EP0228816A1 - Vibratory processing arrangements - Google Patents
Vibratory processing arrangements Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0228816A1 EP0228816A1 EP86309280A EP86309280A EP0228816A1 EP 0228816 A1 EP0228816 A1 EP 0228816A1 EP 86309280 A EP86309280 A EP 86309280A EP 86309280 A EP86309280 A EP 86309280A EP 0228816 A1 EP0228816 A1 EP 0228816A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- synthetic rock
- precursor
- vibratory
- rock precursor
- canister
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 7
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 claims description 57
- 239000002243 precursor Substances 0.000 claims description 52
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 31
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000002901 radioactive waste Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000011236 particulate material Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000003826 uniaxial pressing Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000001354 calcination Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000009969 flowable effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007731 hot pressing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000002927 high level radioactive waste Substances 0.000 abstract description 9
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003125 aqueous solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010923 batch production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005056 compaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004320 controlled atmosphere Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005470 impregnation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001026 inconel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012774 insulation material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002823 nitrates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000844 transformation Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
- G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
- G21F9/28—Treating solids
- G21F9/30—Processing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
- G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
- G21F9/04—Treating liquids
- G21F9/06—Processing
- G21F9/14—Processing by incineration; by calcination, e.g. desiccation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F31/00—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms
- B01F31/57—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms for material continuously moving therethrough
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
- G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
- G21F9/28—Treating solids
- G21F9/30—Processing
- G21F9/301—Processing by fixation in stable solid media
- G21F9/302—Processing by fixation in stable solid media in an inorganic matrix
Definitions
- the present invention relates to vibratory processing arrangements and is particularly concerned with such a processing arrangment applicable to impregnating solid particulate synthetic rock precursor In an active cell with high level radioactive waste. Subsequent hot pressing will cause the formation of synthetic rock in which the waste is immobolised.
- Australian patent application no. AU-B65176/80 (now Patent 531,250) describes a hot uniaxial pressing process including embodiments in which a canister having a generally cylindrical wall of bellows-like formation is used to contain the supply material to be pressed and while heating is maintained pressure is applied by a hydraulic press.
- the synthetic rock product is formed as the bellows like canister is axially compressed.
- Patent 524,883 describes a development of the hot uniaxial pressing in which the pressing is conducted in an upward direction against a fixed top abutment in the press.
- synthetic rock precursor is in the form of a fine powder and high-level radioactive waste is a liquid which must be impregnated into the powder in the active cell and pressing must also take place in an active cell.
- Extremely reliable mechanical handling methods and equipment are required since it is desired for the equipment to operate for tens of years with servicing and repairs conducted only through remote manipulators.
- the present invention is directed to processing arrangements and corresponding apparatus which can facilitate active cell processes which are highly reliable and conducted with equipment which is intrinsically relatively simple so that long working life and maintenance with remote manipulators can be provided.
- the process can also be operated with paths of different configuration and indeed can be operated in a batch process in which the vibratory conveying means causes the particulate precursor to move around within a suitable vessel as it is being sprayed with radioactive waste liquid.
- a suitable vessel for example, a generally square trough like vessel may be used and the vibratory conveyor means can cause the particulate material to circulate around the trough.
- One very important embodiment of the invention is one in which heat is applied to the impregnated synthetic rock precursor thereby maintaining a substantially dry state and causing evaporation of water thereby leaving the radioactive material impregating the waste.
- the level of heating is preferably relatively low e.g. 300° C whereby the powder can remain in a flowable state and components of the radioactive waste which are volatile at higher temperatures remain substantially in the synthetic rock.
- the conveyor may be inclined either upwardly or downwardly or may be horizontal. This is dictated by the physical form of the precursor.
- the invention is implemented in a generally trough like vibratory conveyor and has a vibrating element applied near its upstream end, its downstream end being supported in a flexible mounting and remaining substantially stationary.
- a series of spray heads are spaced along the trough-like conveyor.
- the synthetic rock precursor is formed into granules having an improved pourability and packing density compared with the particles of synthetic rock precursor: it has been found that use of this aspect of the invention permits very effective impregnation of such granules with highly uniform dispersion of radioactive components through the final synthetic rock produced after a hot uniaxial pressing process.
