EP0341139A1 - Process for packaging radioactive wastes, and devices for carrying out the same - Google Patents

Process for packaging radioactive wastes, and devices for carrying out the same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0341139A1
EP0341139A1 EP89401206A EP89401206A EP0341139A1 EP 0341139 A1 EP0341139 A1 EP 0341139A1 EP 89401206 A EP89401206 A EP 89401206A EP 89401206 A EP89401206 A EP 89401206A EP 0341139 A1 EP0341139 A1 EP 0341139A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
waste
liners
compacted
coating
jacket
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
Application number
EP89401206A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0341139B1 (en
Inventor
Gérard Streiff
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Original Assignee
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA filed Critical Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
Publication of EP0341139A1 publication Critical patent/EP0341139A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0341139B1 publication Critical patent/EP0341139B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B30—PRESSES
    • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
    • B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
    • B30B9/32—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for consolidating scrap metal or for compacting used cars
    • 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
    • G21F9/34—Disposal of solid waste
    • G21F9/36—Disposal of solid waste by packaging; by baling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of conditioning radioactive waste, with a view to its storage and preservation which constitutes, as is known, one of the important problems of the nuclear industry.
  • the present invention relates precisely to the compaction technique and it applies to all the waste the volume of which it is desired to reduce by this technique, in particular to the hulls originating from the cutting of combustible needles of a nuclear reactor.
  • the hulls are pieces of tubes that have contained fissile material. To extract and dissolve this material, the needles that constitute the fuel assembly are sheared and then placed in a dissolver. After dissolving the fissile material, the empty shells are evacuated for storage. They constitute what is called waste. They can also contain other elements such as plugs, pieces of springs, used in the composition of the fuel needle of the nuclear reactor. This waste may also contain small pieces of tubes from the shearing and called "shearing fines".
  • the compacting technique partially solves the problem of the volume necessary for the storage of waste, but nevertheless leaves two other equally important problems which are the cooling or the coating of this same waste.
  • compaction by concentrating the radioactive mass which heats itself and making it practically monolithic, makes its cooling more difficult, for example by the water of a storage pool.
  • compaction and coating especially at the heart of the compacted mass, are, to date, relatively incompatible.
  • the subject of the present invention is precisely a process and devices for conditioning radioactive waste which, while resorting to the compaction technique, make it possible to obtain a compacted mass which is not entirely monolithic and therefore penetrable by a liquid phase which can be, depending on the case, either a coolant, or a coating body which can then completely penetrate the mass to the heart.
  • the waste conditioning process radioactive in particular of the kind of the bodies coming from the cutting of the fuel needles of nuclear reactor, is characterized in that it consists in compacting them without reaching the monolithic state then in treating then the mass thus obtained by immersion in a liquid phase which penetrates to the core to obtain either its cooling or its coating.
  • the coating product is a blocking product chosen from cements, resins and metals.
  • the device according to the invention comprises a cylindrical jacket, the side walls of which are pierced with openings of passage cross section smaller than that of the waste to be compacted, and have the form of longitudinal slots, parallel to the direction of compression, said jacket having a bottom closed at one end and having at the other end an opening for the introduction of said waste into the body, this opening having radial strips directed towards its center and forming a daisy.
  • the jacket is made of a material having a lubricating power intended to facilitate the action of the press and the material having a lubricating power is for example copper or a copper-based alloy.
  • the invention also relates to a storage device for coating or cooling the compacted waste according to the method of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: a cylindrical body closed at one end and having another open end for the introduction inside the body of compacted liners containing said irradiated combustible waste, centering means for centering said shirts inside the body, - non-return means for immobilizing the liners inside the body, - Means for facilitating the circulation of a liquid cooling or coating phase inside the body.
  • the shirt allows easy handling of waste. It also makes it possible to lubricate the press die, particularly if the jacket is made of a material having a lubricating power such as copper or a copper alloy or any other lubricating material. This shirt limits wear on the matrix.
  • the longitudinal slots prevent, when filling before compaction, that the waste can escape from the jacket. However, after compaction, the slots open to allow the circulation of a coolant within the block or the penetration into the heart of a binder. After compacting, the small waste trapped in the compacted block will not be able to escape, but the longitudinal slots which have opened and which are called buttonholes will allow the circulation of the liquid or the penetration of the binder.
