EP2821999A1 - Récipients pour déchets radioactifs - Google Patents

Récipients pour déchets radioactifs Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2821999A1
EP2821999A1 EP14175317.8A EP14175317A EP2821999A1 EP 2821999 A1 EP2821999 A1 EP 2821999A1 EP 14175317 A EP14175317 A EP 14175317A EP 2821999 A1 EP2821999 A1 EP 2821999A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
lid
radioactive waste
waste according
transport
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP14175317.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Robert Vaughan
Ronald Hows
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.)
Croft Associates Ltd
Original Assignee
Croft Associates Ltd
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 Croft Associates Ltd filed Critical Croft Associates Ltd
Publication of EP2821999A1 publication Critical patent/EP2821999A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G21F5/00—Transportable or portable shielded containers
    • G21F5/06—Details of, or accessories to, the containers
    • G21F5/12—Closures for containers; Sealing arrangements
    • 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
    • G21F1/00—Shielding characterised by the composition of the materials
    • G21F1/02—Selection of uniform shielding materials
    • G21F1/08—Metals; Alloys; Cermets, i.e. sintered mixtures of ceramics and metals
    • 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
    • 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
    • G21F5/00—Transportable or portable shielded containers
    • G21F5/06—Details of, or accessories to, the containers
    • G21F5/12—Closures for containers; Sealing arrangements
    • G21F5/125—Means to monitor or detect the leak-tightness of the closure