- a method of preparing synthetic rock precursor for a hot uniaxial pressing process comprising passing the material into an upstream end of an elongated downwardly inclined tubular duct, establishing vibration of the tubular duct whereby the particulate material advances progressively and applying high level heating so as to calcine the particulate material, and discharging the calcined material at the downstream end of the apparatus.
- the apparatus is arranged to provide an operating temperature of about 7 50 C .
- the calcining apparatus preferably has a variable frequency vibration unit which preferably is directed to actuate vibrations at the downstream end of the tube, the upstream end being mounted in suitable flexible mountings and substantially not moving.
- induction heating can be used for the furnace which can be surrounded by insulating material.
- a most advantageous embodiment is one in which the tubular duct is connected to a gas circulation system whereby a controlled atmosphere can be passed preferably in a counter current arrangement through the tubular duct, whereby volatile radioactive components from the waste can be taken up and removed through suitable filtering arrangements.
- This aspect of the invention permits a reliable and very compact capital effective plant to be devised thereby obviating the complexity and very considerable volume required for an apparatus such as a rotary calciner.
- the capital cost per cubic meter of an active cell is very high and therefore a major impact on the economics of safe disposal of radioactive material may result from use of embodiments of the present invention.
- an arrangement for mixing a titanium powder into a calcined synthetic rock precursor incorporating therein radioactive waste comprises using a tubular vibratory conveyor which is downwardly inclined in the downstream direction and the titanium powder is introduced just downstream of the synthetic rock precursor inlet to the vibratory tube, whereby intimate mixing of the particulate material occurs in a well controlled and continuous manner.
- the discharge can be to a receiving hopper and/or to a bellows-like container whereby the poured material is ready for a hot uniaxial pressing process.
- Various embodiments of the invention can contribute substantially to a most effective plant for high level waste immobilisation in synthetic rock by providing a compact and reliable process substantially avoiding the handling of any solids other than dry pourable solids at each stage.
- a further inventive combination is one in which the above three aspects are used in combination with the further inventive step the subject of the present applicant's co-pending application entitled "Formation of Ceramics" and which is directed to an invention consisting in an apparatus for hot uniaxial pressing of heat resistant metal canisters containing synthetic rock components, the canisters having a generally cylindrical wall incorporating bellows-like formations, the apparatus comprising a hydraulic press having an upwardly acting ram with a refractory facing thereon for supporting the bottom of the canister, a fixed top abutment, a heating zone immediately below the abutment and adapted to surround the bellows container during the hot uniaxial pressing process and a retractable platen adapted to be inserted laterally into the press below the heating zone such that a bellows canister can be placed on the refractory facing and partially compressed at ambient temperature by upward displacement of the hydraulic press, the platen being removable to permit the
- the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises three main stages:
- the waste impregnator A comprises a downwardly inclined trough 1 having flexible mountings 2 and a vibrator 3 at its upstream end, a hood structure 4 and a series of liquid sprays 5 connected to a high level waste supply tube 6.
- the hood structure 4 has, at its upstream end, an inlet hopper 7 through which synthetic rock precursor material in powder or preferably in granulated form is poured. This powder is formed outside the active cell and is not radioactive. By operation of the vibrator 3, the powder continuously and steadily moves down the trough ready for discharge at the open downstream end into a discharge hopper 8.
- a radiant heating unit 9 is located beneath the trough, as schemically shown, and causes evaporation of the aqueous solvent from the radioactive waste at a steady rate.
- the impregnated precursor discharges through the hopper 8 into a discharge tube 10 and into the upstream end of the closed tube 12 of the vibratory calciner B.
- the tube 12 is downwardly inclined and is connected through a downstream flexible coupling 13 to a discharge tube 14.
- Discharge tube 14 has an inlet pipe 15 for reducing gas (typically N 2 /3 Volume t H 2 or H 2 alone).
- the reducing gas passes upwardly through the tube to a gas discharge take off tube 16 near the upstream end. In this way volatile radioactive components produced during the calcining can be taken up and filtered out.
- a furnace 13 surrounds the central region of the tube for causing the synthetic rock precursor to undergo partial mineral transformations and the nitrates associated with the high level waste are decomposed. Minor amounts of volatile radioactive components may be evolved.