  • the storage device which is the subject of the invention allows the cooling or coating of the waste contained in the liners. Thanks to the presence of means for centering the liners, the coolant or the coating binder may regularly surround the liners. The flexibility of the centering means also allows a variation in the diameter of the liners introduced into the storage device.
  • FIG. 1 An external view of a jacket according to the invention for the compaction of waste, in particular of spent nuclear fuel waste.
  • the jacket designated by the general reference 1 is constituted by a cylindrical body 2 closed by a bottom 4 at one end and open at its other end, the upper end in FIG. 1.
  • the body 2 consists of a wall thin, preferably metallic, made of a material having a lubricating power such as copper or a copper alloy.
  • the cylindrical body 2 has longitudinal openings 6 in the form of slots, parallel to the axis of the future compression (fig. 2). This form is particularly advantageous.
  • the slots 6 when the jacket is in the initial state, that is to say not deformed, before compacting, the slots 6 have an elongated shape whose cross section is less than the smallest dimension of the waste to be compact. Thus, the slots 6 allow the waste to be retained inside the body 2.
  • the longitudinal slots 6 open to form buttonholes 6a (FIG. 3) which allow the passage of a refrigeration fluid or a coating material.
  • buttonholes 6a FIG. 3
  • the upper opening of the jacket is constituted by a daisy 8.
  • the radial strips 10 are spaced from one another and between these strips there is a space allowing the filling of the shirt. Once the shirt is filled, it is easy to close the daisy 8 so that all the slats, which have a sector shape, are folded and joined, which allows to close the shirt completely.
  • FIG. 2 shows the step of compacting the jacket 1 filled and closed in a matrix 22 using the jack 23.
  • the jacket 1 is for example made of copper to lubricate the matrix and in FIG. 2 the slots longitudinal 6 begin to open under the effect of the pressure of the cylinder 23 causing a start of compaction.
  • the material constituting the jacket makes it possible to lubricate the die of the press, particularly if this material has a lubricating power such as copper or a copper alloy or other lubricating material.
  • This characteristic facilitates the introduction of the shirt into the matrix.
  • it reduces the coefficient of friction between the outside of the jacket and the body of the matrix, which has the advantage of reducing the compression force and of limiting the wear of the matrix.
  • it facilitates the extraction of the compacted jacket and therefore reduces the risk of disintegration of the block.
  • the compressive force exerted longitudinally tends to crease the cylindrical body of the jacket and to move the lifts away from the longitudinal slots 6.
  • the slots 6a are open but the small waste, trapped in the compacted block, can not escape.
  • the open slots 6a then in the form of buttonholes will allow the subsequent circulation or penetration of the binder.
  • FIG. 3 shows the state of the jacket 1 after compaction.
  • the longitudinal dimension of this jacket has been reduced to about a quarter of its initial dimension and the slots 6 are now in the form of open buttonholes 6a allowing the penetration into the heart of the compacted mass of a liquid phase brought later.
  • the compaction is stopped at a stage where the compacted waste does not yet constitute a monolithic mass, which, in any case, is also desirable, to avoid having to exercise on the jack 23 too much effort.
  • the jackets can be introduced into a storage device 21 shown in FIG. 4.
  • This device comprises an elongated cylindrical body 12 closed by a bottom 14 and having an opening 16 at its upper part according to Figure 4.
  • centering means such as 18.
  • These centering means consist of flexible elements fixed on the inner wall of the cylinder 12.
  • a coolant or a coating binder admitted into the device, can it regularly surround the liners 1 and penetrate them to the core.
  • the flexibility of the centering elements 18 also allows a variation in the diameter of the sleeves introduced.
  • non-return means 20 Near the opening 16, there is a non-return means 20.
  • This non-return means also consists of flexible elements fixed to the inner wall of the body 12.
  • centering elements 18 can also provide a non-return function.
  • these elements do not meet the outer cylindrical wall of the jacket 1, due to their flexibility, they occupy the position shown at 20 in FIG. 4 and come to bear on the upper end of the jacket 1, preventing thus this liner to move axially in the longitudinal direction of the storage device 21.
  • the liners are kept inside this device 21.
  • the means non-return also prevent the shirts from floating in the binder as a result of Archimedes' push when the coating binder used has a density greater than that of the compacted shirts.
  • This device applies regardless of the number of liners introduced and accepts variations in height and diameter of the compacted liners.
  • a storage device 21 provided with its compacted liners, is immersed in a liquid of cooling (a swimming pool for example) or filled with a coating liquid (molten lead for example) through its opening 16, this liquid then penetrates by itself in a few moments, to the heart of the material with which it fills the interstices left empty by the non-monolithic compaction of each liner.
  • a liquid of cooling a swimming pool for example
  • a coating liquid molten lead for example
  • the bottom 14 of the storage device 12 may be non-sealed (or provided with a valve for example - not shown in Figure 4) to facilitate the circulation of the coolant to inside the body 12, thus further improving the core cooling of the compacted liners 1.
  • FIG. 5 shows, on a section of a compacted and coated jacket, the shells such as 24 crushed in the mass and embedded in the coating material 25.
  • This drawing also shows the crushing of the body 2 of copper of the shirt 1 with the openings 6a in the form of buttonholes.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Abstract

