GB2547748A

GB2547748A - Device and method for taking samples of radiologically contaminated materials, such as resins or sludges

Info

Publication number: GB2547748A
Application number: GB1621643.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pinson Joël; Gal Michaël
Original assignee: Areva NC SA
Current assignee: Orano Cycle SA
Priority date: 2015-12-18
Filing date: 2016-12-19
Publication date: 2017-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-19
Also published as: GB201621643D0; FR3045824B1; GB2547748B; FR3045824A1

Abstract

Method and device for collecting samples making it possible to collect samples of radiologically contaminated sludge or resin type materials with all safety measures, the device being remotely actuated. It includes a collection head (10) inside which is placed a collection container (30). The filling of the container takes place by actuating the piston (21) and lowering of the piston (21) into a sealing device (31, 32), which may be a plug, makes it possible to open and close the container (30). The collection head (10) is able to be dismantled to extract the container (30) from the inner space. The filling of the latter may take place by means of lateral ports (14) of the collection head (10) and lateral openings (22) of a control piston (21) actuated by a control tube (20). A lead cask (50, fig 5) may be used to enable the transport of the lower part of the collection head (10) and the container (30).

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TAKING SAMPLES OF RADIOLOGICALLY CONTAMINATED MATERIALS, SUCH AS RESINS OR SLUDGES

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the sampling of materials such as immersed sludges or resins, in particular radiologically contaminated, with a view to conveying the samples collected to installations for examination, analysis or treatment, in complete safety.

Prior art and problem posed

The taking of samples of products emitting ionising radiation requires specific protection measures: operators have to be protected against irradiation and contamination, not just during the collection of the samples but also during their transport to a place of examination, analysis or treatment.

Samples such as those targeted within the scope of the present invention are collected from radioactive products lying at the bottom of vessels or equipment, direct access to which is generally not possible. In addition, human interventions have to be prohibited around these vessels or equipment. To take samples, the devices used until now have been constituted for example of pumping means, transported or on site, which lead to risks of contamination or irradiation of the operators who are charged with implementing these sample collections.

With this objective, there exist remote sample collection devices enabling the transport of samples without radiological risks for operators and the working environment. Patent application FR 2 962 219 describes such a device. With reference to figure 1, the collection of the sample takes place in a piston device 4 by suction, consecutive to the movement of said piston, the increase in volume of a collection chamber 8, then by closing by means of a plug. The filling of the collection chamber of the device is carried out remotely by a pneumatic actuator, the sampler being immersed in the material to sample, then raised to be incorporated in a specific container of the sampler, itself incorporated in a cask. For the purposes of transporting the sampler 1, said sampler is then extracted from the specific container and the cask to be housed in a confinement conventionally used in the nuclear field (DTPE waste receptacle) itself housed in a lead cask authorised to transport radioactive waste (Padirac).

This device has the drawbacks of comprising one or more specific containers of the sampler (leading to high costs), and leading to external contamination of the sampler, which is capable of leading to contamination of the assembly of containers into which it is introduced. The aim of the invention, among others, is to overcome these drawbacks.

The aim of the invention is to produce a device making it possible to ensure collections of samples of radiologically contaminated materials, such as resins or sludges, at precise points of immersion of the tool used, while avoiding the exterior contamination of the recipient containing the sample and making it possible to ensure facilitated transport of the samples for later examination, analysis or treatment, notably to analytical laboratories, the equipment known until now not having given satisfaction.

Finally, it is always important to be able to ensure the representativeness of the sampling of material with respect to the collection point.

Subject matter of the invention

The first main subject matter of the invention is a device for collecting samples of radiologically contaminated material, constituted of liquid loaded with insoluble materials, by means of a collection head and including remote control means, the collection head comprising an inner space inside which a sample has to be collected and means of closing, the filling of the inside of the inner space, to obtain the sample, taking place by actuation of a remotely actuated piston, a container for receiving the sample (also called collecting jug), which is separate from the collection head and being placed in the inner space of the collection head, the piston sliding in a leak tight manner in a sealing device of the container, the piston constituting both the means of closing and confining the container and a means of introducing samples into the container, depending on its position, the collection head being able to be dismantled to extract the container from the inner space of the collection head.

