Gamma Radiation Influence on Thermoelectric Powered Wireless Sensors for Dry-Cask Storage

This paper describes using a thermoelectric generator (TEG) to power wireless sensors to monitor spent nuclear fuel during dry-cask storage. This work focuses on testing the wireless sensor circuitry in a gamma radiation environment. A bismuth telluride TEG (HZ-14), DC/DC converter (Linear Technology LTC 3108EDE), and transceiver (EmbedRF) were irradiated at the Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) using a 60Co gamma source with an exposure rate of 170.3 R/min. The thermoelectric voltage and DC/DC converter output voltage was measured before, during, and after gamma radiation using the computer program LabVIEW. A receiver (EmbedRF) with the computer program EmbedRF Desktop Pro recorded the signal count number and relative source strength indicator before, during, and after gamma radiation. It is a goal to understand if the electronics can function properly under gamma radiation. From this analysis it can be determined if the electronic components need to be properly shielded or if radiation hardened devices have been used.