Process and devices for compacting irradiated nuclear fuel waste. The device comprises a body (2) pierced with openings (6) with a flow section smaller than that of the waste to be compacted, closed at one end (4) and having at the other end an opening for introducing the said waste into the body (2). This opening has radial lamellae (10) pointing towards its centre and forming a daisy (8). The openings (6) with a flow section smaller than those of the waste to be compacted are in the form of lengthwise slots. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne le domaine du conditionnement des déchets radioactifs, en vue de leur stockage et de leur conservation qui constitue, comme on le sait, un des problèmes importants de l'industrie nucléaire.The present invention relates to the field of conditioning radioactive waste, with a view to its storage and preservation which constitutes, as is known, one of the important problems of the nuclear industry.

Différents procédés de conditionnement de ces déchets peuvent être envisagés. On peut par exemple les stocker en vrac dans une piscine, les enfermer dans des fûts avec ou sans enrobage préalable ou encore les fondre. On connaît également la technique de compactage qui consiste à réduire le volume de ces déchets au moyen d'une presse.Different methods of packaging this waste can be envisaged. One can for example store them in bulk in a swimming pool, enclose them in barrels with or without prior coating or even melt them. The compaction technique is also known, which consists in reducing the volume of this waste by means of a press.

La présente invention concerne précisément la technique du compactage et elle s'applique à tous les déchets dont on souhaite réduire le volume par cette technique, en particulier aux coques provenant du tronçonnage des aiguilles combustibles de réacteur nucléaire.The present invention relates precisely to the compaction technique and it applies to all the waste the volume of which it is desired to reduce by this technique, in particular to the hulls originating from the cutting of combustible needles of a nuclear reactor.

Les coques sont des morceaux de tubes ayant contenu de la matière fissile. Pour extraire et dissoudre cette matière, les aiguilles qui constituent l'assemblage combustible sont cisaillées puis placées dans un dissolveur. Après dissolution de la matière fissile, les coques vides sont évacuées pour être stockées. Elles constituent ce que l'on appelle un déchet. Elles peuvent contenir également d'autres éléments tels que des bouchons, morceaux de ressorts, entrant dans la composition de l'aiguille combustible du réacteur nucléaire. Ces déchets peuvent contenir également de petits morceaux de tubes issus du cisaillage et appelés "fines de cisaillage".The hulls are pieces of tubes that have contained fissile material. To extract and dissolve this material, the needles that constitute the fuel assembly are sheared and then placed in a dissolver. After dissolving the fissile material, the empty shells are evacuated for storage. They constitute what is called waste. They can also contain other elements such as plugs, pieces of springs, used in the composition of the fuel needle of the nuclear reactor. This waste may also contain small pieces of tubes from the shearing and called "shearing fines".

Toutefois, la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé présente de grandes difficultés, en particulier dans le cas de déchets contaminés et fortement irradiants du fait qu'elle ne peut être exécutée que dans une cellule blindée par des opérateurs situés à distance.However, the implementation of this process presents great difficulties, in particular in the case of contaminated and highly irradiating waste because it can only be carried out in an armored cell by operators located at a distance.

La technique du compactage résoud partiellement le problème du volume nécessaire au stockage des déchets, mais laisse subsister néanmoins deux autres problèmes également important qui sont le refroidissement ou l'enrobage de ces mêmes déchets.The compacting technique partially solves the problem of the volume necessary for the storage of waste, but nevertheless leaves two other equally important problems which are the cooling or the coating of this same waste.

En effet, le compactage, en concentrant la masse radioactive qui s'échauffe d'elle-même et en la rendant pratiquement monolithique, rend son refroidissement plus difficile, par exemple par l'eau d'une piscine de stockage. De plus, lors d'un stockage de longue durée, quelques centaines d'année par exemple, il est toujours à craindre un entraînement de produits actifs par lixiviation à partir des eaux de ruissellement, ce que l'on tente d'éviter par des procédés d'enrobage dans des matériaux comme le ciment, les résines ou certains métaux mouillant tels que le plomb. Or, compactage et enrobage, surtout à coeur de la masse compactée, sont, jusqu'à ce jour, relativement incompatibles.Indeed, compaction, by concentrating the radioactive mass which heats itself and making it practically monolithic, makes its cooling more difficult, for example by the water of a storage pool. In addition, during long-term storage, a few hundred years for example, there is always a fear of entrainment of active products by leaching from runoff water, which we try to avoid by coating processes in materials such as cement, resins or certain wetting metals such as lead. However, compaction and coating, especially at the heart of the compacted mass, are, to date, relatively incompatible.

La présente invention a précisément pour objet un procédé et des dispositifs de conditionnement de déchets radioactifs qui permettent, tout en recourant à la technique du compactage, d'obtenir une masse compactée non totalement monolithique et donc pénétrable par une phase liquide pouvant être, suivant les cas, soit un liquide de réfrigération, soit un corps d'enrobage qui peuvent alors pénétrer complêtement la masse jusqu'au coeur.The subject of the present invention is precisely a process and devices for conditioning radioactive waste which, while resorting to the compaction technique, make it possible to obtain a compacted mass which is not entirely monolithic and therefore penetrable by a liquid phase which can be, depending on the case, either a coolant, or a coating body which can then completely penetrate the mass to the heart.

Le procédé de conditionnement de déchets radioactifs, notamment du genre des corps provenant du tronçonnage des aiguilles combustibles de réacteur nucléaire, se caractérise en ce qu'il consiste à les compacter sans atteindre l'état monolithique puis à traiter ensuite la masse ainsi obtenue par immersion dans une phase liquide qui la pénètre à coeur pour obtenir soit son refroidissement, soit son enrobage.The waste conditioning process radioactive, in particular of the kind of the bodies coming from the cutting of the fuel needles of nuclear reactor, is characterized in that it consists in compacting them without reaching the monolithic state then in treating then the mass thus obtained by immersion in a liquid phase which penetrates to the core to obtain either its cooling or its coating.

Selon l'invention, le produit d'enrobage est un produit de blocage choisi parmi les ciments, les résines et les métaux.According to the invention, the coating product is a blocking product chosen from cements, resins and metals.