In the main embodiment of the invention, the collection head includes a lateral wall in which is arranged at least one lateral port.

According to a preferential embodiment of the invention, the piston is hollow, moveable in vertical translation and has at least one lateral opening at the level of the collection head, so that when the piston is in lower position, the lateral opening of the piston is positioned facing the walls of a central hole of a plug of the sealing device, the collection container thus being isolated from the material to sample, and that when the piston is in upper position, the lateral opening of the piston is positioned to enable the passage of the material to the inside of the piston and to the inside of the container, thus ensuring the flow of the material to the container to ensure collection.

Preferably, an annular space separates the container from a lateral wall of the collection head.

In a particular embodiment, the lower part of the collection head is detachable from the lateral wall of the collection head.

The system for supporting and controlling the device of the invention is preferentially realised by means of a control tube fixed to the piston, equipped with a control handle and surrounded by a support tube.

In this case, a set of extension pieces of different lengths is provided to place between the collection head and the support tube.

For the transport of the container to the place of examination, analysis and/or treatment, a lead transport container is used of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the recipient.

It is advantageous to provide a penetration rake below the lower part of the collection head.

It should be noted that the piston is remotely actuated from the handling zone with low radiological exposure.

The second main subject matter of the invention is a method for collecting samples of material constituted of liquid loaded with insoluble materials using the collection device described above and comprising the following steps: 1°) Positioning the open collection container in the lower part of the collection head, closing the collection head by screwing of the lateral wall, 2°) Lowering the collection head into the vessel or the equipment containing the material to sample with connection of the extension pieces necessary as a function of the depth of the sample of material to collect, 3°) Alternating rotational movement of the collection head to make it penetrate into the material, 4°) Collecting the sample by actuating the hollow piston and locking in upper filling position, 5°) Closing the collection head by actuating the piston and locking in lower closing position, 6°) Progressive raising of the collection head, and rinsing of the assembly, for example by spraying water, 7°) Manually taking up and transferring into an intermediate lead container, 8°) Opening the collection head by unscrewing the lateral wall, recovering the collection container, potential visual control of the contents of the collection container, closing the collection container with its cover, preferably screwable, 9°) Placing a lead cover on the intermediate lead container (containing the collection container closed by its cover) for transfer in a cell or handling airlock, 10°) Taking up the collection container in a lead transport container (authorised for transport) and putting in place a lead cover on the lead transport container, preferably fixed by screws with leak tight seal, 11°) Transfer of the assembly with lead protection, 12°) Opening the protective lead cover, gripping and extracting the collection container, preferably transfer to a ventilated confinement enclosure, opening the collection container for examination, analysis and/or treatment of the sample that is contained therein.

List of figures

The invention and its main embodiment will be better understood on reading the following description, which is accompanied by the following figures: - figure 1, already described, in section, a device for collecting samples according to the prior art; - figure 2, in section, the preferential embodiment of the collection device according to the invention in a first operating position; - figure 3, in section, the same collection device according to the invention in a second operating position; - figure 4, in cavalier view, all the upper part of the collection device according to the invention; - figure 5, a set of extension pieces forming part of the device according to the invention; and - figure 6, in section, the device according to the invention, during a step of the method according to the invention.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

The device and the method according to the invention make it possible to fill a container with a sample of radiologically contaminated material, such as resins or sludges, said container also being designated jug, in a single immersion in a vessel or equipment and with managed surface radiological contamination of said container. The device according to the invention includes three main parts which are: - a collection head, - a container for the collected sample, - remote control means completed by a set of extension pieces of different lengths.

Said device may be completed by an intermediate lead container for the opening of the collection head and a lead transport container used after sampling for the transport of the sample to the place of later examination, analysis or treatment.

With reference to figure 2, the collection head 10 is suspended from a support tube, not represented, and surrounding a control tube 20 forming part of the control means. Nevertheless, the control tube 20 can slide in the collection head 10, and more precisely in the upper part 12 of the collection head 10. A piston 21 is fixed to the lower end of the control tube 20 and has at least one lateral opening 22 intended to enable the sampled materials (liquids loaded with insoluble materials, sludges or resins) to pass into the container 30.

