검출기의 신호를 디지탈 펄스로 변환하는 펄스처리회로와 디지탈 통신방식의 하나인 FSK(frequency shift keying) 변복조회로를 설계하였으며, 휴대용 무전기로 송수신되는 방사선 검출신호를 방사선량과 방사선량율로 개인용 컴퓨터의 화면에 표시하는 단일채널 무선 방사선측정 시스템을 개발하고 성능을 평가하였다. 성능검증 실험에서 펄스를 입력한 경우와 검출기에 방사선을 조사시킨 경우 펄스처리회로에서 약 5V의 동일한 디지탈 펄스가 출력되었고, 무선통신계통에서도 입력과 출력이 왜곡없이 송수신되고 있음을 확인하였다. 검출기에 표준방사선원(Cs-137)으로 방사선을 조사시켜 선량률을 측정한 결과 측정오차는 조사된 선량률의 10% 이내를 나타내었다. 본 시스템은 국내에선 처음으로 설계되었으며, 향후 다중채널로 구성하여 실시간 개인방사선피폭선량계, 방사선감시기 등 여러 용도의 방사선측정기에 응용함으로써 방사선방어에 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

Radiation measuring system using wireless communication method with single channel has been diveloped and tested. In this system, radiation signals from GM tube are transformed into digital pulses in pulse processing circuit and modulated in FSK (frequency shift keying) circuit for digital communication and then wirelessly transmitted to a receiving unit. The digital pulses received are then demodulated in FSK circuit and converted into radiation dose/dose rate in the data acquisition unit to display on the screen of a personal computer. The performance of this system was evaluated by using both a pulse generator and a standard radiation source(Cs-137). In both cases, digital pulses with 5V were observed in pulse processing circuit without distortion of their shape through wireless communication system. The experimental results of radiation measurement by this system after several test-irradiation of GM detector to a standard radiation source(Cs-137), showed good agreement with irradiation dose rate within 10% difference, and proved that this system could be effectively utillized as radiation measuring instrument. It is expected that this wireless radiation measuring system developed for the first time in Korea, can be used as a radiation monitor as well as a personal dosimeter if we can further improve this system to adopt wireless multichannel communication system.