Le dispositif selon l'invention comporte une chemise cylindrique dont les parois latérales sont percées d'ouvertures de section de passage inférieure à celle des déchets à compacter, et présentent la forme de fentes longitudinales, parallèles à la direction de compression, ladite chemise possédant un fond fermé à une extrémité et possédant à l'autre extrémité une ouverture pour l'introduction desdits déchets dans le corps, cette ouverture présentant des lamelles radiales dirigées vers son centre et formant une marguerite.The device according to the invention comprises a cylindrical jacket, the side walls of which are pierced with openings of passage cross section smaller than that of the waste to be compacted, and have the form of longitudinal slots, parallel to the direction of compression, said jacket having a bottom closed at one end and having at the other end an opening for the introduction of said waste into the body, this opening having radial strips directed towards its center and forming a daisy.

Selon l'invention, la chemise est réalisée en un matériau présentant un pouvoir lubrifiant destiné à faciliter l'action de la presse et le matériau possédant un pouvoir lubrifiant est par exemple le cuivre ou un alliage à base de cuivre.According to the invention, the jacket is made of a material having a lubricating power intended to facilitate the action of the press and the material having a lubricating power is for example copper or a copper-based alloy.

L'invention à également pour objet un dispositif de stockage pour l'enrobage ou le refroidissement des déchets compactés selon le procédé de la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte :
- un corps cylindrique fermé à une extrémité et présentant une autre extrémité ouverte pour l'introduction à l'intérieur du corps de chemises compactées contenant lesdits déchets combustibles irradiés,
-des moyens de centrage pour centrer lesdites chemises à l'intérieur du corps,
- des moyens anti-retour pour immobiliser les chemises à l'intérieur du corps,
- des moyens pour faciliter la circulation d'une phase liquide de refroidissement ou d'enrobage à l'intérieur du corps.The invention also relates to a storage device for coating or cooling the compacted waste according to the method of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:
a cylindrical body closed at one end and having another open end for the introduction inside the body of compacted liners containing said irradiated combustible waste,
centering means for centering said shirts inside the body,
- non-return means for immobilizing the liners inside the body,
- Means for facilitating the circulation of a liquid cooling or coating phase inside the body.

Grace à ses caractéristiques, la chemise permet de manipuler aisément les déchets. Elle permet également de lubrifier la matrice de la presse, particulièrement si la chemise est réalisée en un matériau présentant un pouvoir lubrifiant tel que le cuivre ou un alliage de cuivre ou tout autre matériau lubrifiant. Cette chemise permet de limiter l'usure de la matrice. En outre, les fentes longitudinales évitent, au moment du remplissage avant compactage, que les déchets puissent s'échapper de la chemise. En revanche, après le compactage, les fentes s'ouvrent afin de permettre la circulation d'un liquide de refroidissement au sein du bloc ou la pénétration à coeur d'un liant. Après compactage, les déchets de petite taille prisonniers dans le bloc compacté ne pourront pas s'échapper, mais les fentes longitudinales qui se sont ouvertes et qui sont appelées boutonnières permettront la circulation du liquide ou la pénétration du liant.Thanks to its characteristics, the shirt allows easy handling of waste. It also makes it possible to lubricate the press die, particularly if the jacket is made of a material having a lubricating power such as copper or a copper alloy or any other lubricating material. This shirt limits wear on the matrix. In addition, the longitudinal slots prevent, when filling before compaction, that the waste can escape from the jacket. However, after compaction, the slots open to allow the circulation of a coolant within the block or the penetration into the heart of a binder. After compacting, the small waste trapped in the compacted block will not be able to escape, but the longitudinal slots which have opened and which are called buttonholes will allow the circulation of the liquid or the penetration of the binder.

Le dispositif de stockage objet de l'invention permet le refroidissement ou l'enrobage des déchets contenus dans les chemises. Grâce à la présence de moyens de centrage des chemises, le liquide de refroidissement ou le liant d'enrobage pourra entourer régulièrement les chemises. La flexibilité des moyens de centrage autorise en outre une variation du diamètre des chemises introduites dans le dispositif de stockage.The storage device which is the subject of the invention allows the cooling or coating of the waste contained in the liners. Thanks to the presence of means for centering the liners, the coolant or the coating binder may regularly surround the liners. The flexibility of the centering means also allows a variation in the diameter of the liners introduced into the storage device.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront encore à la lecture de la description qui suit d'un exemple de réalisation de l'invention donné à titre illustratif et nullement limitatif, en référence aux figures annexées sur lesquelles :

  • - la figure 1 est une vue extérieure d'une chemise de compactage conforme à l'invention,
  • - la figure 2 montre la chemise de la figure 1 en cours de compactage dans une presse,
  • la figure 3 montre la chemise après compactage,
  • la figure 4 montre le dispositif de stockage des chemises compactées en vue de leur refroidissement ou de leur enrobage,
  • - la figure 5 montre, en coupe, l'état final d'une chemise après compactage et enrobage.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention given by way of illustration and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended figures in which:
  • FIG. 1 is an external view of a compacting jacket according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 shows the jacket of FIG. 1 during compaction in a press,
  • FIG. 3 shows the jacket after compaction,
  • FIG. 4 shows the device for storing the compacted shirts for their cooling or their coating,
  • - Figure 5 shows, in section, the final state of a jacket after compacting and coating.

