EP3716288A1 - Waste packing system and waste drum carrier for said system - Google Patents
Waste packing system and waste drum carrier for said system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3716288A1 EP3716288A1 EP19202861.1A EP19202861A EP3716288A1 EP 3716288 A1 EP3716288 A1 EP 3716288A1 EP 19202861 A EP19202861 A EP 19202861A EP 3716288 A1 EP3716288 A1 EP 3716288A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- waste
- drums
- container
- carrying device
- drum carrying
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
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- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 35
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 30
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 11
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- 239000002926 intermediate level radioactive waste Substances 0.000 claims description 10
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Images
Classifications
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- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
- B65D81/05—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
-
- 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
- G21F5/08—Shock-absorbers, e.g. impact buffers for containers
Definitions
- the invention relates to a waste packing system comprising a container for storing a plurality of waste drums, wherein the container comprises a loading space for accommodating said waste drums, and a loading opening for receiving said waste drums, the system further comprises at least one waste drum carrying device removably arranged in said loading space for holding said waste drums.
- the invention further relates to a waste drum carrying device for said waste packing system. More particularly, the invention relates to storage of low level and intermediate level nuclear waste, which contains radioactive material.
- Radioactive nuclear waste is hazardous to all forms of life and the environment, and is regulated by government agencies in order to protect human health and the environment. Radioactive materials naturally decay over time, so radioactive nuclear waste can be isolated and confined in appropriate disposal and storage facilities for a sufficient period until it no longer poses a threat. The time radioactive nuclear waste must be stored for depends on the type of waste and radioactive isotopes. Current approaches to managing radioactive nuclear waste have been segregation and storage for low level waste, near-surface disposal for low and some intermediate level waste, and deep burial or partitioning / transmutation for the high-level waste.
- Low level nuclear waste generally referred to as LLW
- LLW Low level nuclear waste
- LLW Low level nuclear waste
- Some relatively high-activity LLW may require extra shielding during handling and transport but most LLW is suitable for storage in a on-surface storage facility, and can be stored up to 30 years before their disposal.
- Intermediate level nuclear waste generally referred to as ILW
- Intermediate-level waste includes radioactive resins, chemical sludge and metal nuclear fuel cladding, as well as for example contaminated materials from reactor decommissioning. It may be solidified in concrete or bitumen for disposal.
- ILW that contains long-lived radioisotopes will be temporarily stored in an on-surface storage facility pending disposal to an underground facility. ILW should be suitable to be stored in an underground storage or disposal facility for normally longer than 30 years.
- Low level and intermediate level radioactive waste is generally stored in waste drums of for example 210 liter, i.e. 55 gallons, steel or stainless steel waste drums, compliant with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines for storage and transport of nuclear waste.
- the waste drums constitute a first containment barrier against leakage of radioactive fluids
- These waste drums are generally stored in on-surface or underground storage facilities
- the drums may be stacked on top of each other directly or using pallets in between layers of waste drums.
- waste drums having LLW or ILW may have been improperly stored and inappropriately disposed of, and presently these waste drums are known to be corroding and leaking on there original storage site.
- These older stored waste drums with low and intermediate level waste are often transported back from their storage to a decommissioning facility to be decommissioned.
- the radioactive waste materials in the waste drums need to sorted by measure of their radioactivity. When the sorted materials are redistributed the materials can be compacted to reduce their volume and packed back into new waste drums for renewed storage or disposal.
- the waste drums can be packed in metal containers wherein they are placed and sealed using a cover. Removing waste drums for decommissioning in this situation requires hoisting of the waste drums from the container using grabs which grab the waste drums at their top. The grabs and grabbing may cause damage to the waste drums and subsequent leaking. Moreover, when aging, the waste drum may leak due to damage an corrosion, whereby the leaked fluids corrode the containers from the inside which ultimately may result in leakage of radioactive material from the container into the environment. Waste drums stored in containers are furthermore vulnerable to impact due to handling, crashes and falling of the container, which can cause damage and leaking of the waste drums next to corrosion. Therefore, removing damaged waste drums from such a container for decommissioning requires even more specialized handling.
- the container provided with waste drums can be filled with concrete to stabilize the waste drums, however removing waste drums from the container for decommissioning is extremely laborious. In that case, the waste must be extracted from the waste drum directly in an elaborate extraction process. Remains of such containers, after removal of the radioactive waste, can still be radioactively contaminated and may require secure secondary storage.
- nuclear waste drums can be loaded vertically into cavities of a support framework.
- the support framework accommodating the drums can subsequently be loaded into a container.
- the vertical loading of drums into such a support framework requires handling the drum by their top portions, for example the top rims, to allow the drum to be lowered into the cavities. This handling can be hazardous especially with aged and possibly corroded drums.
- the drums top portion or rims may break and thereby cause radiation leakage into the environment.
- the drums can be accommodated within the support framework, by placing them onto a support base of the framework.
- this requires assembling the support framework around the drums using support posts surrounding the drums, to fixate and stabilize the drums.
- the waste packing system is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is laterally accessible for loading said waste drums on said waste drum carrying device, and that said waste drum carrying device comprises means for fixating said waste drums to said waste drum carrying device.
- the waste drum carrying device allows groupwise packing, unpacking and loading of waste drums in the loading space of the container.
- the waste drum carrying device moreover, prevents damage to the waste drums while being handled, thereby preventing the waste drums from leaking and extending their life time.
- the lateral access of the drum carrying device allows loading and unloading of corroded or structurally weakened drums which cannot normally be handled by their top parts, e.g. their rims. Instead such drums can be handled in a more central part of the drum body and loaded onto the drum carrying device laterally.
- the drum carrying device is preferably preassembled, which allows instant lateral loading of waste drums and obviates laborious assembly of the drum carrying device and drums together.
- each of the waste drums provides a first leaking containment barrier
- the container forms an inner reservoir and thereby provides a second leakage containment barrier. Any radioactive material leaking from a waste drum, having passed the first leaking containment barrier will be contained inside the container first.
- Waste drums packed in the container using the waste drum carrying device according to the invention are protected from damage and leaking. Such waste drums can be easily removed from a container and repacked after shelf life, as damage to the waste drums is prevented. This extends storage time and allows repacking in underground facilities. It is expected that shelf life of nuclear waste containers packed this way can be extended to substantially more than 30 years, which is presently common, and perhaps up to 100 years.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is laterally immovably placeable inside said loading space. This prevents the waste drum carrying device from shifting when the container is being moved, dropped or bumped while handling, transporting, loading or stacking the container.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device comprises a platform and a support structure attached to said platform, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected walls, said interconnected walls and platform defining laterally accessible pockets, wherein each pocket is adapted for accommodating one of said drums.
- the interconnected walls of the support structure provide inner support for the container wall inside said loading space, and thereby counteract and prevent deformation of the container wall. Thereby the integrity of the waste drum stored in use inside the container is secured.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the interconnected walls of said waste drum carrying device laterally extend to, or at least close to, said interconnected side walls of said container. This provides structural rigidity to said system of container having a waste drum carrying device placed into said loading space of said container.
