RE: Air Flow Test and Particle Sizing

["Walker, Scottie" <swwalke@sandia.gov>]

Hi Jay:

If you're interested in a qualitative study, NUREG-1400 lists the use of
helium-filled balloons and isostatic bubbles, in addition to smoke tubes and
candles (which you don't want to use).  If you're interested in quantitative
methods, the document lists tracer aerosols and tracer gases.

The tracer gases the NRC lists are hydrogen, helium, carbon-dioxide, sulfur
hexafluoride, refrigerants, perfluorocarbons, ethyl iodide, methane, and a
couple of others.  The gas you use is dependent on the type of measurement
technique you wish to employ.  The report lists a reference to a 1988 PNL
report by Mishima et al.:  PNL-6612, entitled "Health Physics Manual of Good
Practices for the Prompt Detection of Airborne Plutonium in the Workplace."

The NUREG doesn't seem to mention much about tracer aerosols, but I imagine
that DOP aerosols that are used for testing HEPA filters are a possibility.

Hope this helps.

Scottie Walker
External Dosimetry
Sandia National Laboratories
-----Original Message-----
From: Poston, Jay (John) (PEA) [mailto:jposton@guidant.com]
Sent: March 13, 2000 1:38 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Air Flow Test and Particle Sizing


All,

What is the best way to determine the airflow in a large room?  I am
confident that smoke sticks or the like will not do the trick.  We need
something that won't damage the computers and other electronic components in
the area.

Also, what is the best way to determine particle size after the particulate
has deposited on a glass fiber filter?

Thanks in advance for your assistance,
Jay Poston
Voice:	713-218-9312
Fax:	713-218-9332

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