On a représenté sur la figure 1 une vue externe d'une chemise conforme à l'invention pour le compactage de déchets, notamment de déchets de combustibles nucléaires irradiés. La chemise, désignée par la référence générale 1, est constitué par un corps cylindrique 2 fermé par un fond 4 à une extrémité et ouvert à son autre extrémité, l'extrémité supérieure sur la figure 1. Le corps 2 est constitué d'une paroi mince, de préférence métallique, en un matériau présentant un pouvoir lubrifiant tel que le cuivre ou un alliage de cuivre. Le corps cylindrique 2 comporte des ouvertures longitudinales 6 en forme de fentes, parallèles à l'axe de la compression future (fig.2). Cette forme est particulièrement avantageuse. En effet, lorsque la chemise est à l'état initial, c'est-à-dire non déformée, avant compactage, les fentes 6 présentent une forme allongée dont la section transversale est inférieure à la plus petite dimension des déchets à compacter. Ainsi, les fentes 6 permettent de retenir les déchets à l'intérieur du corps 2. En revanche, après le compactage de la chemise 1 dans une presse, les fentes longitudinales 6 s'ouvrent pour former des boutonnières 6a (Fig.3) qui permettent le passage d'un fluide de réfrigération ou d'un matériau d'enrobage. Toutefois, à cette étape, étant donné que le matériau contenu à l'intérieur de la chemise a été compacté, les petits déchets ne peuvent s'échapper par les boutonnières 6a ouvertes.There is shown in Figure 1 an external view of a jacket according to the invention for the compaction of waste, in particular of spent nuclear fuel waste. The jacket, designated by the general reference 1, is constituted by a cylindrical body 2 closed by a bottom 4 at one end and open at its other end, the upper end in FIG. 1. The body 2 consists of a wall thin, preferably metallic, made of a material having a lubricating power such as copper or a copper alloy. The cylindrical body 2 has longitudinal openings 6 in the form of slots, parallel to the axis of the future compression (fig. 2). This form is particularly advantageous. In fact, when the jacket is in the initial state, that is to say not deformed, before compacting, the slots 6 have an elongated shape whose cross section is less than the smallest dimension of the waste to be compact. Thus, the slots 6 allow the waste to be retained inside the body 2. On the other hand, after the jacket 1 has been compacted in a press, the longitudinal slots 6 open to form buttonholes 6a (FIG. 3) which allow the passage of a refrigeration fluid or a coating material. However, at this stage, since the material contained inside the shirt has been compacted, small waste cannot escape through the open buttonholes 6a.

L'ouverture supérieure de la chemise est constituée par une marguerite 8. Dans la position ouverte de la marguerite, les lamelles radiales 10 sont écartées les unes des autres et entre ces lamelles existe un espace permettant le remplissage de la chemise. Une fois la chemise remplie, il est aisé de refermer la marguerite 8 de telle sorte que toutes les lamelles, qui présentent une forme de secteur, soient rabattues et jointives, ce qui permet de fermer totalement la chemise.The upper opening of the jacket is constituted by a daisy 8. In the open position of the daisy, the radial strips 10 are spaced from one another and between these strips there is a space allowing the filling of the shirt. Once the shirt is filled, it is easy to close the daisy 8 so that all the slats, which have a sector shape, are folded and joined, which allows to close the shirt completely.

On a représenté sur la figure 2 l'étape de compactage de la chemise 1 remplie et fermée dans une matrice 22 à l'aide du vérin 23. La chemise 1 est par exemple en cuivre pour lubrifier la matrice et sur la figure 2 les fentes longitudinales 6 commencent à s'ouvrir sous l'effet de la pression du vérin 23 provoquant un début de compactage.FIG. 2 shows the step of compacting the jacket 1 filled and closed in a matrix 22 using the jack 23. The jacket 1 is for example made of copper to lubricate the matrix and in FIG. 2 the slots longitudinal 6 begin to open under the effect of the pressure of the cylinder 23 causing a start of compaction.

Le matériau constituant la chemise permet de lubrifier la matrice de la presse, particulièrement si ce matériau présente un pouvoir lubrifiant tel que le cuivre ou un alliage de cuivre ou autre matériau lubrifiant. Cette caractéristique facilite l'introduction de la chemise dans la matrice. De plus au cours du compactage, elle diminue le coefficient de frottement entre l'extérieur de la chemise et le corps de la matrice, ce qui présente l'avantage de réduire l'effort de compression et de limiter l'usure de la matrice. Enfin au moment du démoulage, elle facilite l'extraction de la chemise compactée et diminue donc le risque de désagrégation du bloc.The material constituting the jacket makes it possible to lubricate the die of the press, particularly if this material has a lubricating power such as copper or a copper alloy or other lubricating material. This characteristic facilitates the introduction of the shirt into the matrix. In addition, during compaction, it reduces the coefficient of friction between the outside of the jacket and the body of the matrix, which has the advantage of reducing the compression force and of limiting the wear of the matrix. Finally at the time of demolding, it facilitates the extraction of the compacted jacket and therefore reduces the risk of disintegration of the block.