- An embodiment of the invention characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is provided with impact absorbing means arranged at a head end of at least one of said walls, wherein said impact absorbing means preferably comprise a resilient or compressible member, more preferably a rubber or plastic member.
- the impact absorbing means allows absorption of mechanical stress in case of impact due to falling or crashing of the container.
- the impact absorbing means resilient or compressible material provides a soft contact with the inner side of the container wall. Thereby these inner sides are less prone to abrasion of protective layers such as paint layers.
- the size or thickness of the impact absorbing means in lateral direction can be adjusted depending on further protective measures between the waste drum carrying device and inner wall of the container, as will be set out below.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a loading opening is formed by a top edge of said interconnected side walls for receiving said waste drums, and that the container comprises a lid for covering said loading opening. This allows the waste drum carrying device to be loaded in the loading space from above, which loading space can subsequent be closed and sealed off by a seal.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device has outer dimensions corresponding to dimensions of said loading space of said container. This allows a tight fit of the waste drum carrying device, which thereby not only keeps the waste drum in place while packing or unpacking, but also provides structural reinforcement of the container when said container is for example dropped, or crashed into another structure, while being handled.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is provided with hoisting means. This allows easy placement and positioning of the waste drum carrying device into the container. This allows the waste drum carrying device to be hoisted in and out of the container.
- said hoisting means comprise at least one hoisting eye attached to said support structure.
- a hoisting eye can for example be attached to the center of the cross connected walls of the waste drum carrying device.
- Hoisting eyes can furthermore be placed near the lateral ends of the cross connected walls of the waste drum carrying device, to distribute the hoisting force needed to lift the waste drum carrying device.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said hoisting means comprise a plurality of hoist openings in a top section of said support structure.
- said hoisting means comprise a plurality of hoist openings in a top section of said support structure.
- This provides an alternative for hoist eyes which need attaching to the walls of the waste drum carrying device, for example by screwing. Hoist eyes may not be permanently connected to the support structure and after placing the waste drum carrying device into the container they may have to be removed.
- the hoist openings extend through the centrally connected walls of the waste drum carrying device, to which hooks of a crane may be coupled for easy connecting and lifting. The hooks can be easily removed after positioning the waste drum carrying device into the container.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said container is arranged in a cuboid or block shape, wherein said container has reinforcement elements arranged at outer corners of said cuboid or block shape.
- This allows the containers to be stored in a regular pattern e.g. in rows and columns on a storage floor.
- the reinforcements elements provide additional protection against deformation of the container in case of impact due to crashing or falling or any other incident.
- the reinforcement elements can be provided with means for hoisting the container, such as an opening for attaching a hoist eye or a hook.
- a further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said reinforcement elements are provided with stacking guides.
- the stacking guides allow containers to be stacked whereby lateral shift of the stacked container is prevented.
- the stacking guides thereby provide additional stability to the stack in case of lateral impact due to for example earth quakes or any other incident.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device comprises a platform and a support structure attached to said platform, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected walls, said interconnected walls and platform defining laterally accessible pockets, wherein each pocket is adapted for accommodating one of said drums.
- the pockets allow lateral loading of waste drums.
- the drums can be placed on the platform directly whereby the drum can be stably held in a central portion of the drum, thereby preventing structural damage to the drum.
- the interconnected walls of said waste drum carrying device are cross-connected for stability and rigidity.
- a further embodiment of the invention is characterized by said interconnected walls of said waste drum carrying device are interconnected to a central support of said support structure.
- the central support allows the definition of equally sized and/or equally distributed pockets on said platform of said waste drum carrying device.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device has a footprint corresponding to a horizontal cross section of said loading space for loading said waste drum carrying device into said container. This allows the waste drum carrying device to fit closely into the inside of the container.
- the walls of the waste drum carrying device can in combination with the corresponding footprint be chosen to correspond to the inner height of the container, to provide optimum protection against deformation of the container in case of impact due to crashing or falling or any other incident.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said base of said container is provided with at least two fork pockets on a back side of said base for accommodating forks of a fork lift truck. This allows the container to be transported and handle similar to handling and transporting pallets having waste drums.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the container is provided with a radiation shielding liner.
- the radiation shielding liner is preferably arranged inside the container in the loading space, between the container wall and base and the waste drum carrying device. This provides additional shielding and protection against higher intensity radiation from waste drums inside the container, where shielding from the waste drum and container wall as such may not be sufficient.
- the radiation shielding liner can be made from a suitable radiation absorbing material such as lead, or tungsten.
- the radiation shielding liner may also be provide at the exterior of the container.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the container is provided with a fluid-tight liner arranged in said loading space.
- the fluid-tight liner is preferably arranged inside the container in the loading space, between the container wall and base and the waste drum carrying device. If the container is provided with a radiation absorbing liner inside the container, the fluid-tight liner may be arranged between the radiation absorbing liner and the waste drum carrying device. This provides a additional protection against leaking from any one of the waste drums inside the container, especially when the waste drums have been filled with fluids for submerging the radioactive waste materials inside the waste drums.
- the fluid-tight liner is preferably made from a plastic material.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the waste drum carrying device is provided with a fluid tight waste drum envelope for at least partially containing a waste drum. This allows a further protection and shielding from fluids leaking from individual waste drums, which can be contained in the fluid tight waste drum envelope.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said container has at least one drain arranged in a side wall of said container. This allows fluids, that have leaked from the waste drums despite all protective measures, to be drained from the container. When replacing or servicing the waste drums, these can be removed from the container more safely as any leaked fluid can be drained before handling the waste drum carrying device.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said means for fixating said waste drums comprise one or more straps connected to said support structure.
- the straps can be made of a woven plastic fabric and allow easy fixation of the waste drums for lateral displacement relative to the walls of the waste drum carrying device. Thereby protection against damage of the waste drums is provided.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said means for fixating said waste drums comprise a door or brace, wherein said door or brace is at one lateral end hingeably connected to said support structure, and wherein said door or brace is at an opposite end provided with a locking mechanism for lockable connecting said door or brace to said support structure.
- the door or brace is an alternative for the straps for fixating the waste drums to the waste drum carrying device.
- the door or brace can be manufactured from metal or a solid plastic material to provide rigidity.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said loading space of said container is provided with pressure relief means. This allows pressure built up in time inside the container to be released .
- the pressure may be built up for example due to a leakage of gas and /or fluids from any one of the waste drums.
- the pressure relief means may comprise at least one of a pressure relief opening and a pressure relief valve.
- the pressure relief means may be provided in a base, a wall or lid of the container.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the container is provided with an instrument insertion slot.
- This allows insertion of for example instruments having one or more sensors for monitoring the container condition and its contents over time.
- the instrument insertion slot accommodates an instrument having at least one sensor from a group comprising a radiation sensor, a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.
- the instrument may be provided with communication means, which allow the monitoring to be performed remotely or locally.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in the instrument insertion slot is provided in the lid of the container, wherein the instrument insertion slot is aligned with a central support of the waste drum carrying device, wherein the central support is hollow for accommodating the instrument.
