Wireless environmental radiation monitoring with ShortLINK (by Saphymo): up to 5km sensor network range and ultra-low power consumption

Saphymo’s ShortLINK is a wireless environmental radiation monitoring system with a range of up to 5 kilometer. The system is designed for connecting low-power sensors or instruments by radio.

The ShortLINK system is a fully autonomous and private network, this makes the system independent on the existence of an area covering cellular infrastructure (e.g. GSM). Because of this independence the system is robust without monthly data transfer costs.

Due to its ultra-long battery life up to 10 years and low operational cost, extremely cost-efficient sensor networks covering up to 5 km distance can be operated.

The ShortLINK system consists of the following components:

• ShortLINK radio module which is connected to the sensor or instrument. Examples are the  GammaTRACER () and MiniTRACE () S100R / S10R
• mobile ShortLINK receiver including external antenna
• optional: automatic online data management software DataEXPERT (). DataEXPERT automatically processes and stores incoming data, gives a visual and / or acoustic alarm, creates chart visualizations and has reporting functions

ShortLINK’s ultra-low power consumption enables applying battery-operated systems, thus no cabling equipment or solar panel is necessary. This offers a new dimension of flexibility concerning the location and moving of sensors.

For longer distances the SkyLINK () radio system is available (typ. up to 100 km). SkyLINK offers similar features as ShortLINK, but disposes of a highly sophisticated receiver technology which is necessary to cover large distances using as low transmission power as described here.

advantages

• autonomous and private wireless network:
  • independent of existing networks
  • no data transfer costs
• ultra-low power consumption:
  • low operational cost
  • low costs and high flexibility concerning the location and moving of sensors
• turnkey system:
  • set-up time <15 minutes
  • usable as mobile monitoring system for emergency management

scope

• environmental radiation monitoring nuclear plants
• dose rate monitoring nuclear plants
• decommissioning of nuclear plants
• border control
• emergency response
• homeland security

characteristics

• Operating distance up to 5 km line-of-sight (LOS)
• Operating frequency 400-500 MHz, possible to run on ISM-band, 433 MHz. Thus no special license required.
• Narrow-band phase-modulation
• CSMA (carrier sense multiple access) protocol scheme
• High frequency stability (ultra low drift crystal oscillator)
• Output power 10 mW, optional up to 200mW
• Operating temperature -40 … +60 degrees C

references

• ITN, Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Sacavém, Portugal, Sept. 2002
• Environmental Protection Agency Baden-Württemberg (Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz Baden-Württemberg), Abt. 3, Karlsruhe, Germany, 5 ShortLINK systems, 2 SkyLINK systems, since 2000, resp. Dec. 2005, Dec. 2006, 2007
• CIEMAT, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid, Spain, Dec. 2005
• Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB, Östhammar, Sweden, Dec. 2006
• Ringhals AB, Väröbacka, Sweden, Dec. 2006
• OKG Aktiebolag, Oskarshamn, Sweden, Dec. 2006
• VKTA, Verein für Kernverfahrenstechnik Rossendorf e.V., Dresden, Germany (Nuclear Research Center), Dec. 2006 and 2010
• Kernkraftwerk Unterweser (KKU, Unterweser NPP), Stadland, Germany, Oct. 2007
• FZ Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe / Research Center Karlsruhe (now: KIT) -Germany, Oct. 2007
• Chernobyl NPP, Slavutich, Ukraine, Dec. 2007
• Hahn-Meitner Institut, Berlin / Research Center, Nov. 2007
• GIE INTRA, France, Dec. 2007
• Ministry for Emergency Situations (MES), Moscow, Dec. 2008
• Neckarwestheim NPP, Germany, Dec. 2008
• US EPA Emergency Response Team, Cincinnati, OH, USA, Dec. 2010
• Lingen Nuclear Power Plant, Germany, Dec. 2010
• Ministry for Emergency Situations, Oskamen, Kazachstan, April 2011

Do you want to know more about the ShortLINK of Saphymo?
Look at the datasheet () or contact PEO.

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MiniTRACE () connected via radio with ShortLINK system

GammaTRACER () connected via radio with ShortLINK system

GammaTRACER () connected via radio with ShortLINK system