Les fentes longitudinales 6 de section inférieure à celle des déchets, évitent, au moment du remplissage avant compactage, que les déchets puissent s'échapper de la chemise. Au cours du compactage, l'effort de compression exercé longitudinalement a tendance à plisser le corps cylindrique de la chemise et à écarter les lèves des fentes longitudinales 6. En fin de compactage, les fentes 6a sont ouvertes mais les déchets de petite taille, prisonniers dans le bloc compacté, ne peuvent pas s'échapper. Par contre, les fentes ouvertes 6a alors en forme de boutonnières permettront la circulation ou la pénétration ultérieure du liant.The longitudinal slots 6 of section smaller than that of the waste, prevent, when filling before compacting, that the waste can escape from the jacket. During compaction, the compressive force exerted longitudinally tends to crease the cylindrical body of the jacket and to move the lifts away from the longitudinal slots 6. At the end of compaction, the slots 6a are open but the small waste, trapped in the compacted block, can not escape. On the other hand, the open slots 6a then in the form of buttonholes will allow the subsequent circulation or penetration of the binder.

La figure 3 montre l'état de la chemise 1 après compactage. La dimension longitudinale de cette chemise a été réduite jusqu'au quart environ de sa dimension initiale et les fentes 6 sont maintenant en forme de boutonnières ouvertes 6a permettant la pénétration au coeur de la masse compactée d'une phase liquide amenée ultérieurement. Selon le procédé objet de l'invention, le compactage est stoppé à un stade où les déchets compactés ne constituent pas encore une masse monolithique, ce qui, de toute façon, est également souhaitable, pour éviter d'avoir à exercer sur le vérin 23 des efforts trop considérables.FIG. 3 shows the state of the jacket 1 after compaction. The longitudinal dimension of this jacket has been reduced to about a quarter of its initial dimension and the slots 6 are now in the form of open buttonholes 6a allowing the penetration into the heart of the compacted mass of a liquid phase brought later. According to the process which is the subject of the invention, the compaction is stopped at a stage where the compacted waste does not yet constitute a monolithic mass, which, in any case, is also desirable, to avoid having to exercise on the jack 23 too much effort.

Après compactage, les chemises peuvent être introduites dans un dispositif de stockage 21 représenté sur la figure 4. Ce dispositif comporte un corps cylindrique allongé 12 fermé par un fond 14 et présentant une ouverture 16 à sa partie supérieure selon la figure 4. A l'intérieur du corps cylindrique 12 sont fixés des moyens de centrage tels que 18. Ces moyens de centrage sont constitués d'éléments flexibles fixés sur la paroi interne du cylindre 12. Ainsi, un liquide de refroidissement ou un liant d'enrobage, admis dans le dispositif, peut-il entourer régulièrement les chemises 1 et les pénétrer à coeur. La flexibilité des éléments de centrage 18 autorise aussi une variation du diamètre des chemises introduites.After compacting, the jackets can be introduced into a storage device 21 shown in FIG. 4. This device comprises an elongated cylindrical body 12 closed by a bottom 14 and having an opening 16 at its upper part according to Figure 4. Inside the cylindrical body 12 are fixed centering means such as 18. These centering means consist of flexible elements fixed on the inner wall of the cylinder 12. Thus, a coolant or a coating binder, admitted into the device, can it regularly surround the liners 1 and penetrate them to the core. The flexibility of the centering elements 18 also allows a variation in the diameter of the sleeves introduced.

A proximité de l'ouverture 16, on trouve un moyen anti-retour 20. Ce moyen anti-retour est constitué également par des éléments flexibles fixés à la paroi intérieure du corps 12. Il est à noter que des éléments de centrage 18 peuvent également assurer une fonction d'anti-retour. En effet, lorsque ces éléments ne rencontrent pas la paroi cylindrique extérieure de la chemise 1, par suite de leur flexibilité, ils occupent la position représentée en 20 sur la figure 4 et viennent prendre appui sur l'extrémité supérieure de la chemise 1, empêchant ainsi cette chemise de se déplacer axialement selon la direction longitudinale du dispositif de stockage 21. Ainsi, en cas d'accident, par exemple en cas de renversement du dispositif 21, les chemises sont maintenues à l'intérieur de ce dispositif 21. Les moyens anti-retour permettent également d'éviter que les chemises ne flottent dans le liant par suite de la poussée d'Archimède lorsque le liant d'enrobage utilisé présente une densité supérieure à celle des chemises compactées. Ce dispositif s'applique quel que soit le nombre de chemises introduites et accepte des variations de hauteurs et de diamètre des chemises compactées.Near the opening 16, there is a non-return means 20. This non-return means also consists of flexible elements fixed to the inner wall of the body 12. It should be noted that centering elements 18 can also provide a non-return function. In fact, when these elements do not meet the outer cylindrical wall of the jacket 1, due to their flexibility, they occupy the position shown at 20 in FIG. 4 and come to bear on the upper end of the jacket 1, preventing thus this liner to move axially in the longitudinal direction of the storage device 21. Thus, in the event of an accident, for example in the event of the device 21 overturning, the liners are kept inside this device 21. The means non-return also prevent the shirts from floating in the binder as a result of Archimedes' push when the coating binder used has a density greater than that of the compacted shirts. This device applies regardless of the number of liners introduced and accepts variations in height and diameter of the compacted liners.