- a sensor for example a radiation sensor, having a unidirectional sensitivity, may be rotated within the central support to point to a particular waste drum, to obtain measurements values pertaining to said waste drum.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste packing system is a waste packing system for storage of low level or intermediate level radioactive waste, which contains radioactive material, and that said waste drums contain low level or intermediate level nuclear waste material.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized by that the system further comprises comprising a plurality of waste drums arranged on said drum carrier device.
- the object is also achieved in a waste drum carrying device for use in the waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims for holding said waste drums, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device comprises means for fixating said waste drums to said waste drum carrying device, and wherein said waste drum carrying device is laterally accessible for loading said waste drums on said waste drum carrying device.
- the waste drum carrying device is placeable in the loading space of a container of the system as described.
- a waste packing system 100 having a container 101, a waste drum carrier 102 for accommodating waste drums 104 and a lid 103.
- the waste drum carrier 102 is shown placed inside the container 101, wherein the waste drums 104 are supported by the waste drum carrier 102.
- the container 101 has a side wall mounted on a base 106, which defines a loading space 114 for accommodating the waste drum carrier 102 having the waste drums 104.
- the side wall can be arranged contiguously on the base 106.
- the side wall comprises interconnected side walls 105 as shown in figure 1 .
- the container 101, waste drum carrier 102, interconnected side walls 105 and lid 103 can be made from metal such as steel or stainless steel or carbon steel. Other materials with comparable mechanical strength may apply as well.
- the container has a top edge 107.
- the lid 103 has a lid edge 110.
- the lid 103 shown upside down in figure 1B , can be placed on top of the container 101, with a lid edge 110 contacting the container top edge 107.
- the container's loading space 114 can be sealed using a seal 115 between lid edge 110 and container top edge 107 .
- the lid 103 can be fixed to the container top edge 107 using bolts 108 extending through corresponding fastening holes 109 through the lid edge 110.
- the seal can be made from any removable flexible material which can withstand gasses and fluids and radiation which may over time leak from the waste drums 104, for example from rubber or plastic material.
- At least one of the container side walls 105, the lid 104 or base 106 can be provided with a pressure relief opening 111 to release such gases from the container 101 in case of overpressure.
- the pressure relief opening 111 may be provided with a pressure relief valve.
- the container 101 may be provided with a drain 112, which can be formed by a closable tube extending from the loading space 114 to the container's exterior, to allow fluid present inside the container 101 to be drained.
- the drain 112 is preferably arranged at a lower portion of one of the interconnected container side walls 105 near the base 106, or in the base 106.
- the drain 112 may be closed with a drain plug.
- the drain 112 and drain plug can be threaded for secure closure of the drain 112 during storage.
- the container may be provided with one or more feedthroughs or slots 113 for the insertion of measurement instruments with one or more sensor for monitoring parameters such as pressure, temperature and radioactivity in the loading space 114 inside the container 101. These instruments may be inserted temporarily or permanently.
- the instruments may be provided with wired or wireless communication connection with a monitoring system, e.g. console, for remote monitoring of the container status and waste status over time.
- the insertion slot 113 may be provided through the interconnected container side walls 105 of container 101 or through lid 103, or even through the container base 106. In figure 1B , an instrument insertion slot 113 is shown in the center of lid 103, to align with a central portion of the waste drum carrier 102.
- the container 101 is shown with double layered side walls 105, wherein an outer layer 105a is shown partially cut away. This reveals reinforcement bars 201 which are in this example vertically arranged between and attached to the outer layer 105a and inner layer 105b.
- a corner support 202 can be placed at each the intersection of container side walls 105 of the container 101 and are connected to the ends of the interconnected container side walls 105.
- the corners at extremities of the container 101 may be further reinforced using reinforcement elements in the form of corner castings 203.
- the corner castings 203 may be provided with holes 206 for hoisting and slots 207 for inserting a stacking guide.
- a stacking guide can be a guide pin or strip for stacking multiple containers, whereby the stacking guides are placeable between corresponding corner castings of stacked containers, which allow the stacked container to be laterally stabilized and prevent the stacked containers from shifting relative from each other.
- the lid 103 can be provided with hoisting eyes 208 for hoisting the container 101 when packed and closed or sealed.
- the base 106 of the container 101 can be provided with fork pockets 204.
- the forks of the forklift truck can slide into the fork pockets 204 to securely lift and move the container 101.
- Fork pockets 204 may be provided on all lateral sides of the base 106.
- the fork pockets 204 provided in the base 106 also provide reinforcement of the base 106.
- a container 101 having a radiation shielding liner 301 placed inside the container 101.
- the radiation shielding liner 301 has interconnected liner side walls 302 and a base (not shown) at a lower side of the radiation shielding liner 301 interconnecting the lower sides of the liner walls 302.
- the radiation shielding liner can be made from radiation absorbing materials such as lead and tungsten. Other suitable radiation absorbing materials may also may also be considered, however lead is the preferred material.
- the radiation shielding liner 301 is shown sticking out of the container 101 for clarity, however in practice, the radiation shielding liner 301 will be enveloped by the interconnected container side walls 105.
- the lid 103 may be provided with a radiation shielding liner plate as which fits closely to the upper edges of the radiation shielding liner walls 302. This provides shielding against radioactivity from waste drums accommodated within the container 101.
- the radiation shielding liner 301 is arranged inside the container between the interconnected container side walls 105 and the waste drum carrier 102.
- the radiation shielding liner 301 may be arranged outside the interconnected container side walls 105 as an outer cladding of the container.
- the radiation shielding liner may also be provided within the outer layer 105a and inner layer 105b of the interconnected container side walls 105. Radiation shielding liner walls 302 and base may be welded or glued together.
- a fluid-tight liner 303 is shown arranged within the radiation shielding liner 301.
- fluid-tight liner 303 is shown sticking out the loading space 114 of container 101.
- the fluid-tight liner 303 is also provided with interconnected liner side walls 304 and a base (not shown in fig. 3 ) interconnecting the liner side walls 304.
- the fluid-tight liner 303 forms a fluid collection container wherein fluids leaking from waste drums 104 may be collected.
- the fluid-tight liner 303 in figure 3 may also be arranged between the radiation shielding liner 301 and interconnected container side walls 105.
- the fluid-tight liner 303 for the container can be made of a durable plastic material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), or any fluid tight and corrosion resistant material.
- HDPE high density polyethylene
- a protective coating such as epoxy and polyurethane coatings, to protect these parts from corrosion. Also galvanically applied layers or coatings may apply.
- a waste drum carrier 102 is shown, which is dimensioned to fit inside a container 101.
- the waste drum carrier 102 has a platform 401 and waste drum carrier walls 402 which are connected to the platform 401.
- the waste drum carrier walls 402 can be mutually connected panels.
- the waste drum carrier walls 402 can be interconnected via an optional central support 403 and by optional lateral supports 404.
