Publications Details

Rapid Sample Insertion/Extraction Systems for Gamma Irradiation

Ketner, Natalie

The Rapid Sample Insertion/Extraction System for Gamma Irradiation, otherwise known as the "rabbit" system, was a four-week long project which included many different aspects such as coding an Arduino, building PVC piping, and 3-D printing the "rabbit" capsules. The "rabbit" system is a system of PVC piping that allows a quick and efficient transfer of materials into and out of one of the irradiation chambers in the Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF) with the use of a 3-D printed "rabbit." This "rabbit" encapsulates material to be irradiated and carries it from a position outside of the irradiation chamber to the basket inside of the chamber. The main purpose of this system is to save time and provide more exact data without any delays that normally occur when a person has to enter the chamber, retrieve data, and then analyze the data. This system should take measurements and retrieve the data instantaneously. The way in which the "rabbit" is sent through the PVC piping is with an advanced bi-directional, high-throughput pneumatic system, or a shop vacuum cleaner. When the vacuum is set to blow or suck then the "rabbit" will be pulled or pushed through the PVC piping to its intended destination and will hit sensors along the sides of the tubing when it reaches the end of the piping. These sensors tell the Arduino that the "rabbit" is finished moving throughout the tubing and stops a timer. Another timer is used to see how long the "rabbit" is being irradiated so when the "rabbit" reaches the sensors in the basket in the irradiation chamber another timer is started and it ends when the sensors no longer detect the "rabbit," which means that it has begun its journey back to the starting point. These times, as well as the temperatures, are the data necessary for the project and must be extremely accurate.