The remainder of the collection head is constituted by a lateral wall 11, preferably cylindrical, at the lower part of which is fixed a base 16. Below this base 16, is fixed a rake 13 equipped with several strips, and intended to facilitate the sinking of the collection head into the resins or sludges to collect

Inside the collection head, a container 30, preferably cylindrical, is much smaller than the internal diameter of the lateral wall 10, so that an annular space 15 subsists between these two elements. This ensures the non-contamination of the exterior wall of the container 30. It is pointed out that the container 30 is, preferably, made of polycarbonate (for example sold by Bayer under the tradename "Makrolon"), which is a translucent material.

In figure 2, the piston 21, like the control tube 20 to which it is fixed, is in upper position. In this position, the piston 21 is located in the upper part of the internal volume of the collection head 10, and at the same level as the lateral ports 14 in the upper part of the lateral wall 11 (see figure 3). Hence, the material to collect, such as resins or sludges, can penetrate, in the first place, via the lateral port(s) 14 of the lateral wall 11 of the collection head 10, then, penetrate into the lateral opening(s) 22 of the piston 21. Since the latter is hollow and open in its lower part, the material can flow by gravity into the container 30, while passing through a central hole 32 of a plug 31, as indicated by the arrow in figure 2.

With reference to figure 3, the tube 20 and the piston 21 are in lower position. In this position, the lateral opening(s) 22 of the piston 21 are facing the walls of the central hole 32 of the plug 31. The material remaining inside the piston 21 then falls inside the container 30 and cannot escape therefrom. A double arrow shows that the control tube 20, and consequently the piston 21, are actuated by an operator to make vertical back and forward movements, so as to pump the material and to carry out the filling inside the container 30. Rotational movements of the tube 20 may also facilitate the movement of the material, and thus the filling of the inside of the container 30.

With reference to figure 4, the control means include a support handle 23 to which is fixed a support tube 26 which surrounds the control tube 20, not visible in this figure. Said support tube 26 is fixed to an upper flange 17 of the collection head. In figure 4, it is possible to see a lateral port 14 of the lateral wall 11 of the collection head 10. A control handle 24 is mounted integral with the control tube, referenced 20 in the other figures, and can thus be translated vertically, thanks to two slots made in the support tube 26.

The sampling method according to the invention is implemented by the following steps.

With reference to figures 2 and 3, the container 30 without its cover is, in the first place, placed in the lower part of the collection head 10 and more precisely in or on the base 16 of the latter. For this putting in place, the lateral wall 11 of the collection head 10 is provided screwable on the base 16 of the latter. In this way, it may be detached from the lower part of the collection head 10 and the container 30 may be placed on the base 16.

With the aid of extension pieces, not represented in these figures, it is possible to lower the collection head to a certain depth in the vessel or the equipment in which the collection of the sample must be carried out. With reference to figure 5, this set of extension pieces 25, of different lengths, is provided so as to be able to adjust the length of the support tube 26 to the depth at which the sampling has to take place.

Then follows the lowering of the assembly of the control means and the collection head inside the vessel or the equipment in which are located the materials to collect, such as sludges or resins.

Once the collection head IQ is in place, a thrust force and rotational movements are applied to the support handle 23 so that the collection head 10 penetrates well into the material thanks to the jug 13.

The collection of the sample may then take place by opening the collection head, that is to say making the lateral port(s) 14 of the lateral wall 11 coincide with the lateral opening(s) 22 of the piston 21. To carry out this manoeuvre, the piston 21 is raised to the high position, in a manual or pneumatic manner. A slight agitation of the collection head 10 is then carried out by actuating the control means, namely the control handle 24, in order to facilitate the flow of the material into the container 30 through the lateral openings 22.

Once the container 30 is filled, said container is closed by lowering the piston 21 into the central hole 32. The assembly of the collection head is then raised outside of the vessel or the equipment, then rinsed, for example with sprayed water.

With reference to figure 6, the collection head 10 is then placed in an intermediate lead container 50.

