ES2342300T3 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOVERY OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL OF A CLOSED CAMERA. - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for moving radioactive waste (11) from a storage vault (13) to a second suitable container (28) by means of a flowing fluid, a flexible tube (1) being inserted in the storage vault (13) is connected to a suction device capable of maintaining a negative pressure in the tube (11), the suction device being located outside the storage vault (13), where the tube (1) comprises a plurality of manoeuvring devices (7a, 7b) surrounding the circumference of the tube (1) and extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube (1). <??>A method of moving radioactive waste (11) from a storage vault (13) to another suitable container (28) by means of a flowing fluid is also described. <IMAGE>

Description

Apparatus and method for recovery of Radioactive material from a closed chamber.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for recovering fragments of radioactive waste of a closed chamber, more precisely by means of a nozzle vacuum controlled remotely, which is addressed remotely into the closed chamber through a hole in access, which then recovers radioactive waste through empty and then transfer the waste to a hopper pick up

All storage and handling of Radioactive material is governed by health and safety requirements very restrictive Storage in an installation, for example, a nuclear power plant or drilling rig for Exploration drilling takes place in a protected environment. According to the requirements the material will either be processed or will transfer to a permanent storage location.

The nature of the material does not allow access direct from people to the container or location where it has been stored radioactive material for the purpose of manual recovery of radioactive material. Radioactive material should be removed without no direct contact with people, and therefore the operation remotely using mechanical manipulators with gripping devices to recover the material of the enclosure in which It has been placed. The manipulator must then move the material to another location where you can be exposed to manipulation additional.

These operations that take time and are expensive, they must be repeated until all the material has been recovered. Likewise, there is a risk that such mechanical manipulators may remain trapped inside storage containers, since most of these containers have entry holes for limited size Such inconveniences may result in complex and expensive operations, due to the severe requirements in relation to manual work around or near such radioactive elements

The use of EP 0 730 094 A1 is known of a submerged pump with telescopic pipes for evacuation of liquid radioactive waste from a vessel that illustrates a variable suction device, controlling the vertical level of the pump remotely raising and lowering the pump along a frame. The drive means (motor, pump) are submerged in radioactive waste.

JP 7 214 096 discloses a device for suction of mud from the bottom of a tank open water, placing the suction nozzle on the surface from the bottom of the tank by remote control of one arm telescopic and winding and unwinding the hose of a coil in the telescopic arm. The suction nozzle includes means of remote controlled drive for travel of the suction nozzle horizontally over the bed and remotely controlled devices to help move the mud to the suction nozzle.

JP 10 020 089 discloses a device for the recovery of bottom sediment in the inside a tank of liquid radioactive waste. A bomb of suction is arranged above the level of fluid in the inside the tank The suction pump is assigned a hose suction, whose free end is connected to a car arranged to scroll horizontally remotely along the tank bottom surface in order to vacuum the covering. The coating is recovered by means of a filter and the fluid is returned to the tank through a hose discharge. The device is operated from inside the tank.

From GreyPilgrim LLC (USA) it is known a treatment system (EMMA) used during Hanford Tank Initiative (HTI, Hanford Tank Initiative). It is given to know a coil hose system operated so remote, which is manipulated by several sets of cylinders joint action, interconnecting each set in the ring circumference, placing the cylinders substantially parallel and in the direction of the central axis of the system hose. A suction nozzle that is connected to a hose air transport is coupled to the free end of the system handling. By retracting and extending the cylinders, the Suction nozzle can move in a three-axis system. It's used a water jet system to tear materials adhered

From the "robot crane" NIST is known a large gantry crane, which can place its load inside an unobstructed space by using several cables elevation.