Definitions

  • This invention relates to containers for radioactive materials and to the storage and disposal of radioactive waste.
  • Radioactive waste has four categories:
  • This invention relates primarily to containers for ILW.
  • One existing container comprises stainless steel outer skin having a concrete interior into which the waste is placed and immobilised with concrete grout.
  • a more recent solution has involved the use of a ductile cast iron container, the cast iron being up to about 160 mm thick.
  • Such a ductile cast iron container has a cast iron lid bolted on to the container with a seal.
  • the cast iron surface is not corrosion resistant and may not maintain a seal giving rise to a risk when stored for a long time.
  • Furthermore degradation of the waste inside such a container releases gases causing pressure to build within the container with the risk of ultimate failure of the lid bolts, particularly if dropped. All such containers have to undergo a drop test for safety purposes: there is evidence that the seals of such ductile cast iron containers will fail the test after a period of time well before the anticipated availability of underground disposal facilities in the United Kingdom, around 40 years in the future.
  • a container for radioactive waste comprises a ductile cast iron body having an opening through which an item containing radioactive waste or radioactive waste material itself may be placed into the container, the opening being closable by a first or transport lid, the first or transport lid being boltable onto the body of the container to cover the opening, characterised in that that around the opening is a lip having a corrosion resistant lining, the first or transport lid is of a corrosion resistant material having a high nuclear radiation shielding capability, and a first seal is provided beneath the first or transport lid and compressed against the lip when the first or transport lid is bolted to the body of the container.
  • a suitable material for the first lid or transport lid is, for example, stainless steel.
  • the lip lining may, for example, be nickel or stainless steel.
  • the first seal is inset into the surface of the lid facing the lip and is compressed against the lip when the lid is bolted to the container. It is possible for the first seal to be recessed into a groove in the lip, and to be compressed against the lid, although this arrangement is less convenient.
  • the lip is stepped down below the top surface of the container.
  • the bolts bolting the first lid to the container are high elongation stainless steel bolts of a material compatible with the ductile cast iron.
  • the container itself receives radioactive waste
  • the container is provided with a second or inner lid which is mounted by bolts on a seat extending into the opening, the inner lid being of ductile cast iron, the depth of the lid being substantially the same as the thickness of the container.
  • top surface of the second lid and the lip are in the same plane.
  • the second or inner lid ideally has a step around its perimeter, which sits on the seat, with the lower, narrower cross sectioned portion of the second or inner lip extending down further into the opening below the step.
  • the bolts bolting the second or inner lid to the lid support are high elongation stainless steel bolts.
  • the second or inner lid normally has removable plug, which is vented through a high integrity filter to allow the escape of gas.
  • the plug serves two purposes; it can be used to pour grout into the container to render the contents immobile, but also can be removed to allow inspection of the contents. This plug is not absolutely essential however.
  • the first or transport lid may also have one or more removable plugs, which may also be vented to allow the escape of gas, and which can be removed to allow inspection below the first lid or transport lid and/or to provide a test point.
  • the first seal comprises, in section, circular or ovoid shaped lobes linked to each other by the seal material.
  • a plug providing a test point as described in the preceding paragraph plugs a passage between the top of the first or transport lid and a volume between the two circular or ovoid sections of such a double circle or ovoid first seal.
  • such a container is adapted to receive an item in the form of a sealed container of conventional form said sealed container containing radioactive waste.
  • a conventional container may for example be a skip used to store radioactive waste in a pond. It could also be one of the known containers which is failing.
  • a container 10 for radioactive waste comprises a cylindrical ductile cast iron body 12 with an opening 14 at one end through which waste material may be placed into the container.
  • the opening may be closed by a first or transport lid 16.
  • the first or transport lid 16 which is of stainless steel, is bolted onto the container to cover the opening 14 using high elongation stainless steel bolts 18.
  • the rim of the opening 14 forms a lip 20 onto which the first or transport lid 16 can be mounted and has a stainless steel lining 22.
  • An impervious seal 24 (not visible in figure 1 ) is inset in a recess beneath the lid 16 and compressed against the lip 20.
  • a second or inner lid 30 of ductile cast iron is mounted using high elongation stainless steel bolts 32 on a seat 34 extending into the opening; the depth of the lid is substantially the same as the thickness of the container.
  • the first or transport lid 16 and the second or inner lid 30 both have filtered vents 26 and 36 respectively.
  • the vent in the outer or transport lid 16 has a cover 28 which be bolted over the vent 26 for transport purposes. Both vents 26 and 36 are bolted in place but the bolts can be removed to facilitate inspection below the relevant lids.
  • the vent 36 in the second or inner lid is of greater diameter than that in the first or transport lid allowing the vent 36 also to be used for process purposes, such as pouring grout into the container to surround the contents of the container.
  • container 10 can be lined.
  • the container for radioactive waste 40 is box shaped having at its upper and lower corners standard ISO Twistlock pockets 42 (seen in figure 4 ) to enable the container to be lifted.
  • the container 40 comprises a ductile cuboidal cast iron body 44 with an opening 46 in the top 48 of the cube through which waste material may be placed into the container.
  • the opening may be closed by a first or transport stainless steel lid 50.
  • the rim 52 of the opening 46 has a lip 54 stepped down below the general level of the top 48 of the container.
  • the lip 54 has a stainless steel lining 56.
  • a seal 58 (seen in figures 5 to 10 ) is inset into a channel 60 (seen in figure 5 , 6 , 9 and 10 beneath the lid 50 and compressed against the lip 54.
  • the lid 50 is bolted in place on lip 54 using high elongation stainless steel bolts 64.
  • a second or inner lid 66 of ductile cast iron is mounted using high elongation stainless steel bolts 72 on a lid seat 68 extending into the opening 46, the depth of the inner or second lid 66 is substantially the same as the thickness of the container 40.
  • the perimeter of the second or inner lid 66 has a step 70 so that the lower part of the lid 66 can locate within the seat 68.
  • the second or inner lid 66 has a vent 74 performing similar functions to vent 36 in figure 1 .
  • An inspection port and simple vent 51 is fitted to the first or transport lid 50.
  • a testing port 55 is provided near the rim of lid 50; this port 55 extends down from the top of the lid to a channel 60 as seen in figure 9 , in which seal 58 is seated.
  • Strips 76 are marked on the first or transport lid and the top 48 of the container 40.
  • the first or transport lid 50 has lid lifting points 53 (shown in figures 3 and 4 ) to assist with lifting the lid (but not the container).
  • the vent 74 has comprises a plug 78 with a vertical channel 80 partially penetrating into the plug from the top.
  • a standard HEPA filter 82 is located in channel 80, which becomes narrower below the filter before terminating at a side channel 84 leading laterally out from the plug. Excess gas in the container can pass around the wall of the plug 78 into the channel 84 and from there through filter 82 into the space 86 between the second or inner lid 66 and the first or transport lid 50.
  • FIG 6 Also shown in figure 6 is a combined inspection port and vent 51 with an HEPA filter plug screwed into a hole 96 in the first or transport lid 50.
  • a circular seal 99 prevents leakage around the HEPA filter 98. If required a cover for transport purposes can be provided as described for item 28 of figure 1 .
  • the seal 58 comprises two circular sectioned lobes 88 joined by a flat link 90.
  • the seal In plan, as in figure 7 , the seal itself forms a closed circle.
  • the circular lobes 88 have opposed circular sectioned cut outs 92; one inner one aligned towards the centre of the plan circle of the seal 58 the other outwards.
  • the seal 58 is located in a cut out 60 close to the edge of the underside of lid 50.
  • the circular lobes 88 become squeezed into ovoid cross section as seen in figure 5 ; the cut outs 92 aiding the compression.
  • the seal 58 is clamped in place by a series of screws passing through the flat link 90 into the first or transport lid 50.
  • FIG 9 detail of seals around the second or inner lid 66 can be seen.
  • the inner upper edge of seat has a seal 100 around its periphery which is squeezed by the inner corner of step 70.
  • the second or inner lid is located in place by recess 102 in lid 66, onto step 68.
  • FIG 10 shows detail of the testing port 55.
  • Port 55 extends down from the top of the lid 50 to a channel 60 in which seal 58 is seated.
  • the port has a step 107 with a stem 106 of a sealing plug 108 extending down into the port 55.
  • External screw treads of the cap of the plug engage with internal screw threads above the step 107, and urge a seal 110 against the step 107 so sealing the testing port. Removal of the plug 108 enables testing of the space 122 between the lobes 88 of the seal 58 for leakage past the seal 58.
  • a box shaped container 200 according to the invention has at its upper and lower corners standard ISO Twistlock pockets 202 to enable the container to be lifted.
  • the container 200 comprises a ductile cuboidal cast iron body 204 with an opening 206 in the top 208 of the cube through which a skip 210 containing radioactive waste material may pass; typically the skip would have previously contained the radioactive waste in a pond.
  • the opening 206 may be closed by a transport lid 212 of ductile cast iron.
  • the rim of the opening is formed in a lip 214 stepped down below the general level of the top 208 of the container.
  • the lip 214 has a nickel lining 216.
  • a seal is inset into a channel beneath the lid 212, in a similar way to the seal 58 described with reference to figures 2 to 10 , and compressed against the nickel lining 216.
  • the lid 212 is bolted in place on lip 214 using high elongation stainless steel bolts 218.
  • the lid 212 has a step 213, allowing the lower part of lid 212 to locate within the lip 214.
  • a large lug 220 is fitted to the top of lid 212 to enable to lid to be lifted and other shaped lugs 222 ( figure 12B ) fitted to the sides of the container enable manoeuvring by mechanical handling equipment.
  • Twistlock pockets 202 provide for easy lifting by normal cranes.
  • Figure 13 illustrates some other shapes of containers according to the invention.
  • the thickness of the ductile cast iron of the containers may vary according to the specific application but typically they are 30mm thick for the smallest containers up to 300mm or more for big containers handling particularly energetic materials. The appropriate thickness is determined using normal design criteria for ductile cast iron radioactive product interactions.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
EP14175317.8A 2013-07-04 2014-07-01 Récipients pour déchets radioactifs Withdrawn EP2821999A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1312013.4A GB201312013D0 (en) 2013-07-04 2013-07-04 Containers for radioactive waste