Si un dispositif de stockage 21 muni de ses chemises compactées, est immergé dans un liquide de refroidissement (une piscine par exemple) ou rempli avec un liquide d'enrobage (du plomb fondu par exemple) par son ouverture 16, ce liquide pénètre alors de lui-­même en quelques instants, jusqu'au coeur du matériau dont il remplit les interstices laissés vides par le compactage non monolithique de chaque chemise.If a storage device 21 provided with its compacted liners, is immersed in a liquid of cooling (a swimming pool for example) or filled with a coating liquid (molten lead for example) through its opening 16, this liquid then penetrates by itself in a few moments, to the heart of the material with which it fills the interstices left empty by the non-monolithic compaction of each liner.

En outre dans le cas d'un liquide de refroidissement, le fond 14 du dispositif de stockage 12 peut être non étanche (ou muni d'une vanne par exemple - non représentée sur la figure 4) pour faciliter la circulation du liquide de refroidissement à l'intérieur du corps 12, donc améliorer encore le refroidissement à coeur des chemises compactées 1.In addition in the case of a coolant, the bottom 14 of the storage device 12 may be non-sealed (or provided with a valve for example - not shown in Figure 4) to facilitate the circulation of the coolant to inside the body 12, thus further improving the core cooling of the compacted liners 1.

La figure 5 permet de voir, sur une coupe d'un chemise compactée et enrobée, les coques telles que 24 écrasées dans la masse et noyées dans le matériau d'enrobage 25. Ce dessin montre également l'écrasement du corps 2 en cuivre de la chemise 1 avec les ouvertures 6a en forme de boutonnières.FIG. 5 shows, on a section of a compacted and coated jacket, the shells such as 24 crushed in the mass and embedded in the coating material 25. This drawing also shows the crushing of the body 2 of copper of the shirt 1 with the openings 6a in the form of buttonholes.

Claims (8)

1. Procédé de conditionnement de déchets radioactifs, notamment du genre des coques provenant du tronçonnage des aiguilles combustibles de réacteur nucléaire, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à les compacter sans atteindre l'état monolithique puis à traiter ensuite la masse ainsi obtenue par immersion dans une phase liquide qui la pénètre à coeur pour obtenir soit son refroidissement, soit son enrobage.1. A method for conditioning radioactive waste, in particular of the type of shells originating from the cutting of fuel needles of a nuclear reactor, characterized in that it consists in compacting them without reaching the monolithic state and then in treating the mass thus obtained by immersion in a liquid phase which penetrates it to the core to obtain either its cooling or its coating. 2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le produit d'enrobage est un produit de blocage choisi parmi les ciments, les résines et les métaux.2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coating product is a blocking product chosen from cements, resins and metals. 3. Dispositif pour le compactage de déchets par compression dans une presse sous l'action d'un vérin, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un corps cylindrique (2) dont les parois latérales sont percées d'ouvertures (6) de section de passage inférieure à celle des déchets à compacter, qui présentent la forme de fentes longitudinales, parallèles à la direction de compression, ladite chemise possédant un fond fermé, à une extrémité (4) et possédant, à l'autre extrémité, une ouverture pour l'introduction desdits déchets dans le corps (2), cette ouverture présentant des lamelles radiales (10) dirigées vers son centre et formant une marguerite (8).3. Device for compacting waste by compression in a press under the action of a jack, characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical body (2) whose side walls are pierced with openings (6) of cross section lower passage than that of the waste to be compacted, which has the form of longitudinal slots, parallel to the direction of compression, said jacket having a closed bottom, at one end (4) and having, at the other end, an opening for the introduction of said waste into the body (2), this opening having radial strips (10) directed towards its center and forming a daisy (8). 4. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la chemise est réalisée en un matériau présentant un pouvoir lubrifiant destiné à faciliter l'action de la presse.4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the jacket is made of a material having a lubricating power intended to facilitate the action of the press. 5. Appareil selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le matériau possédant un pouvoir lubrifiant est le cuivre ou un alliage à base de cuivre.5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the material having a lubricating power is copper or a copper-based alloy. 6. Dispositif de stockage pour l'enrobage ou le refroidissement des déchets compactés selon le procédé de la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte :
- un corps cylindrique (12) fermé à une extrémité (14) et présentant une autre extrémité ouverte (16) pour l'introduction, à l'intérieur du corps, des chemises (1) contenant lesdits déchets combustibles irradiés,
- des moyens de centrage (18) pour centrer lesdites chemises à l'intérieur du corps,
des moyens anti-retour (20) pour immobiliser les chemises (1) à l'intérieur du corps,
- des moyens pour amener à l'intérieur des chemises une phase liquide de refroidissement ou d'enrobage.6. Storage device for coating or cooling the compacted waste according to the method of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:
a cylindrical body (12) closed at one end (14) and having another open end (16) for the introduction, inside the body, of liners (1) containing said irradiated combustible waste,
- centering means (18) for centering said liners inside the body,
non-return means (20) for immobilizing the liners (1) inside the body,
- Means for bringing inside the liners a liquid cooling or coating phase. 7. Dispositif de stockage selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de centrage (18) sont constitués par des éléments flexibles fixés à une paroi interne du corps.7. Storage device according to claim 6, characterized in that the centering means (18) consist of flexible elements fixed to an internal wall of the body. 8. Dispositif de stockage selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de centrage (20) jouent également le rôle d'éléments anti-­retour pour empêcher la sortie desdites chemises (1) contenant les déchets compactés hors du corps (12) du dispositif de stockage (21).8. Storage device according to claim 7, characterized in that the centering means (20) also play the role of non-return elements to prevent the exit of said liners (1) containing the compacted waste outside the body (12) of the storage device (21).
EP19890401206 1988-05-03 1989-04-27 Process for packaging radioactive wastes, and devices for carrying out the same Expired - Lifetime EP0341139B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8805911 1988-05-03
FR8805911A FR2631151B1 (en) 1988-05-03 1988-05-03 SHIRT FOR COMPACTION WASTE AND CONTAINER FOR THIS SHIRT