The document US-A-4 924 898 unveils a mud pumping system comprising a vacuum pump and a articulated arm in three phases. A mud inlet hose is extends along the length of the articulated arm and beyond from its free end to form an entry line section not supported A centrifugal pressure booster pump is coupled to the free end

The object of the invention is to remedy at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention a apparatus for moving radioactive waste from a chamber storage to another suitable container by means of a fluid flowing, the apparatus comprising a flexible tube, in use, inserted into the storage chamber and connected to a suction device that can maintain a negative pressure on the tube, the suction device being located outside the storage chamber, characterized in that the tube is provided of a plurality of elongated maneuvering devices surrounding the circumference of the tube and that extend in the direction longitudinal of the tube, said plurality comprising elongated maneuvering devices a first set of maneuvering devices connected to a first actuator located outside the storage chamber, with the first set of maneuvering devices to bend a lower part of the tube and being coupled close to the ends of the extension longitudinal part of the lower tube. Other features are set forth in claims 2 to 10 to which the Attention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provides a method to move radioactive waste from a storage chamber to another suitable container by means of a flowing fluid, a flexible tube that is provided with a plurality of maneuvering devices surrounding the circumference of the tube and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the tube, is connected to a suction device that can maintain a negative pressure in the tube, the device being located suction outside the storage chamber, characterized why

the tube is inserted into the chamber of storage through a tube passage unwinding the tube a tube coil,

a nozzle moves to any location in the surface of the radioactive material through the control of the tube coil, the movement of the first and second actuators of the maneuvering devices and the motor rotation of the nozzle,

a vacuum pump sucks fluid and material radioactive into the tube through the nozzle,

radioactive material is separated into a unit of cyclone and is blocked from the fluid flow by means of a blockage, Y

the radioactive material is deposited in a waste container. Other stages of the method are set out in the claims 12 and 13 to which attention is directed.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for recovering fragments of radioactive waste from a storage chamber with limited access, a remotely controlled nozzle being disposed in the free end of a flexible tube suitable for driving so remote into the closed storage chamber a through an access hole, preferably located on the roof of the chamber, in order to recover radioactive waste by negative pressure medium, that is, suction, and deposit waste in a storage location suitable for your additional handling

The principle of the apparatus and the method is to use a flexible air transport duct as the main part of a control cable system, which can be used to create curvature controlled with the duct, thus allowing the operator place the nozzle anywhere in the horizontal plane when duct reach. The duct assembly is enough flexible to extend and retract by using a hose coil in which the conduit is not wound unfolded. When starting the rotation operated remotely from the hose coil, the length of the duct part is adjusted that is introduced into the storage chamber, controlling that mode the position of the nozzle in the vertical plane. The conduit of air transport is used to transport air that moves quickly from inside the storage chamber to a vacuum system, which is connected to the device. Air flow It is used to transport radioactive material, which is inside the fraction size range for which the nozzle is dimensioned, up to a transport container, which is connected to the apparatus and to the vacuum system, and located outside the chamber of storage. In this way, radioactive waste remains in a closed system even during the transfer from the storage chamber to the transport container.

The apparatus comprises the main components following:

to.

Agitator

b.

Nozzle

C.

Bootable and maneuverable duct

d.

Duct drive system

and.

Clamp and guides

F.

Hose outlet connector

g.

Maneuvering actuator system hose

h.

Hose coil drive

i.

Actuator actuation drive hose

j.

Control system

k.

Hose coil

The device is preferably connected:

l.

A transport container

m.

A cyclone separator unit and device lock that will interconnect with l)

n.

A vacuum pump

or.

Hoses to interconnect f) and m), l) and m) and m) a n).

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The duct, which through proper control remote will be guided into the storage chamber  of radioactive material, comprises in a lower part of the conduit a nozzle and a stirrer. The nozzle is rotary preferably around an axis, which substantially coincides with or is parallel to the central axis of the tube.

The agitator is in its operational position arranged immediately in front of the nozzle and can, by adequate movement, fragment the waste adjacent to the nozzle and possibly move the fragments into the air flow to the nozzle. The stirrer can move preferably by one or more rotating, flexible or by means of one or more hydraulic actuators. The means of agitator drive, in the form of one or more motors, possibly a hydraulic pump, preferably they are located outside the storage chamber, thereby allowing the Simplified access in case of maintenance. The stirrer continues substantially the movement of the nozzle.

