Radon detection system

A radon detection system comprising:

• first means for measuring an airborne radon level;
• second means for monitoring at least one additional parameter indicative of possible tampering;
• and
• recording means connected to said first and second means for recording on a common recording medium the measured radon level and the contemporaneous value of said additional parameter.

A radon detection method comprising the steps of:

• measuring an airborne radon level;
• monitoring at least one additional parameter indicative of possible tampering;
• and
• recording on a common recording medium the measured radon level and the contemporaneous value of said additional parameter.

A radon detection system comprising:

• first means for measuring an airborne radon level;
• second means for measuring a plurality of additional parameters indicative of possible tampering;
• recording means for recording the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters;
• and
• control means connected to said first and second means and to said recording means for causing the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters to be recorded at predetermined intervals, said control means being responsive to an abnormal value of at least one of said additional parameters to reduce the length of said intervals in order to increase the recording rate when possible tampering in indicated.

A radon detection method comprising the steps of:

• measuring an airborne radon level;
• monitoring a plurality of additional parameters indicative of possible tampering;
• in the absence of an indication of possible tampering, recording the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters at a first recording rate;
• in response to possible tampering indicated by an abnormal value of at least one of said additional parameters, recording the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters at a second recording rate greater than said first recording rate.

A radon detection method comprising the steps of:

• measuring an airborne radon level;
• contemporaneously monitoring at least one additional parameter indicative of possible tampering;
• and
• validating the measured radon level by determining from the contemporaneous value of said additional parameter whether tampering is likely to have occurred.

A radon detection system for continuously monitoring airborne levels of radon gas and of at least one airborne radon decay product, comprising:

• an air flow path;
• means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path;
• a particulate filter in said air flow path for removing and collecting at least one radon decay product from the air flow;
• a first detector for detecting the radon decay product collected by said particulate filter;
• and
• a second detector for detecting radon gas in the filtered air flow exiting from said particulate filter.

A radon gas detection system comprising:

• an air flow path;
• means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path;
• a detector in said air flow path for detecting radon gas in said air flow;
• and
• bypass means in said air flow path for selectively causing the air flow to bypass said detector, said bypass means comprising an air flow bypass line connected in parallel with said detector and a valve for selectively directing the air flow through the detector or through the bypass line.

A radon detection system comprising;

• an air flow path;
• means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path;
• a detector in said air flow path for detecting radon gas in said air flow;
• a filter for removing radon gas from the air flow;
• and
• means for selectively connecting said filter into the air flow path at a point upstream of said detector relative to the air flow direction;
• wherein at least a portion of the air flow path upstream of said detector relative to the air flow direction includes first and second branches, said first branch including the filter and said second branch bypassing the filter, and wherein said means for selectively connecting the filter into the air flow comprises a valve for selectively directing the air flow through the first branch or through the second branch.

A radon detection system comprising:

• an air flow path;
• means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path;
• a detector for detecting radon gas in said air flow;
• a filter for removing radon gas from said air flow;
• and
• a valve in said air flow path for selectively directing the air flow into a first branch, a second branch, or a third branch, said first branch including said detector and said filter connected in series with the filter located upstream of the detector relative to the air flow direction, said second branch including said detector and bypassing said filter, and said third branch bypassing said detector and said filter.

A method for operating a radon detection system comprising a particulate filter, means for causing air to flow through said particulate filter at a predetermined flow rate, and a detector for detecting at least one radon decay product collected by said filter, said method comprising the steps of:

• during a first time interval, causing the air to flow through said particulate filter at a first flow rate;
• and
• during a second time interval, causing the air to flow through said particulate filter at a second flow rate;
• said first flow rate being greater than said second flow rate in order to provide greater detection sensitivity during said first time interval than during said second time interval.