- the furnace raises the temperature of the particulate material to about 750 C.
- a flexible mounting 17 supports the tube 12 and at its downstream end a variable frequency vibrator unit 18 is provided together with a flexible mounting 19.
- the vibratory actuator 18 is tuned to provide the desired flow rate by varying frequency and ampitude.
- the calcined discharged powder falls downwardly into a vibratory mixer C. having a vibratory actuator 20 and flexible mountings 21.
- a secondary inlet 23 is provided for titanium powder which is intimately mixed as the powders pass downwardly through the inclined tube to be discharged to a discharge hopper 24 from which bellows canisters 25 may be filled.
- a hydraulic press comprises a fixed base 31, an open, upwardly extending framework 3 2 , a fixed top press frame 33, a refractory top pad 34 and just below the top pad a heating unit comprising an electrical induction coil 35 with a cylindrical metal sleeve 36 functioning as a susceptor sleeve. Furthermore, the press has an upwardly acting hydraulic ram 37 with a piston 38 on the top of which a refractory top pad 39 is mounted.
- the hydraulic press incorporates a retractable plate-like platen 40 which is horizontaly slidably displacable in guides (not shown) by actuation of a secondary ram 41.
- Figure 2 shows the first stage in which a bellows canister 25 has been placed on the refractory bottom pad 39.
- the canister is of a heat resistant alloy or steel such as INCONEL 601.
- the calcined impregnated synthetic rock will have a typical density of 19t of the maximum theoretical density of the final synthetic rock.
- a cold precompaction is applied by first actuating the ram 41 to displace horizontally the platen 40 to adopt the position shown in Figure 3 and then the hydraulic ram 47 is actuated to place the bellows canister 25 into abutment with the platen 40. Pressure is maintained until the density of the synthetic rock powder approaches the maximum which can be achieved at ambient temperatures, e.g. about 35t theoretical maximum density.
- the press will be operating at the order of 20 MPa and the time for this pressing step will be the order of 3 minutes.
- the ram 37 is then lowered slightly, the ram 41 actuated to retract the platen 40, and (unless an optional separate pre-heating furnace is used) the ram 37 is raised to place the bellows container within the heating zone and to occupy the position shown in dotted lines and referenced 42'. It is necessary to heat the bellows container and its contents to a typical temperature in the range 1050° to 1260°C and this will take typically 510 minutes for a 40cm diameter bellows canister.
- pressure can be applied through the ram so that the bellows canister is in abutment with the top pad 34 and pressures of about 14 MPa or higher are applied for several hours until full compression of the bellows canister occures and a density of about 99% theoretical density is achieved.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to vibratory processing arrangements and is particularly concerned with such a processing arrangment applicable to impregnating solid particulate synthetic rock precursor In an active cell with high level radioactive waste. Subsequent hot pressing will cause the formation of synthetic rock in which the waste is immobolised.
- The present applicant and The Australian National University are the proprietors of a series of inventions in this field. Australian patent application no. AU-B65176/80 (now Patent 531,250) describes a hot uniaxial pressing process including embodiments in which a canister having a generally cylindrical wall of bellows-like formation is used to contain the supply material to be pressed and while heating is maintained pressure is applied by a hydraulic press. The synthetic rock product is formed as the bellows like canister is axially compressed.
- A further patent application no. AU-72825/82 (now Patent 524,883) describes a development of the hot uniaxial pressing in which the pressing is conducted in an upward direction against a fixed top abutment in the press.
- The prior art referred to in the above specifications includes prior art of The Australian National University describing the formation of synthetic rock from selected phases and suitable for the immobilisation of radioactive waste.
- Typically, synthetic rock precursor is in the form of a fine powder and high-level radioactive waste is a liquid which must be impregnated into the powder in the active cell and pressing must also take place in an active cell. Extremely reliable mechanical handling methods and equipment are required since it is desired for the equipment to operate for tens of years with servicing and repairs conducted only through remote manipulators.
- The present invention is directed to processing arrangements and corresponding apparatus which can facilitate active cell processes which are highly reliable and conducted with equipment which is intrinsically relatively simple so that long working life and maintenance with remote manipulators can be provided.