The internal geometry of the nozzle presents smaller cross section of passage and smaller radii of curvature than any other location in the consecutive flow path of the waste, including for example the curvature of the winding conduit in the hose coil.

The goal of the nozzle geometry is cause the possible blockage of the material flow to occur before the materials leave the nozzle.

The nozzle is preferably constituted by a plurality of sections by axial division, being connected the top of two or more nozzle sections of articulated way to a nozzle base.

In case of a blockage inside the nozzle, the nozzle can be opened using remote control, making the internal cross section of the nozzle is extended and the stuck fragments are released, thus falling out of the nozzle.

The bottom of the tube can also be preferably equipped with devices for cutting fractions large of the material to be aspirated.

In addition, the bottom of the tube may be preferably equipped with a monitoring camera that is interconnected with a monitoring system located together with the other control devices, thereby offering visual monitoring of the nozzle, agitator etc.

The tube is deposited in a motorized coil of bobinable way, making the bottom tube part can be located at any vertical level when the tube is lowered towards a chamber containing the radioactive material.

The conduit is provided with one or more assemblies tube actuator in the form of control cable assemblies, which are integrated in the outer surface of the tube. Every control cable assembly comprises three or more cables tensionable, which are located at equal intervals around the circumference of the tube. The wires are sheathed between the upper end part of the tube, in the connection to the coil of hose, and the part of the tube in which it is required to start a curvature of the tube. The cables continue without sheath between the lower end of sheath and lower cable couplings defined by the tube part that is required to finish the curvature. In the intermediate curvature part suitable guides They support the cables.

When tensioning one or more adjacent cables, the part of tube in the section without cable sheath retracts making that the tube bends in a controlled manner in the direction of the location on the tube of the cable (s) stressed (s).

When implementing multiple cable assemblies, each set having different cable termination points and thereby several sections of controllable curvature along the length of the tube, the tube can be curved in different ways to allow a simple sweeping movement of the nozzle at length of the surface of the waste, or more complex curvatures such as in the form of "S", in order to maneuver the nozzle and tube around obstacles such as columns, walls, etc. that may exist inside the chamber.

The cable assembly (s) are stressed from actuators located inside the hose coil in the end of the cables, cable sheaths and the conduit. In case of mechanical, electrical or hydraulic failure, depending on the type of Actuators used, the duct will adopt an unstressed position, getting straight and allowing the tube to retract by rotation of the hose coil, without presenting any form bent that could cause the tube to get trapped inside the camera.

The hose connects to the vacuum system at through the coil unit and rigid pipes or hoses flexible to establish an air flow in the tube nozzle. The vacuum unit is also interconnected, through a cyclone and a locking device, with the transport container in which the residues that are aspiring from the chamber of storage are deposited in a continuous process or discontinuous.

The following describes a non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in those who:

Figure 1 is a view of the complete system according to the invention arranged in a production facility schematic;

Figure 2 shows on a larger scale the part bottom of the tube and the nozzle of the apparatus;

Figure 3 shows on an smaller scale an example of a curved tube in an operative position;

Figure 4a shows on a larger scale a alternative embodiment of the nozzle in operating mode, being the nozzle blocked; Y

Figure 4b shows on an equal scale the same nozzle in open mode, and the clogged material has been released.

A flexible tube 1 comprises an end part 2 with a nozzle 3. Uniformly separated along substantially the entire length of the tube 1, circular support rings 4a, 4b, 4c surrounding the tube 1 are installed and coupled. Maneuvering in the form of control cables 7a are uniformly distributed around the circumference of the tube 1 and are coupled to a lower plate 8 and are transported along the tube 1 and through the support rings 4a, 4b to a first actuator ( not shown) integrated within a coil unit 5. The tube 1 is also preferably provided with a second set of maneuvering devices in the form of control cables 7b, which are coupled to the support ring 4b at a distance from the end part 2 of the tube 1. The control cables 7b are transported in the same manner described above along the tube 1 and through the support rings 4c and connected to a second actuator (not shown) integrated within the unit 5 of
coil.