The lateral wall 11 is then unscrewed with respect to the base 16 of the collection head 10 and the whole upper part of the collection head is raised. A visual control of the level of material collected in the container 30 may then be carried out.

The container 30 is then closed by its cover, not represented in this figure, and the plug 31 is put in place.

The placing of a lead cover on the intermediate lead container 50 then the transfer into another cell or handling airlock then take place.

Once in the handling airlock, the collection container is extracted from the intermediate container 50 to be introduced into a lead transport container (or cask) authorised for transport, on which a lead cover is put in place and closed.

Finally, the transfer or transport of said lead cask takes place, followed by its opening, gripping and extracting the container 30, with a view to the examination, analysis or treatment of the sample of material that is contained therein.

Claims

1. Device for collecting samples of a radiologically contaminated material constituted of liquid loaded with insoluble materials by means of a collection head (10) and including remote control means, the collection head (10) comprising an inner space, inside which a sample has to be collected, and closing means, the filling of the inside of the inner space taking place by actuation of a remotely actuated piston (21), characterised in that it includes: - a container (30) for receiving the sample, which is separate from the collection head and which is placed in the inner space of the collection head (10) and - a piston (21) sliding in a leak tight manner in a sealing device (31, 32) of said container (30), said piston constituting a means of closing the container (30) and a means of introducing samples into said container (30), the collection head (10) being able to be dismantled, to extract the container (30) from the inner space of the collection head (10).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it includes at least one lateral port (14) in a lateral wall (11) of the collection head (10).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the piston (21) is hollow and moveable in vertical translation and has at least one lateral opening (22) at the level of the collection head (10), so that in upper position, the at least one lateral opening (22) is positioned to enable the passage of the material to the inside of the piston (21) and to the inside of the container (30) and that in lower position, the at least one lateral opening (22) is positioned facing the walls of a central hole (32) of a plug (31) of the sealing device.

4. Device according to any of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that it includes an annular space (15) between the lateral wall (11) of the collection head (10) and the outside wall of the container (30).

5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it includes a penetration rake (13) placed below the lower part of the collection head (10).

6. Device according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that a lower part, namely a base (16), of the collection head (10) is detachable from the lateral wall (11).

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control means include, among others, a control tube (20) surrounded by a support tube (26) equipped with a gripping handle (23), the control tube being fixed to the piston (21) and being equipped with a control handle (24).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that it includes a set of extension pieces (25) of different lengths and intended to extend the support tube (26) to place the collection head (10) at the level of the material to sample.

9. Device according to any of claims 2 to 4 and 6 and 7, characterised in that it further includes a lead cask (50) for the transport of the collection head (10), the internal diameter of the lead cask (50) being greater than the external diameter of the lateral wall (11) of the collection head (10).

10. Method for collecting a sample of radiologically contaminated material constituted of liquid loaded with insoluble materials by means of the device according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it includes the following steps: 1 - placing the open container (30) inside the collection head (10); 2 - lowering the collection head (10) into the material to sample with connection of the necessary extension pieces (25), depending on the depth of the place at which the material to sample is located; 3 - alternating rotational movements of the collection head (10), to make it penetrate into the material to collect; 4 - collecting the sample by actuating the piston (21) and locking in upper filling position; 5 - closing the collection head (10) by actuating the piston (21) and locking in lower closing position; 6 - progressive raising of the collection head (10); 7 - recovering the collection head (10) for placement in the intermediate lead container (50); 8 - opening the collection head (10) by dismantling the lateral wall (11) with respect to the base (16) of the collection head (10), recovering the collection container (30), potential visual control of the contents of the collection container (30), closing the collection container (30) with its cover;

9 - Placing a lead cover on the intermediate lead container (50) containing the collection container (30) closed by its cover, for transfer into a cell or handling airlock,

10-Taking up the collection container (30) in a lead transport container authorised for transport and putting in place a lead cover on the lead transport container,

11 - Transfer of the assembly with the lead protection,

12 - Opening the lead protective cover, gripping and extracting the collection container (30), opening the collection container (30) for examination, analysis and/or treatment of the sample that is contained therein.