- According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing impregnated synthetic rock precursor comprising:
- feeding particulate synthetic rock precursor into a vibratory conveying means having an elongated path along which the particulate material is progressively moved under vibration,
- spraying the particulate material with a liquid incorporating radioactive waste over an extended region of the elongated path such that the liquid is absorbed into the particulate material which continues to advance to the discharge end of the device, and
- discharging the impregnated synthetic rock precursor.
- Although preferably the invention is implemented in a continuous process in which the elongated path extends from spaced upstream and downstream ends, the process can also be operated with paths of different configuration and indeed can be operated in a batch process in which the vibratory conveying means causes the particulate precursor to move around within a suitable vessel as it is being sprayed with radioactive waste liquid. For example, a generally square trough like vessel may be used and the vibratory conveyor means can cause the particulate material to circulate around the trough.
- One very important embodiment of the invention is one in which heat is applied to the impregnated synthetic rock precursor thereby maintaining a substantially dry state and causing evaporation of water thereby leaving the radioactive material impregating the waste. The level of heating is preferably relatively low e.g. 300° C whereby the powder can remain in a flowable state and components of the radioactive waste which are volatile at higher temperatures remain substantially in the synthetic rock.
- The conveyor may be inclined either upwardly or downwardly or may be horizontal. This is dictated by the physical form of the precursor.
- Preferably the invention is implemented in a generally trough like vibratory conveyor and has a vibrating element applied near its upstream end, its downstream end being supported in a flexible mounting and remaining substantially stationary.
- Preferably a series of spray heads are spaced along the trough-like conveyor.
- In a preferred embodiment, the synthetic rock precursor is formed into granules having an improved pourability and packing density compared with the particles of synthetic rock precursor: it has been found that use of this aspect of the invention permits very effective impregnation of such granules with highly uniform dispersion of radioactive components through the final synthetic rock produced after a hot uniaxial pressing process.
- According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing synthetic rock precursor for a hot uniaxial pressing process, the precursor being of particulate form and having impregnated therethrough radioactive waste, the method comprising passing the material into an upstream end of an elongated downwardly inclined tubular duct, establishing vibration of the tubular duct whereby the particulate material advances progressively and applying high level heating so as to calcine the particulate material, and discharging the calcined material at the downstream end of the apparatus.
- Preferably, the apparatus is arranged to provide an operating temperature of about 750 C.
- The calcining apparatus preferably has a variable frequency vibration unit which preferably is directed to actuate vibrations at the downstream end of the tube, the upstream end being mounted in suitable flexible mountings and substantially not moving.
- With advantage, induction heating can be used for the furnace which can be surrounded by insulating material.
- Furthermore, in this aspect of the invention a most advantageous embodiment is one in which the tubular duct is connected to a gas circulation system whereby a controlled atmosphere can be passed preferably in a counter current arrangement through the tubular duct, whereby volatile radioactive components from the waste can be taken up and removed through suitable filtering arrangements.
- This aspect of the invention permits a reliable and very compact capital effective plant to be devised thereby obviating the complexity and very considerable volume required for an apparatus such as a rotary calciner. The capital cost per cubic meter of an active cell is very high and therefore a major impact on the economics of safe disposal of radioactive material may result from use of embodiments of the present invention.
- According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for mixing a titanium powder into a calcined synthetic rock precursor incorporating therein radioactive waste; the arrangement comprises using a tubular vibratory conveyor which is downwardly inclined in the downstream direction and the titanium powder is introduced just downstream of the synthetic rock precursor inlet to the vibratory tube, whereby intimate mixing of the particulate material occurs in a well controlled and continuous manner.
- The discharge can be to a receiving hopper and/or to a bellows-like container whereby the poured material is ready for a hot uniaxial pressing process.
- Various embodiments of the invention can contribute substantially to a most effective plant for high level waste immobilisation in synthetic rock by providing a compact and reliable process substantially avoiding the handling of any solids other than dry pourable solids at each stage.