The nozzle 3 can move horizontally by bending the bottom end part 2 of the tube, by retracting the first actuator (not shown) one or more of the cables 7a of control causing the end part 2 of the tube 1 to be fold out, possibly retracting the second actuator (no shown) one or more control cables 7b causing the tube 1 curve up end part 2.

The nozzle 3 is rotatable about an axis which coincides with the central axis of the tube 1. The rotation is performed by means of a motor 4 and a transmission (not shown).

The end part 2 includes a stirrer 9 mechanical, rotary that can break radioactive waste 11 in fragments when the end part 2 of the tube 1 is lowered to a accumulation of waste 11, thereby forcing the agitator towards waste 11.

Radioactive waste 11 is collected in a storage chamber 13. The storage chamber 13 includes a step 15 that allows tube 1 to pass through it.

The coil unit 5 is located above the storage chamber 13. The coil unit 5 comprises a coil 17 for winding the tube 1. The coil includes a motor 19 and a control unit (not shown) for positioning vertical and horizontal of the nozzle 3 with respect to the surface of waste 11.

The coil unit includes connections necessary between the tube 1 and a hose 21, which at the end opposite is connected to a cyclone unit 23 integrated in a container unit 25. A lock 27 interconnects unit 23 of cyclone and a transport container 28 through a pipe 29. The cyclone unit 23 is connected by means of a hose 31 to a vacuum pump (not shown).

In order to ensure that it does not occur No negative pressure in the storage chamber 13, the air Exhaust from the vacuum pump can be directed back to the storage chamber 13 through a hose 33 of return and auxiliary connectors (not shown).

The apparatus according to the invention is located on or integrated into the structures 35 surrounding the chamber 13 of storage.

In order to avoid blockage, the soul internal nozzle 3 has a diameter and radii of curvature smaller than consecutive hose and tube elements.

Figure 4a and 4b presents an embodiment alternative of the nozzle 3, comprising the nozzle 3 two substantially uniform nozzle sections 3a, 3b, being connected the top of each to a nozzle base 3c in an articulated way. In an operating mode sections 3a, 3b of nozzle lock each other by means of a device lock (not shown) that can be released by control remote (not shown).

When radioactive waste 11 goes to transfer from storage chamber 13 to a container 28 of transport, the tube 1 is lowered through the adapted step 15 by means of the motor 19 of the coil unit 5 which is controlled by a control unit (not shown) until the nozzle It is located at the correct level. The vacuum pump (not shown) is active, thus obtaining suction at the nozzle 3. The waste 11 is suck up through tube 1 through hose 21 to cyclone unit 23 in which waste 11 is separated of the transport air and are additionally transported through the lock 27 and pipe 29 to container 28 of transport.

Any negative pressure in chamber 13 of storage is avoided by returning the exhaust air from the pump vacuum (not shown) to storage chamber 13 through hose 33 and auxiliary connectors (not shown).

The nozzle 3 can move horizontally to the along the entire area of the storage chamber 13 rotating the nozzle 3 by means of the motor 4 and bending and moving part 2 of end of tube 1 in a desired direction by means of the actuators (not shown) and cables 7a, 7b.

If waste 11 clogs tube 1 and prevents that can continue to be removed empty, the stirrer 9 can be activated moving while leaning against waste, breaking therefore the waste 11.

When locked, in the alternate embodiment of the nozzle, as shown in Figure 4a and 4b, the pump emptiness stops; the hose retracts from the surface of the waste; and the locking device (not shown) is released by middle of the remote control, thus making sections 3a, 3b of nozzle separate in an articulated manner and releasing the material 11 stuck, falling from the nozzle 3.