- the waste drum carrier walls 402 and platform 401 define lateral accessible pockets 413 for holding the drums 104.
- the drums 104 can be placed laterally inside the pockets 413.
- the central support 403 can be aligned with the central instrument insertion slot 113 in the lid 103.
- the central support 403 can be made hollow to allow insertion of an instrument from outside of the container 101 as described above.
- waste drum carrier walls 402 which may be provided with lateral supports 404, can be provided with slots 409 for guiding tightening straps 406 which can be wrapped around and tightened to secure waste drums 104 placed on the platform 401.
- the lateral edges of the waste drum carrier walls 402 can be provided with bumpers 405 as impact absorbers, which protect the waste drum carrier from deformation when handling the container with waste drum carrier, which may involve impact due to crashing or falling or the handling itself.
- the bumpers 405 can be made from a plastic material which has a resiliency or shock absorbing capacity. Lateral dimensions of the bumpers 405 may be adjusted depending on the presence and thickness of liners within the container 101.
- the waste drum carrier walls 402 and platform 401 can be made from steel which can be welded or glued together, which makes the waste drum carrier readily assembled.
- Figure 4B shows a bottom view of the waste drum carrier 102 with the platform 401 and laterally oriented spacers 411 attached to the bottom of platform 401. Also visible are the bottom sections of the bumpers 405.
- the spacers 411 can be made from a plastic material which has a resiliency or shock absorbing capacity.
- the spacers 411 provide separation of the platform 401 and bottom of the container 101, to counteract corrosion from any fluids that may have leaked from the waste drums 104, which may affect the integrity of the platform 401 and waste drum carrier walls 402. Simultaneously, the spacers 411 provide reinforcement of the platform 401.
- height and width of the waste drum carrier walls 402 and footprint 410 of the platform are matched to the inside dimensions and inner horizontal cross section of the container 101 to provide a proper fitting tight of the waste drum carrier, enough to optimally use space within the container 101, but with sufficient tolerance to accommodate minor deformation of the interconnected container side walls 105 caused by handling the container 101 with waste drum carrier 102.
- the waste drum carrier 102 may optionally be provided with one or more waste drum envelopes 407 to capture any fluids leaking from waste drums 104 placed inside the waste drum envelopes 407.
- the envelopes 407 can in the form of bins in which the waste drums 104 may be accommodated.
- the envelopes 407 may also be in the form of a full overpack, completely enveloping the waste drum 104.
- the waste drum envelopes 407 can be made from a durable plastic material such as HDPE or stainless steel having a wall and base attached to said wall for providing a container.
- Top edges of the waste drum carrier walls 402, lateral supports 404 and central support 403 may be provided with hoisting eyes 408 for lifting and transporting the waste drum carrier 102.
- the hoisting eyes 408 can be mounted in mounting holes in the top of said lateral supports 404 and/or central support 403.
- holes in a top section of the waste drum carrier walls 402 may be provided for accommodating hooks of hoisting equipment, i.e. cranes, to facilitate hoisting of the waste drum carrier 102.
- the lateral supports 404 and/or central support 403 may be provided with guide pins (not shown) in the mounting holes instead of hoisting eyes.
- the lateral and or central supports may be provided with holes 412 at the bottom side of the base.
- a top waste drum carrier is this way able to receive the guide pins in the holes 412, which pins which have been inserted in the mounting holes of the lateral supports 404 of the lower waste drum carrier. This allows safe and stable stacking of the waste drum carriers 102 outside the container 101.
- Surfaces of parts of the waste drum carrier 102 such as the platform 401 and waste drum carrier walls 402 may be provided with a protective coating such as epoxy and polyurethane coatings, to protect these parts from corrosion. Also galvanically applied layers or coatings may apply.
- FIG 5 an exemplary waste drum packing system 500 is shown which complies with the description above, which has a double size relative to the system 100 of figure 1A for accommodating two waste drum carriers 102 and subsequent double number of waste drums 104.
- two of the interconnected container walls 505 are twice the size of corresponding side walls 105 in figure 1A .
- waste packing system 100 having the waste drum carrier 102 and container 101 as described is shown accommodating 4 waste drums as a preferred embodiment. It may be conceived that a different number of waste drums may apply, such as 2, 3 or 5 or more. It will be clear for the person skilled in the art that such waste drum carriers can be placed in containers with corresponding polygonal horizontal cross sections, and corresponding lids. Moreover container size may be chosen to accommodate more than two waste drum carriers arranged adjacent to each other, or stacked on top of each other.
- the drums can be barrel shaped, or cylindrical, or the drums can be cuboid, or any other suitable shape for holding waste or nuclear waste. It will be clear to the skilled person, that the walls 402 of the waste drum carrier 102 may be chosen mutually different to accommodate different sizes of waste drums 104 within the same waste drum carrier 102.
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Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to a waste packing system comprising a container for storing a plurality of waste drums, wherein the container comprises a loading space for accommodating said waste drums, and a loading opening for receiving said waste drums, the system further comprises at least one waste drum carrying device removably arranged in said loading space for holding said waste drums. The invention further relates to a waste drum carrying device for said waste packing system. More particularly, the invention relates to storage of low level and intermediate level nuclear waste, which contains radioactive material.
- Radioactive nuclear waste is hazardous to all forms of life and the environment, and is regulated by government agencies in order to protect human health and the environment. Radioactive materials naturally decay over time, so radioactive nuclear waste can be isolated and confined in appropriate disposal and storage facilities for a sufficient period until it no longer poses a threat. The time radioactive nuclear waste must be stored for depends on the type of waste and radioactive isotopes. Current approaches to managing radioactive nuclear waste have been segregation and storage for low level waste, near-surface disposal for low and some intermediate level waste, and deep burial or partitioning / transmutation for the high-level waste.
- Low level nuclear waste, generally referred to as LLW, originates from for example hospitals, laboratories or industry and may include paper, wiping rags, mops, medical tools such as tubes, clothing, filters, animal carcasses, and other materials which in use may have been contaminated with mostly short-lived or low activity radioactive material. Some relatively high-activity LLW may require extra shielding during handling and transport but most LLW is suitable for storage in a on-surface storage facility, and can be stored up to 30 years before their disposal.
- Intermediate level nuclear waste, generally referred to as ILW, contains higher amounts of radioactivity and in general require shielding. Intermediate-level waste includes radioactive resins, chemical sludge and metal nuclear fuel cladding, as well as for example contaminated materials from reactor decommissioning. It may be solidified in concrete or bitumen for disposal. Often ILW that contains long-lived radioisotopes will be temporarily stored in an on-surface storage facility pending disposal to an underground facility. ILW should be suitable to be stored in an underground storage or disposal facility for normally longer than 30 years.
- Low level and intermediate level radioactive waste is generally stored in waste drums of for example 210 liter, i.e. 55 gallons, steel or stainless steel waste drums, compliant with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines for storage and transport of nuclear waste. The waste drums constitute a first containment barrier against leakage of radioactive fluids These waste drums are generally stored in on-surface or underground storage facilities The drums may be stacked on top of each other directly or using pallets in between layers of waste drums.