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2821999A1 true EP2821999A1 (fr) 2015-01-07

Family

ID=49033325

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP14175317.8A Withdrawn EP2821999A1 (fr) 2013-07-04 2014-07-01 Récipients pour déchets radioactifs

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2821999A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB201312013D0 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110544545A (zh) * 2018-09-20 2019-12-06 原子高科股份有限公司 一种放射性物质的密封转运方法
US20220223308A1 (en) * 2019-02-21 2022-07-14 Deep Isolation, Inc. Hazardous material canister systems and methods

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4456827A (en) * 1980-07-11 1984-06-26 Transnuklear Gmbh Transportation and/or storage containers for radioactive material
US4983352A (en) * 1984-11-13 1991-01-08 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Closure system for a spent fuel storage cask
US5437387A (en) * 1993-01-15 1995-08-01 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Container with screw-on cap having a controlled-torque latch

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4456827A (en) * 1980-07-11 1984-06-26 Transnuklear Gmbh Transportation and/or storage containers for radioactive material
US4983352A (en) * 1984-11-13 1991-01-08 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Closure system for a spent fuel storage cask
US5437387A (en) * 1993-01-15 1995-08-01 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Container with screw-on cap having a controlled-torque latch

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110544545A (zh) * 2018-09-20 2019-12-06 原子高科股份有限公司 一种放射性物质的密封转运方法
US20220223308A1 (en) * 2019-02-21 2022-07-14 Deep Isolation, Inc. Hazardous material canister systems and methods
US11842822B2 (en) * 2019-02-21 2023-12-12 Deep Isolation, Inc. Hazardous material canister systems and methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201312013D0 (en) 2013-08-21

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