In companies that treat radioactive waste, normally one or more handling processes are required. Due for health and environmental reasons, people cannot Manipulate the material manually. Access to the site of Storage of such materials also prevents handling manual. The storage medium is largely enclosed in order to avoid contaminating radiation, and access has Place through small tubular steps.

The apparatus and the method according to the invention make possible to extract the waste in a single operation, which leads to less intervention by the operator who is performing the process and guarantees that equipment, which may be subject to bad mechanical operation, are located outside the enclosure, thus allowing personnel access to equipment for Repair and Maintenance.

The device can be complemented by different types of tools to allow different operations inside the storage chamber, such as cutting and removal of large components to facilitate their removal from the camera.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus for moving radioactive waste (11) from a storage chamber (13) to another suitable container (28) by means of a flowing fluid, the apparatus comprising a flexible tube (1), in use, inserted into the chamber ( 13) storage and connected to a suction device that can maintain a negative pressure in the tube (11), the suction device being located outside the storage chamber (13), characterized in that the tube (1) is provided with a plurality of elongated maneuvering devices (7a, 7b) surrounding the circumference of the tube (1) and extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube (1), said plurality of elongated maneuvering devices comprising a first set of devices (7a ) of maneuver connected to a first actuator located outside the storage chamber (13), the first set of maneuvering devices (7a) being arranged to bend a lower part (2) of the tube (1) and being coupled next to the ends of the longitudinal extension of the lower tube part (2). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube (1) comprises a second set of maneuvering devices (7b) connected to a second actuator located outside the storage chamber (13), the set of devices (7b being coupled) ) of maneuvering close to the ends of a longitudinal extension of the arbitrary tube part, the random tube part being suitable for bending in a selected direction away from a rectilinear shape. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tube (1) is provided with a plurality of circumferential support rings (4a, 4b, 4c) coupled to the tube (1) along a substantial part of the length of the tube (1). 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the maneuvering devices (7a, 7b) are transported through recesses (4e) in the circumference of the support rings (4a, 4b, 4c). 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that a lower part (2) of the tube (1) comprises a nozzle (3), the nozzle (3) being pivoting about the central axis of the tube (1) . 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the cross-sectional size and the radii of curvature of the nozzle bore (3) are smaller than those inside the tube (1). 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the nozzle (3) is provided with at least two nozzle sections (3a, 3b), an upper part of which is interconnected in an articulated manner and are arranged to be opened by control remote in order to increase the internal cross-section of the nozzle
(3). Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the lower part (2) of the tube (1) comprises an agitator (9) arranged adjacent to the nozzle (3). 9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the lower part (2) of the tube (1) is provided with one or more devices for cutting the radioactive material (11). An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the lower part (2) of the tube (1) is provided with one or more camcorders for the transfer of images to a monitoring system located outside the storage chamber (13). 11. Method for moving radioactive waste (11) from a storage chamber (13) to another suitable container (28) by means of a flowing fluid, a flexible tube (1) which is provided with a plurality of devices (7a, 7b ) of maneuver that surround the circumference of the tube (1) and that extend in the longitudinal direction of the tube (1), is connected to a suction device that can maintain a negative pressure in the tube (11), the device being located suction out of the storage chamber (13), characterized in that the tube (1) is inserted into the chamber (13) of storage through a passage (15) of tube unwinding the tube (1) of a coil (17) of tube, a nozzle (3) moves to any location of the surface of the radioactive material (11) by means of the control of the tube coil (17), the movement of the actuators first and second of the maneuvering devices (7a, 7b) and the rotation of the motor (4) of the nozzle (3), a vacuum pump sucks fluid and material (11) radioactive into the tube (1) through the nozzle (3), the radioactive material (11) is separated into a cyclone unit (23) and is blocked from the fluid flow by means of a lock (27), and the radioactive material (11) is deposited in a waste container (28). 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the radioactive material (11) before being drawn into the tube (1) is fragmented by driving the movement of an agitator (9). 13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the radioactive material before being drawn into the tube (1) is cut by means of a tool that is integrated in the lower part of the tube (1).