- In the past waste drums having LLW or ILW may have been improperly stored and inappropriately disposed of, and presently these waste drums are known to be corroding and leaking on there original storage site. These older stored waste drums with low and intermediate level waste are often transported back from their storage to a decommissioning facility to be decommissioned. The radioactive waste materials in the waste drums need to sorted by measure of their radioactivity. When the sorted materials are redistributed the materials can be compacted to reduce their volume and packed back into new waste drums for renewed storage or disposal.
- In the art, to facilitate handling, the waste drums can be packed in metal containers wherein they are placed and sealed using a cover. Removing waste drums for decommissioning in this situation requires hoisting of the waste drums from the container using grabs which grab the waste drums at their top. The grabs and grabbing may cause damage to the waste drums and subsequent leaking. Moreover, when aging, the waste drum may leak due to damage an corrosion, whereby the leaked fluids corrode the containers from the inside which ultimately may result in leakage of radioactive material from the container into the environment. Waste drums stored in containers are furthermore vulnerable to impact due to handling, crashes and falling of the container, which can cause damage and leaking of the waste drums next to corrosion. Therefore, removing damaged waste drums from such a container for decommissioning requires even more specialized handling.
- To prevent impact damage, the container provided with waste drums can be filled with concrete to stabilize the waste drums, however removing waste drums from the container for decommissioning is extremely laborious. In that case, the waste must be extracted from the waste drum directly in an elaborate extraction process. Remains of such containers, after removal of the radioactive waste, can still be radioactively contaminated and may require secure secondary storage.
- As a consequence, large scale extraction of nuclear waste material from waste drums in containers, damaged or not, requires on-surface facilities and subsequent transport from underground facilities to the earth surface and back.
- In a packaging system according to international patent application nr
WO2016/007200 , nuclear waste drums can be loaded vertically into cavities of a support framework. The support framework accommodating the drums can subsequently be loaded into a container. The vertical loading of drums into such a support framework requires handling the drum by their top portions, for example the top rims, to allow the drum to be lowered into the cavities. This handling can be hazardous especially with aged and possibly corroded drums. The drums top portion or rims may break and thereby cause radiation leakage into the environment. - As an alternative, as shown in
WO2016/007200 , to avoid vertically handling of the drums, the drums can be accommodated within the support framework, by placing them onto a support base of the framework. In the example ofWO2016/007200 however, this requires assembling the support framework around the drums using support posts surrounding the drums, to fixate and stabilize the drums. - It is an object of the present invention to provide a waste packing system which at least partially overcomes or counters the disadvantages set out above.
- In order to achieve the object in a waste packing system of the kind mentioned in the preamble of this application, the waste packing system is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is laterally accessible for loading said waste drums on said waste drum carrying device, and that said waste drum carrying device comprises means for fixating said waste drums to said waste drum carrying device. The waste drum carrying device allows groupwise packing, unpacking and loading of waste drums in the loading space of the container. The waste drum carrying device, moreover, prevents damage to the waste drums while being handled, thereby preventing the waste drums from leaking and extending their life time.
- The lateral access of the drum carrying device allows loading and unloading of corroded or structurally weakened drums which cannot normally be handled by their top parts, e.g. their rims. Instead such drums can be handled in a more central part of the drum body and loaded onto the drum carrying device laterally.
The drum carrying device is preferably preassembled, which allows instant lateral loading of waste drums and obviates laborious assembly of the drum carrying device and drums together. - Where each of the waste drums provides a first leaking containment barrier, the container forms an inner reservoir and thereby provides a second leakage containment barrier. Any radioactive material leaking from a waste drum, having passed the first leaking containment barrier will be contained inside the container first. Waste drums packed in the container using the waste drum carrying device according to the invention are protected from damage and leaking. Such waste drums can be easily removed from a container and repacked after shelf life, as damage to the waste drums is prevented. This extends storage time and allows repacking in underground facilities. It is expected that shelf life of nuclear waste containers packed this way can be extended to substantially more than 30 years, which is presently common, and perhaps up to 100 years.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is laterally immovably placeable inside said loading space.
This prevents the waste drum carrying device from shifting when the container is being moved, dropped or bumped while handling, transporting, loading or stacking the container. - An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device comprises a platform and a support structure attached to said platform, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected walls, said interconnected walls and platform defining laterally accessible pockets, wherein each pocket is adapted for accommodating one of said drums. When the container is exposed to mechanical stress due to impact induced by handling, falling or crashing, the interconnected walls of the support structure provide inner support for the container wall inside said loading space, and thereby counteract and prevent deformation of the container wall. Thereby the integrity of the waste drum stored in use inside the container is secured.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the interconnected walls of said waste drum carrying device laterally extend to, or at least close to, said interconnected side walls of said container. This provides structural rigidity to said system of container having a waste drum carrying device placed into said loading space of said container.
- An embodiment of the invention characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is provided with impact absorbing means arranged at a head end of at least one of said walls, wherein said impact absorbing means preferably comprise a resilient or compressible member, more preferably a rubber or plastic member.
The impact absorbing means allows absorption of mechanical stress in case of impact due to falling or crashing of the container. Moreover, the impact absorbing means resilient or compressible material provides a soft contact with the inner side of the container wall. Thereby these inner sides are less prone to abrasion of protective layers such as paint layers. Thus, the container's walls are inside protected against abrasion. The size or thickness of the impact absorbing means in lateral direction can be adjusted depending on further protective measures between the waste drum carrying device and inner wall of the container, as will be set out below. - An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a loading opening is formed by a top edge of said interconnected side walls for receiving said waste drums, and that the container comprises a lid for covering said loading opening. This allows the waste drum carrying device to be loaded in the loading space from above, which loading space can subsequent be closed and sealed off by a seal.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device has outer dimensions corresponding to dimensions of said loading space of said container. This allows a tight fit of the waste drum carrying device, which thereby not only keeps the waste drum in place while packing or unpacking, but also provides structural reinforcement of the container when said container is for example dropped, or crashed into another structure, while being handled.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is provided with hoisting means. This allows easy placement and positioning of the waste drum carrying device into the container. This allows the waste drum carrying device to be hoisted in and out of the container.
- An embodiment is characterized in that said hoisting means comprise at least one hoisting eye attached to said support structure. A hoisting eye can for example be attached to the center of the cross connected walls of the waste drum carrying device. Hoisting eyes can furthermore be placed near the lateral ends of the cross connected walls of the waste drum carrying device, to distribute the hoisting force needed to lift the waste drum carrying device.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said hoisting means comprise a plurality of hoist openings in a top section of said support structure. This provides an alternative for hoist eyes which need attaching to the walls of the waste drum carrying device, for example by screwing. Hoist eyes may not be permanently connected to the support structure and after placing the waste drum carrying device into the container they may have to be removed. The hoist openings extend through the centrally connected walls of the waste drum carrying device, to which hooks of a crane may be coupled for easy connecting and lifting. The hooks can be easily removed after positioning the waste drum carrying device into the container.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said container is arranged in a cuboid or block shape, wherein said container has reinforcement elements arranged at outer corners of said cuboid or block shape. This allows the containers to be stored in a regular pattern e.g. in rows and columns on a storage floor. The reinforcements elements provide additional protection against deformation of the container in case of impact due to crashing or falling or any other incident. The reinforcement elements can be provided with means for hoisting the container, such as an opening for attaching a hoist eye or a hook.