- In a most effective and important embodiment all three of the above aspects of the invention are used in combination in sequence and furthermore a further inventive combination is one in which the above three aspects are used in combination with the further inventive step the subject of the present applicant's co-pending application entitled "Formation of Ceramics" and which is directed to an invention consisting in an apparatus for hot uniaxial pressing of heat resistant metal canisters containing synthetic rock components, the canisters having a generally cylindrical wall incorporating bellows-like formations, the apparatus comprising a hydraulic press having an upwardly acting ram with a refractory facing thereon for supporting the bottom of the canister, a fixed top abutment, a heating zone immediately below the abutment and adapted to surround the bellows container during the hot uniaxial pressing process and a retractable platen adapted to be inserted laterally into the press below the heating zone such that a bellows canister can be placed on the refractory facing and partially compressed at ambient temperature by upward displacement of the hydraulic press, the platen being removable to permit the press to be displaced upwardly to a higher level whereby the bellows-like canister is inserted within the heating zone and abuts against the top abutment.
- For illustrative purposes only an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
- Fig. 1 illustrates schematically the processing steps for impregnating synthetic rock precursor and filling bellows like canisters for use in a hot uniaxial pressing process for the production of synthetic rock;
- Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a hydraulic press arranged in an active cell and ready for the first stage of cold precompaction: and
- Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 and showing the precompacation stage.
- The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises three main stages:
- A. High level waste vibratory impregnator
- B. Vibratory calciner and
- C. Vibratory powder mixer
- The waste impregnator A. comprises a downwardly inclined trough 1 having
flexible mountings 2 and avibrator 3 at its upstream end, ahood structure 4 and a series ofliquid sprays 5 connected to a high level waste supply tube 6. - The
hood structure 4 has, at its upstream end, an inlet hopper 7 through which synthetic rock precursor material in powder or preferably in granulated form is poured. This powder is formed outside the active cell and is not radioactive. By operation of thevibrator 3, the powder continuously and steadily moves down the trough ready for discharge at the open downstream end into adischarge hopper 8. - As the precursor moves down the trough it is impregnated through the
sprays 5 with a solution of high level waste, the spray rate being controlled so that the powder remains sufficiently dry to remain in a fluidised and pourable state. A radiant heating unit 9 is located beneath the trough, as schemically shown, and causes evaporation of the aqueous solvent from the radioactive waste at a steady rate. - The impregnated precursor discharges through the
hopper 8 into adischarge tube 10 and into the upstream end of the closedtube 12 of the vibratory calciner B. - The
tube 12 is downwardly inclined and is connected through a downstreamflexible coupling 13 to a discharge tube 14. Discharge tube 14 has aninlet pipe 15 for reducing gas (typically N2/3 Volume t H2 or H2 alone). The reducing gas passes upwardly through the tube to a gas discharge take offtube 16 near the upstream end. In this way volatile radioactive components produced during the
calcining can be taken up and filtered out. - A
furnace 13 surrounds the central region of the tube for causing the synthetic rock precursor to undergo partial mineral transformations and the nitrates associated with the high level waste are decomposed. Minor amounts of volatile radioactive components may be evolved. The furnace raises the temperature of the particulate material to about 750 C. - At its upstream end, a
flexible mounting 17 supports thetube 12 and at its downstream end a variablefrequency vibrator unit 18 is provided together with aflexible mounting 19. - The
vibratory actuator 18 is tuned to provide the desired flow rate by varying frequency and ampitude. - The calcined discharged powder falls downwardly into a vibratory mixer C. having a
vibratory actuator 20 andflexible mountings 21. Asecondary inlet 23 is provided for titanium powder which is intimately mixed as the powders pass downwardly through the inclined tube to be discharged to adischarge hopper 24 from whichbellows canisters 25 may be filled. - Reference will now be made to Figures 2 and 3 which illustrate how the filled canisters can be uniaxially pressed.
