High sensitivity, short measuring time
Portable, all-in-one solution for quick deployment
Fully-featured spectrometry system
Laboratory-grade performances in portable form
Rugged, high IP-rated design for all-weather operation
Simple and intuitive user interface
Automatic activity calculation for multiple isotopes
FOOMON is a compact, fully-integrated instrument specifically conceived for screening of I-131, Cs-134 and Cs-137 accumulated in food samples. Its “on-the-field” design allows deploying the device in any kind of situation, such as routine campaigns or emergency procedures.
The whole device is self-contained in a portable IP67 technical case, for an overall weight < 25 kg. Food samples are placed in 500 ml Marinelli beakers, which are then positioned inside a 1 cm thick lead-shielded well above the detector end cap. The complete setup and deployment of the system takes less than 5 minutes.
The User can manage FOOMON through the user-friendly control and analysis software installed on a rugged, high-IP control tablet, automatically calculating the specific activity and the Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC) of the sample (in Bq/kg). Data are stored locally on the tablet and can be easily reviewed or downloaded for advanced post-processing and analysis.
The measured activity concentration is compared against alarm thresholds specific to each isotope and food group. In case of an alarm, the measurement and alarm status are clearly displayed in the software, which also triggers the acoustic alarm.
The counts-to-activity-concentration conversion coefficients are calculated using dedicated Monte Carlo simulations and validated experimentally.
The MDC achievable in 1 minute, with an average indoor background (100 nSv/h), is as low as about 150 Bq/kg for Cs-137 and Cs-134, and about 90 Bq/kg for I-131. Under the same conditions, MDC as low as about 20 Bq/kg for I-131, and about 30 Bq/kg for Cs-134 and Cs-137, can be achieved in about 10 minutes.
An automatic anomalous background detection algorithm continuously compares the background level measured during the food scan with the stored reference background. If deviations exceed the expected statistical range, the system alerts the operator, indicating a potential anomaly such as non-representative background or contamination from non-target radionuclides. This feature maintains simple operation for routine users while ensuring that abnormal conditions can be promptly communicated to expert personnel.