- A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said reinforcement elements are provided with stacking guides. The stacking guides allow containers to be stacked whereby lateral shift of the stacked container is prevented. The stacking guides thereby provide additional stability to the stack in case of lateral impact due to for example earth quakes or any other incident.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device comprises a platform and a support structure attached to said platform, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected walls, said interconnected walls and platform defining laterally accessible pockets, wherein each pocket is adapted for accommodating one of said drums. The pockets allow lateral loading of waste drums. The drums can be placed on the platform directly whereby the drum can be stably held in a central portion of the drum, thereby preventing structural damage to the drum. Preferably, the interconnected walls of said waste drum carrying device are cross-connected for stability and rigidity.
- A further embodiment of the invention is characterized by said interconnected walls of said waste drum carrying device are interconnected to a central support of said support structure. The central support allows the definition of equally sized and/or equally distributed pockets on said platform of said waste drum carrying device.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste drum carrying device has a footprint corresponding to a horizontal cross section of said loading space for loading said waste drum carrying device into said container. This allows the waste drum carrying device to fit closely into the inside of the container. The walls of the waste drum carrying device can in combination with the corresponding footprint be chosen to correspond to the inner height of the container, to provide optimum protection against deformation of the container in case of impact due to crashing or falling or any other incident.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said base of said container is provided with at least two fork pockets on a back side of said base for accommodating forks of a fork lift truck. This allows the container to be transported and handle similar to handling and transporting pallets having waste drums.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the container is provided with a radiation shielding liner. The radiation shielding liner is preferably arranged inside the container in the loading space, between the container wall and base and the waste drum carrying device. This provides additional shielding and protection against higher intensity radiation from waste drums inside the container, where shielding from the waste drum and container wall as such may not be sufficient. The radiation shielding liner can be made from a suitable radiation absorbing material such as lead, or tungsten. The radiation shielding liner may also be provide at the exterior of the container.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the container is provided with a fluid-tight liner arranged in said loading space. The fluid-tight liner is preferably arranged inside the container in the loading space, between the container wall and base and the waste drum carrying device. If the container is provided with a radiation absorbing liner inside the container, the fluid-tight liner may be arranged between the radiation absorbing liner and the waste drum carrying device. This provides a additional protection against leaking from any one of the waste drums inside the container, especially when the waste drums have been filled with fluids for submerging the radioactive waste materials inside the waste drums. The fluid-tight liner is preferably made from a plastic material.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the waste drum carrying device is provided with a fluid tight waste drum envelope for at least partially containing a waste drum. This allows a further protection and shielding from fluids leaking from individual waste drums, which can be contained in the fluid tight waste drum envelope.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said container has at least one drain arranged in a side wall of said container. This allows fluids, that have leaked from the waste drums despite all protective measures, to be drained from the container. When replacing or servicing the waste drums, these can be removed from the container more safely as any leaked fluid can be drained before handling the waste drum carrying device.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said means for fixating said waste drums comprise one or more straps connected to said support structure. The straps can be made of a woven plastic fabric and allow easy fixation of the waste drums for lateral displacement relative to the walls of the waste drum carrying device. Thereby protection against damage of the waste drums is provided.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said means for fixating said waste drums comprise a door or brace, wherein said door or brace is at one lateral end hingeably connected to said support structure, and wherein said door or brace is at an opposite end provided with a locking mechanism for lockable connecting said door or brace to said support structure. The door or brace is an alternative for the straps for fixating the waste drums to the waste drum carrying device. The door or brace can be manufactured from metal or a solid plastic material to provide rigidity.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said loading space of said container is provided with pressure relief means. This allows pressure built up in time inside the container to be released . The pressure may be built up for example due to a leakage of gas and /or fluids from any one of the waste drums. The pressure relief means may comprise at least one of a pressure relief opening and a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief means may be provided in a base, a wall or lid of the container.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the container is provided with an instrument insertion slot. This allows insertion of for example instruments having one or more sensors for monitoring the container condition and its contents over time. The instrument insertion slot accommodates an instrument having at least one sensor from a group comprising a radiation sensor, a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. The instrument may be provided with communication means, which allow the monitoring to be performed remotely or locally.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in the instrument insertion slot is provided in the lid of the container, wherein the instrument insertion slot is aligned with a central support of the waste drum carrying device, wherein the central support is hollow for accommodating the instrument. This allows monitoring the drums from a central location within the loading space. A sensor, for example a radiation sensor, having a unidirectional sensitivity, may be rotated within the central support to point to a particular waste drum, to obtain measurements values pertaining to said waste drum.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said waste packing system is a waste packing system for storage of low level or intermediate level radioactive waste, which contains radioactive material, and that said waste drums contain low level or intermediate level nuclear waste material.
- An embodiment of the invention is characterized by that the system further comprises comprising a plurality of waste drums arranged on said drum carrier device. Thus, a complete solution for long-time storage of waste, including low and intermediate level nuclear waste, is achieved.
- According to another aspect of the invention, the object is also achieved in a waste drum carrying device for use in the waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims for holding said waste drums, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device comprises means for fixating said waste drums to said waste drum carrying device, and wherein said waste drum carrying device is laterally accessible for loading said waste drums on said waste drum carrying device. The waste drum carrying device is placeable in the loading space of a container of the system as described.
- The invention will be further elucidated with reference to drawings and a detailed description of embodiments according to the invention. In the drawings:
-
Figure 1A shows an isometric view of a waste packing system according to an embodiment of the invention. -
Figure 1B shows an isometric view of a cover of a waste packing system according to an embodiment of the invention. -
Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a container according to an embodiment of the invention. -
Figure 3 shows an isometric view of a further embodiment of a container according to an embodiment of the invention. -
Figure 4A shows an isometric view of a waste drum carrying device according to an embodiment of the invention. -
Figure 4B shows a bottom view of a waste drum carrying device according to an embodiment of the invention. -
Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a waste packing system according to a further embodiment of the invention. - It must be noted that the figures are schematic only and their scales may deviate mutually. Some dimensions may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Similar features are represented by same reference numerals.