- Referring to the drawings a hydraulic press comprises a
fixed base 31, an open, upwardly extendingframework 32, a fixedtop press frame 33, arefractory top pad 34 and just below the top pad a heating unit comprising anelectrical induction coil 35 with acylindrical metal sleeve 36 functioning as a susceptor sleeve. Furthermore, the press has an upwardly actinghydraulic ram 37 with apiston 38 on the top of which a refractorytop pad 39 is mounted. - For the purpose of cold pre compaction of the
canisters 25, the hydraulic press incorporates a retractable plate-like platen 40 which is horizontaly slidably displacable in guides (not shown) by actuation of asecondary ram 41. - Figure 2 shows the first stage in which a bellows
canister 25 has been placed on the refractorybottom pad 39. The canister is of a heat resistant alloy or steel such as INCONEL 601. As filled through hopper 24 (Fig 1), the calcined impregnated synthetic rock will have a typical density of 19t of the maximum theoretical density of the final synthetic rock. A cold precompaction is applied by first actuating theram 41 to displace horizontally theplaten 40 to adopt the position shown in Figure 3 and then the hydraulic ram 47 is actuated to place thebellows canister 25 into abutment with theplaten 40. Pressure is maintained until the density of the synthetic rock powder approaches the maximum which can be achieved at ambient temperatures, e.g. about 35t theoretical maximum density. Typically, the press will be operating at the order of 20 MPa and the time for this pressing step will be the order of 3 minutes. - The
ram 37 is then lowered slightly, theram 41 actuated to retract theplaten 40, and (unless an optional separate pre-heating furnace is used) theram 37 is raised to place the bellows container within the heating zone and to occupy the position shown in dotted lines and referenced 42'. It is necessary to heat the bellows container and its contents to a typical temperature in the range 1050° to 1260°C and this will take typically 510 minutes for a 40cm diameter bellows canister. Subsequently, pressure can be applied through the ram so that the bellows canister is in abutment with thetop pad 34 and pressures of about 14 MPa or higher are applied for several hours until full compression of the bellows canister occures and a density of about 99% theoretical density is achieved. - It will be appreciated that during normal operations the induction coil is continuously operated and appropriate insulation material surrounds the upper part of the press to reduce heat losses. However, the
bottom pad 39 is itself
raised to very high temperatures and as soon as thecanister 25 is placed on top of the pad there will be a heat flow into the metal forming the walls of the canister. It has, interestingly, been found that nevertheless, an effective precompaction can occur in the manner described above and the shape of the bellows container achieved during the final hot uniaxial pressing stage is highly predictable and repeatable.
Claims (20)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU3648/86 | 1985-11-29 | ||
AUPH364885 | 1985-11-29 | ||
AU65788/86A AU587510B2 (en) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-11-27 | Vibratory processing arrangements |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0228816A1 true EP0228816A1 (en) | 1987-07-15 |
EP0228816B1 EP0228816B1 (en) | 1991-04-10 |
Family
ID=25634901
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP86309280A Expired EP0228816B1 (en) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-11-27 | Vibratory processing arrangements |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0228816B1 (en) |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2123339A1 (en) * | 1971-01-25 | 1972-09-08 | Environmental Technology | |
FR2419569A1 (en) * | 1978-03-08 | 1979-10-05 | Kraftwerk Union Ag | PROCESS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF PULVERULENT RADIOACTIVE SYNTHETIC WASTE CONSTITUTED BY FILTERING MATERIALS USED IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES |
EP0030467A2 (en) * | 1979-12-07 | 1981-06-17 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and apparatus for treatment of radioactive waste |
EP0102246A1 (en) * | 1982-08-30 | 1984-03-07 | AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION | Containment and densification of particulate material |
GB2163893A (en) * | 1984-07-31 | 1986-03-05 | Agip Spa | Immobilising the fission product and transuranic element content of liquid high level radioactive waste |
-
1986
- 1986-11-27 EP EP86309280A patent/EP0228816B1/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2123339A1 (en) * | 1971-01-25 | 1972-09-08 | Environmental Technology | |
FR2419569A1 (en) * | 1978-03-08 | 1979-10-05 | Kraftwerk Union Ag | PROCESS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF PULVERULENT RADIOACTIVE SYNTHETIC WASTE CONSTITUTED BY FILTERING MATERIALS USED IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES |
EP0030467A2 (en) * | 1979-12-07 | 1981-06-17 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and apparatus for treatment of radioactive waste |
EP0102246A1 (en) * | 1982-08-30 | 1984-03-07 | AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION | Containment and densification of particulate material |
GB2163893A (en) * | 1984-07-31 | 1986-03-05 | Agip Spa | Immobilising the fission product and transuranic element content of liquid high level radioactive waste |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0228816B1 (en) | 1991-04-10 |
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