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0341139A1 true EP0341139A1 (en) 1989-11-08
EP0341139B1 EP0341139B1 (en) 1993-03-17

Family

ID=9365930

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890401206 Expired - Lifetime EP0341139B1 (en) 1988-05-03 1989-04-27 Process for packaging radioactive wastes, and devices for carrying out the same

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0341139B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2862899B2 (en)
DE (1) DE68905368D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2631151B1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2842939A1 (en) * 2002-07-24 2004-01-30 Jean Claude Henri Claire Centering unit for radioactive waste in storage container has outer and inner hinged arms to position unit centrally and keep waste inside

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100783583B1 (en) * 2005-02-12 2007-12-07 조경연 Apparatus for nuclear waste disposal, methodd for manufacturing and installing the same
JP5553986B2 (en) * 2008-12-18 2014-07-23 三菱重工業株式会社 Waste container

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2584854A1 (en) * 1985-07-09 1987-01-16 Commissariat Energie Atomique Process and plant for compacting and packaging solid radioactive waste of low or intermediate activity

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2584854A1 (en) * 1985-07-09 1987-01-16 Commissariat Energie Atomique Process and plant for compacting and packaging solid radioactive waste of low or intermediate activity

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2842939A1 (en) * 2002-07-24 2004-01-30 Jean Claude Henri Claire Centering unit for radioactive waste in storage container has outer and inner hinged arms to position unit centrally and keep waste inside

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE68905368D1 (en) 1993-04-22
EP0341139B1 (en) 1993-03-17
FR2631151A1 (en) 1989-11-10
JP2862899B2 (en) 1999-03-03
FR2631151B1 (en) 1991-02-15
JPH01320498A (en) 1989-12-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0076204B1 (en) Neutron shielding device in the upper part of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly
EP1928600A1 (en) Assembly for packaging a predetermined volume of substance to be preserved by cryogenic vitrification
FR2683375A1 (en) Nuclear reactor equipped with a device for recovering the core after its accidental meltdown
EP0320393B1 (en) Method of storing waste underground in a cavern formed by salt dissolution
EP0105002B1 (en) Process and device for storing pliable contaminated materials by compacting
EP0388253B1 (en) Refueling and security water pool for pressurized water cooled nuclear reactor
EP0341139B1 (en) Process for packaging radioactive wastes, and devices for carrying out the same
EP3234948A1 (en) Fuel assembly for an sfr nuclear reactor, comprising a housing containing a removably fastened upper neutron shielding device
FR2763168A1 (en) Water-cooled nuclear reactor
FR2682803A1 (en) Method and device for taking a sample from the vessel of a nuclear reactor in final shutdown
FR2784784A1 (en) NUCLEAR WATER REACTOR WITH INTEGRATED RECEPTACLE
EP2862180B1 (en) Optimised method for loading radioactive elements into a package
FR2572213A1 (en) OUT OF STOCK NUCLEAR FUEL STORAGE CASTLE
EP0446152A1 (en) Package for introducing light metal into a molten aluminium alloy
FR2670051A1 (en) METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING SOLID ELECTROLYTE SUPPORT AND SOLID ELECTROLYTE SUPPORT OBTAINED THEREBY
WO1994015775A1 (en) Compaction of inflammable and/or explosive metal waste
EP2490842A1 (en) Method for manufacturing a metal ingot comprising a bore, and associated ingot and molding device
EP1042746B1 (en) Method for making identity cores for ultrasound seals
FR2467466A1 (en) EXTRACTION COLUMN FOR FISHERY MATERIAL AND / OR FERTILIZED MATERIAL
FR2584854A1 (en) Process and plant for compacting and packaging solid radioactive waste of low or intermediate activity
FR2715433A1 (en) Device for placing materials in a wellbore.
EP0011005B1 (en) Sampling head for the coolant of a nuclear reactor
FR2636772A1 (en) Mount for compacting waste comprising a press integrated into the walls of a shielded cell
EP0877388B1 (en) Sealed closure system for multi-purpose confinement container for irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies of high activity waste material
FR3085531A1 (en) WATERPROOF STRUCTURE FOR FAST NEUTRAL NUCLEAR REACTOR REACTIVITY CONTROL ASSEMBLY

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900414

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920519

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19930317

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 68905368

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19930422

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19930430

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 19930526

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ETABLISSEMENT D

Effective date: 19930430

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20010425

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20010426

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020427

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20020427

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021231

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST