Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples System

Steve Padalino &Ed PogozelskiSUNY Geneseo

•Max speeds of 35 mph (16 m/s)•Over 400 test runs•Working system installed at NRL•Modular components•Computer or manual control

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

System characteristics include:

•Max speeds of 35 mph (16 m/s)•PVC tubing•Flow-driven (skin drag)•Pneumatic drivers can operate in “push” or “pull” mode.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Air flow

Air flow

Air flow

Air flow

System Overview:

•PVC tubing is 4 inch nominal diameter•Any length can be accommodated•Curves are 4 feet radius, 45 or 90 Tube diameter of curves is slightly oversized

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Tubing subsystem:

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Testing &component validation

Component Validation Test bench

•Trial runs of up to160 ft•Trial runs include horizontal and vertical curves (both up and down)•Trial runs include the ability to “park” the carrier at a desired location.•Working system in regular use at the Naval Research Lab in Washington DC

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Testing and validation

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

NRL Mercury LabReaction chamberwith Raptors tube visible in foreground.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Driver subsystems

High Volume ACPneumatic Driver

Standard 16V DCPneumatic Driver

Communication cables use standard USB connectors

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Valve subsystems

Valves are used to restrict the motion of air or the carrier in the tubes.

Communication uses DB9 connectors

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Valve subsystems

•Valve control has separate “open” and “close” datalines.•Valve subunits include microswitches to verify “fully open” or “fully closed”.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Optical Detection subsystem

Mounted set of prototype photo sensorsPhoto sensors are used to

monitor the position of the carrier during a run.

Subsystem consists of an emitter/detector pair.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Optical Detection subsystem

Current modelphoto sensors

Detectors include an onboard latch with signal reset.

Photodiodes are amplified by saturated transistor for crisp “Yes/No” status.

Communication uses USB connectors.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Magnetic Endgate subsystem

Positioned near counting station; seals the tube until carrier is ready for final delivery

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Control system

•Redundant control system allows automatic computer control (via LabVIEW) or manual control.•Modular subsystems (drivers, valves, photo sensors) can easily be added or removed.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Manual control hardware: rear view

PhotosensorOutputs

Valve Outputs

Driver Outputs

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Manual control hardware: front view

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Manual control hardware: front view

Main Panel

•Controls system power

•Allows switching from manual to computer control

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Manual control hardware: front view

Pneumatic Driver Panel

•When in “manual” mode, allows the user to operate up to two pneumatic drivers.•Status indicators function whether in “manual” or “computer” mode.•Can also operate a magnetic endgate.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Manual control hardware: front view

Valve Control Panel

•When in “manual” mode, allows the user to open or close a valve.•Status indicators function whether in “manual” or “computer” mode.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Manual control hardware: front view

Photosensor Panel

•Allows operation (reset) of up to 4 sets of photo sensors•Status indicators function whether in “manual” or “computer” mode.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Automatic Computer Control

•Duplicates Manual Controls•Monitors status of all subsystems, even when in “manual” mode.•Easily configurable for new subsystems•Includes visual system overview window•Allows user scripting for timed system control

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Configuration dialog window

•Allows user to specify installed hardware by drag-and-click•Changing hardware requires restart of Raptors system, but not of the computer itself•Hardware interface uses NI 6501-Daqs•Can add any number of Daqs

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

Scripting dialog window

•Simple scripting language allows sequential operation of all subsystems.•Operation can be timed or event driven.•The onscreen dialog displays current script status•Scripts can be written in any text editor (MS Word, notepad, etc.)

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive Samples

System overview window

•Shows pictorial view of status of attached subsystems•Graphic must be manually generated when system layout is finalized.

Rapid Pneumatic Transportation of

Radioactive SamplesPossible LLNL ConfigurationTarget Chamber

Driver Driver

Driver

CountingStation

Valves

Sensors

Magnetic End Gate