Automation of a pneumatic system by controlling a microcomputer equipped with a custom add on board for neutron activation analysis

An automated sample transfer system associated with a 3 × 592 GBq Am---Be neutron source has been constructed at the Ankara Nuclear Research and Training Center (ANRTC) for Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Cyclic Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (CINAA). The pneumatic transfer system is controlled by an IBM PS/1 personal computer which is equipped with a custom add-on board for relevant hardware and control software written in Turbo Pascal. The system computer interactively works with a Multichannel Analyzer (MCA) for proper data acquisition. The sample transfer system also runs manually. The design and performance of the hardware and software are discussed.