- In
figure 1A and 1B , awaste packing system 100 is shown having acontainer 101, awaste drum carrier 102 for accommodatingwaste drums 104 and alid 103. - The
waste drum carrier 102 is shown placed inside thecontainer 101, wherein the waste drums 104 are supported by thewaste drum carrier 102. Thecontainer 101 has a side wall mounted on abase 106, which defines aloading space 114 for accommodating thewaste drum carrier 102 having the waste drums 104. The side wall can be arranged contiguously on thebase 106. Preferably the side wall comprisesinterconnected side walls 105 as shown infigure 1 . Thecontainer 101,waste drum carrier 102,interconnected side walls 105 andlid 103 can be made from metal such as steel or stainless steel or carbon steel. Other materials with comparable mechanical strength may apply as well. The container has atop edge 107. Thelid 103 has alid edge 110. - The
lid 103, shown upside down infigure 1B , can be placed on top of thecontainer 101, with alid edge 110 contacting the containertop edge 107. The container'sloading space 114 can be sealed using aseal 115 betweenlid edge 110 and containertop edge 107 . Thelid 103 can be fixed to the containertop edge 107 usingbolts 108 extending through corresponding fastening holes 109 through thelid edge 110. The seal can be made from any removable flexible material which can withstand gasses and fluids and radiation which may over time leak from the waste drums 104, for example from rubber or plastic material. - At least one of the
container side walls 105, thelid 104 orbase 106 can be provided with apressure relief opening 111 to release such gases from thecontainer 101 in case of overpressure. Thepressure relief opening 111 may be provided with a pressure relief valve. - The
container 101 may be provided with adrain 112, which can be formed by a closable tube extending from theloading space 114 to the container's exterior, to allow fluid present inside thecontainer 101 to be drained. Thedrain 112 is preferably arranged at a lower portion of one of the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105 near thebase 106, or in thebase 106. Thedrain 112 may be closed with a drain plug. Thedrain 112 and drain plug can be threaded for secure closure of thedrain 112 during storage. - The container may be provided with one or more feedthroughs or
slots 113 for the insertion of measurement instruments with one or more sensor for monitoring parameters such as pressure, temperature and radioactivity in theloading space 114 inside thecontainer 101. These instruments may be inserted temporarily or permanently. The instruments may be provided with wired or wireless communication connection with a monitoring system, e.g. console, for remote monitoring of the container status and waste status over time. Theinsertion slot 113 may be provided through the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105 ofcontainer 101 or throughlid 103, or even through thecontainer base 106. Infigure 1B , aninstrument insertion slot 113 is shown in the center oflid 103, to align with a central portion of thewaste drum carrier 102. - In
figure 2 , thecontainer 101 is shown with doublelayered side walls 105, wherein anouter layer 105a is shown partially cut away. This reveals reinforcement bars 201 which are in this example vertically arranged between and attached to theouter layer 105a andinner layer 105b. As shown infigure 2 , acorner support 202 can be placed at each the intersection ofcontainer side walls 105 of thecontainer 101 and are connected to the ends of the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105. The corners at extremities of thecontainer 101 may be further reinforced using reinforcement elements in the form ofcorner castings 203. Thecorner castings 203 may be provided withholes 206 for hoisting andslots 207 for inserting a stacking guide. A stacking guide can be a guide pin or strip for stacking multiple containers, whereby the stacking guides are placeable between corresponding corner castings of stacked containers, which allow the stacked container to be laterally stabilized and prevent the stacked containers from shifting relative from each other. - The
lid 103 can be provided with hoistingeyes 208 for hoisting thecontainer 101 when packed and closed or sealed.
For transport by forklift truck, thebase 106 of thecontainer 101 can be provided with fork pockets 204. The forks of the forklift truck can slide into the fork pockets 204 to securely lift and move thecontainer 101. Fork pockets 204 may be provided on all lateral sides of thebase 106. The fork pockets 204 provided in thebase 106 also provide reinforcement of thebase 106. - In
figure 3 acontainer 101 is shown having aradiation shielding liner 301 placed inside thecontainer 101. Theradiation shielding liner 301 has interconnectedliner side walls 302 and a base (not shown) at a lower side of theradiation shielding liner 301 interconnecting the lower sides of theliner walls 302. The radiation shielding liner can be made from radiation absorbing materials such as lead and tungsten. Other suitable radiation absorbing materials may also may also be considered, however lead is the preferred material. Theradiation shielding liner 301 is shown sticking out of thecontainer 101 for clarity, however in practice, theradiation shielding liner 301 will be enveloped by the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105. Moreover, thelid 103 may be provided with a radiation shielding liner plate as which fits closely to the upper edges of the radiationshielding liner walls 302. This provides shielding against radioactivity from waste drums accommodated within thecontainer 101. Theradiation shielding liner 301 is arranged inside the container between the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105 and thewaste drum carrier 102. As an alternative, theradiation shielding liner 301 may be arranged outside the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105 as an outer cladding of the container. The radiation shielding liner may also be provided within theouter layer 105a andinner layer 105b of the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105. Radiationshielding liner walls 302 and base may be welded or glued together. - In
figure 3 a fluid-tight liner 303 is shown arranged within theradiation shielding liner 301. For clarity sake also fluid-tight liner 303 is shown sticking out theloading space 114 ofcontainer 101. The fluid-tight liner 303 is also provided with interconnectedliner side walls 304 and a base (not shown infig. 3 ) interconnecting theliner side walls 304. The fluid-tight liner 303 forms a fluid collection container wherein fluids leaking fromwaste drums 104 may be collected. The fluid-tight liner 303 infigure 3 may also be arranged between theradiation shielding liner 301 and interconnectedcontainer side walls 105. The fluid-tight liner 303 for the container can be made of a durable plastic material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), or any fluid tight and corrosion resistant material. - Surfaces of parts of the
container 101 such as thebase 106, interconnectedcontainer side walls 105 andlid 103 may be provided with a protective coating such as epoxy and polyurethane coatings, to protect these parts from corrosion. Also galvanically applied layers or coatings may apply. - In
figure 4A awaste drum carrier 102 is shown, which is dimensioned to fit inside acontainer 101. Thewaste drum carrier 102 has aplatform 401 and wastedrum carrier walls 402 which are connected to theplatform 401. The wastedrum carrier walls 402 can be mutually connected panels. The wastedrum carrier walls 402 can be interconnected via an optionalcentral support 403 and by optional lateral supports 404. The wastedrum carrier walls 402 andplatform 401 define lateralaccessible pockets 413 for holding thedrums 104. Thedrums 104 can be placed laterally inside thepockets 413. Thecentral support 403 can be aligned with the centralinstrument insertion slot 113 in thelid 103. Thecentral support 403 can be made hollow to allow insertion of an instrument from outside of thecontainer 101 as described above. - The lateral edges of waste
drum carrier walls 402, which may be provided withlateral supports 404, can be provided withslots 409 for guiding tighteningstraps 406 which can be wrapped around and tightened to securewaste drums 104 placed on theplatform 401. The lateral edges of the wastedrum carrier walls 402 can be provided withbumpers 405 as impact absorbers, which protect the waste drum carrier from deformation when handling the container with waste drum carrier, which may involve impact due to crashing or falling or the handling itself. - The
bumpers 405 can be made from a plastic material which has a resiliency or shock absorbing capacity. Lateral dimensions of thebumpers 405 may be adjusted depending on the presence and thickness of liners within thecontainer 101.
The wastedrum carrier walls 402 andplatform 401 can be made from steel which can be welded or glued together, which makes the waste drum carrier readily assembled. -
Figure 4B shows a bottom view of thewaste drum carrier 102 with theplatform 401 and laterally orientedspacers 411 attached to the bottom ofplatform 401. Also visible are the bottom sections of thebumpers 405. Thespacers 411 can be made from a plastic material which has a resiliency or shock absorbing capacity. Thespacers 411 provide separation of theplatform 401 and bottom of thecontainer 101, to counteract corrosion from any fluids that may have leaked from the waste drums 104, which may affect the integrity of theplatform 401 and wastedrum carrier walls 402. Simultaneously, thespacers 411 provide reinforcement of theplatform 401. - In
figure 4A and figure 4B , height and width of the wastedrum carrier walls 402 andfootprint 410 of the platform, i.e. shape of the platform circumference, are matched to the inside dimensions and inner horizontal cross section of thecontainer 101 to provide a proper fitting tight of the waste drum carrier, enough to optimally use space within thecontainer 101, but with sufficient tolerance to accommodate minor deformation of the interconnectedcontainer side walls 105 caused by handling thecontainer 101 withwaste drum carrier 102. - The
waste drum carrier 102 may optionally be provided with one or morewaste drum envelopes 407 to capture any fluids leaking fromwaste drums 104 placed inside thewaste drum envelopes 407. Theenvelopes 407 can in the form of bins in which the waste drums 104 may be accommodated. Theenvelopes 407 may also be in the form of a full overpack, completely enveloping thewaste drum 104. Thewaste drum envelopes 407 can be made from a durable plastic material such as HDPE or stainless steel having a wall and base attached to said wall for providing a container. - Top edges of the waste
drum carrier walls 402, lateral supports 404 andcentral support 403 may be provided with hoistingeyes 408 for lifting and transporting thewaste drum carrier 102. The hoistingeyes 408 can be mounted in mounting holes in the top of said lateral supports 404 and/orcentral support 403. As an alternative for or in addition to hoistingeyes 408, holes in a top section of the wastedrum carrier walls 402 may be provided for accommodating hooks of hoisting equipment, i.e. cranes, to facilitate hoisting of thewaste drum carrier 102. - The lateral supports 404 and/or
central support 403 may be provided with guide pins (not shown) in the mounting holes instead of hoisting eyes. The lateral and or central supports may be provided withholes 412 at the bottom side of the base. When twodrum carriers 102 are stacked, wherein a bottom waste drum carrier is provided with guide pins, a top waste drum carrier is this way able to receive the guide pins in theholes 412, which pins which have been inserted in the mounting holes of the lateral supports 404 of the lower waste drum carrier. This allows safe and stable stacking of thewaste drum carriers 102 outside thecontainer 101. - Surfaces of parts of the
waste drum carrier 102 such as theplatform 401 and wastedrum carrier walls 402 may be provided with a protective coating such as epoxy and polyurethane coatings, to protect these parts from corrosion. Also galvanically applied layers or coatings may apply. - In
figure 5 an exemplary wastedrum packing system 500 is shown which complies with the description above, which has a double size relative to thesystem 100 offigure 1A for accommodating twowaste drum carriers 102 and subsequent double number of waste drums 104. To achieve the double size, two of theinterconnected container walls 505 are twice the size of correspondingside walls 105 infigure 1A . - Although the invention has been elucidated based on an exemplary embodiment, the skilled person should understand that the invention is not limited thereto. Instead variations are possible that fall within the scope of the present invention as laid down in the claims below. For example,
waste packing system 100 having thewaste drum carrier 102 andcontainer 101 as described is shown accommodating 4 waste drums as a preferred embodiment. It may be conceived that a different number of waste drums may apply, such as 2, 3 or 5 or more. It will be clear for the person skilled in the art that such waste drum carriers can be placed in containers with corresponding polygonal horizontal cross sections, and corresponding lids. Moreover container size may be chosen to accommodate more than two waste drum carriers arranged adjacent to each other, or stacked on top of each other. Furthermore, the drums can be barrel shaped, or cylindrical, or the drums can be cuboid, or any other suitable shape for holding waste or nuclear waste. It will be clear to the skilled person, that thewalls 402 of thewaste drum carrier 102 may be chosen mutually different to accommodate different sizes ofwaste drums 104 within the samewaste drum carrier 102.
Claims (15)
- Waste packing system comprising a container for storing a plurality of waste drums, wherein the container comprises a loading space for accommodating said waste drums, and a loading opening for receiving said waste drums, the system further comprises at least one waste drum carrying device removably arranged in said loading space for holding said waste drums, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is laterally accessible for loading said waste drums on said waste drum carrying device, and that said waste drum carrying device comprises means for fixating said waste drums to said waste drum carrying device.
- Waste packing system according to claim 1, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is laterally immovably placeable inside said loading space.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device comprises a platform and a support structure attached to said platform, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected walls, said interconnected walls and platform defining laterally accessible pockets, wherein each pocket is adapted for accommodating one of said drums.
- Waste packing system according to claim 3, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is provided with impact absorbing means arranged at a head end of at least one of said walls, wherein said impact absorbing means preferably comprise a resilient or compressible member, more preferably a rubber or plastic member.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is provided with hoisting means.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container is arranged in a cuboid or block shape, wherein said container has reinforcement elements arranged at outer corners of said cuboid or block shape.
- Waste packing system according to claim 6, characterized in that said reinforcement elements are provided with a stacking guide.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is provided with at least one of a radiation shielding liner and a fluid-tight liner, preferably arranged in said loading space.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said waste drum carrying device is provided with at least one fluid-tight waste drum envelope for containing a waste drum.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for fixating said waste drums comprise one or more straps connected to said support structure.
- Waste packing system, according to any one of the claims 1- 9, characterized in that said means for fixating said waste drums comprise a door or brace, wherein said door or brace is at one lateral end hingeably connected to said support structure, and wherein said door or brace is at an opposite end provided with a locking mechanism for lockable connecting said door or brace to said support structure.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said loading space is provided with pressure relief means, the pressure relief means may comprise at least one of a pressure relief opening and a pressure relief valve.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is provided with an instrument insertion slot and an instrument having at least one sensor from a group comprising a radiation sensor, a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.
- Waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said waste packing system is a waste packing system for storage of low level or intermediate level radioactive waste, said waste comprising low level or intermediate level radioactive material, and that said waste drums contain said low level or intermediate level radioactive material.
- Waste drum carrying device for use in the waste packing system according to any one of the preceding claims for holding said waste drums,
characterized in that
said waste drum carrying device comprises means for fixating said waste drums to said waste drum carrying device, and wherein said waste drum carrying device is laterally accessible for loading said waste drums on said waste drum carrying device.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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NL2022807 | 2019-03-25 |
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EP19202861.1A Pending EP3716288A1 (en) | 2019-03-25 | 2019-10-11 | Waste packing system and waste drum carrier for said system |
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