JP2002139460A - Method and apparatus for discrimination of metal at inside of radioactive waste - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus wherein whether metals are mixed with radioactive waste at the inside is discriminated without opening a carton box or a vinyl bag, their shape is inspected when they are mixed, a metal inside the radioactive waste is discriminated and an ID control operation is performed easily. SOLUTION: The radioactive waste is placed on a table 12. The table 12 is horizontally moved back and forth and turned by 90 deg. each. The radioactive waste is imaged by X-ray imaging devices 1, 2, 3 form two directions at 0 deg. and 90 deg.. Imaged image data in the two directions is image-processed by an image processor 8. On the basis of a gray level degree, the existence of the metals mixed with the radioactive waste is recognized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying metals in radioactive waste for inspecting the presence and shape of metals in containers such as carton boxes and plastic bags in radioactive waste without opening. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As radioactive wastes used in nuclear facilities and nuclear fuel facilities, there are, for example, waste and paper contaminated with radioactive materials. This waste requires strict management, and is generally stored in a bucket-like container with a lid called a carton box made of a flammable material or a plastic bag, and after being stored in a predetermined amount, is incinerated.

In this incineration treatment, if metals are mixed in the waste, the incinerator will be damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect the presence or absence of the metals in advance and to remove the metals if they are mixed. . In this incinerator, incineration ash is conveyed in a pipe through a wire mesh, so that any metal may cause damage. In addition to metals, incombustibles made of composite materials such as dry batteries also have the same problem.

[0004] In order to prevent this, conventionally, wastes are transferred, for example, via a conveyor, and passed through an X-ray imaging apparatus to identify the presence or absence of metals. Waste without metals is sent to the incinerator as it is for incineration. When metals are present, the carton box is opened according to a predetermined procedure, and after the metals are removed, incineration is performed.

[0005]

The transmission direction of X-rays is shifted in two directions of 0 ° and 90 ° in the horizontal direction, and imaging is performed. The operation of shifting the 90 ° depends on humans, and radiation contamination and exposure to radiation In order to avoid this, there is a problem that it is necessary to be careful and the work is troublesome.

Also, as a result of the inspection, it is determined whether there is any abnormality,
It is necessary to attach a tag called an ID tag to each carton box and separate and manage the waste into metal-free waste and waste having metal.

[0007] For this reason, there is a demand for the development of a technology capable of avoiding the work of shifting by 90 ° and the trouble of ID management and identifying metals.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for identifying a metal in a radioactive waste which can easily rotate a container containing the radioactive waste and can easily manage an ID.

[0009]

A feature of the present invention is that a container for storing radioactive waste is mounted on a table, and the table is horizontally reciprocated and rotated in a horizontal direction. X-ray imaging from 0 ° and 90 °)
An object of the present invention is to perform image processing on imaged image data in two directions and recognize the presence or absence of metals mixed into radioactive waste from the density of the image.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the presence or absence of metals is determined by utilizing the fact that the density of the image is different from the gradient of the boundary between the clusters of metals and the clusters of waste and the like. .

According to the present invention, a container containing radioactive waste is mounted on a table, and the table is horizontally reciprocated and rotated in the horizontal direction. The radioactive waste is determined based on the density of X-ray images taken from two directions having different rotation angles. Since the presence or absence of metals mixed into the object is recognized, the rotation operation of the container storing the radioactive waste can be easily performed, and the ID management can also be easily performed.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the system includes a device 1 for storing waste 4, an X-ray generation device 2, an X-ray detection device 3, a data collection unit 5, an interface 6, a central control device 7, an image processing device 8, and an image recording device. 9 and a display device 10.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image detected and image-processed by the X-ray detection apparatus.
And the contaminated waste 42 are shown.

X-rays do not transmit a substance such as metal, and the image is black, which has high density, and gray or white, which has low density because of easy transmission of cloth or paper. Therefore, metals 4
In the case of 1, a large difference in the concentration gradient appears between the portion 43 having a low concentration, and in the case of the waste 42, a gradual difference in the concentration gradient appears between the portion 44 having a high degree of contamination and the portion 44 having a small degree of contamination. become. In the present invention, the magnitude of the concentration gradient is compared, and when the concentration exceeds a predetermined concentration gradient, the presence of metals is determined.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the waste driving device 11 and the X-ray storage device 1 of the present system.

After the waste driving device 11 is moved to be combined with the X-ray storage device 1, the slide door 14 is opened and the waste 4
And the drive motor 13 is started. Reference numeral 15 denotes a transparent window made of lead glass, from which the inside state can be seen.

When the waste 4 moves to a predetermined position by the activation of the drive motor 13, the X-ray generator 2 generates X-rays and irradiates the waste 4, and the X-ray detector 3 captures image data. . The data at this time is defined as “0 ° direction”, and the image processing apparatus determines the presence or absence of metals.

The table 12 is rotatable in the horizontal direction, and is then rotated by 90 °. Similarly, the image data in the “90 ° direction” is taken in to determine the presence or absence of metals. A metal such as a thin wire is easily overlooked in imaging only in the “0 ° direction”, and the detection accuracy is increased by using the imaging in the “90 ° direction” together.

If it is determined that one or both of the “0 ° direction” and the “90 ° direction” has a metal, it is determined that a metal is present. Then, the warning light 1b flashes,
Notify metal contamination. If necessary, sound an alarm at the same time.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the waste driving device 11 when it is moved and combined with the X-ray storage device 1 as viewed from above.

The X-ray generator 2 and the X-ray detector 3 are installed in a room surrounded by a protective wall 1a, and are configured so that X-rays do not leak outside. The waste 4 is mounted on the table 12 and, when moved to a predetermined position, is moved to the “0 ° direction”.
X-ray irradiation and detection are performed. The detection in the “90 ° direction” is performed by rotating the waste 4 by 90 ° as indicated by an arrow. When these operations are completed, the table 12 is returned to the initial position, and the inspection-completed waste 4 is taken out to prepare for the next detection.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the procedure of the image processing apparatus 8. First, image data is collected, and an original image is set in an image memory. The image shading value is stored as a numerical value for each pixel.

The original image is copied to the work image, and if each pixel of the work image is equal to or more than a threshold value (equivalent to metal), "
"1" is set, and "0" is set below the threshold.

A lump of "1" is detected, and it is determined whether the number exceeds a detection limit value (for example, 5 mm square or more).

A boundary of a lump of "1" is searched for, and a gradient between the boundary and an adjacent "0" image is obtained. If the calculated gradient> metal gradient value, it is determined that there is metal. Then, the ID is managed and the image is held.

If the calculated gradient is not greater than the metal gradient value, it is determined whether there is any other cluster of metal. If not, the ID is managed.
Hold the image.

If it is determined that there is another metal lump, the boundary of the lump of "1" is searched again, and "1"
The gradient with respect to the image of 0 ″ is obtained.

As an example of ID management, a tag printed in a predetermined format can be automatically created based on the result of the image processing, and can be attached to a carton box.

In this way, without opening the carton box or plastic bag, it is determined whether or not metals are mixed in the internal radioactive waste. The container storing the radioactive waste is mounted on the table. Then, the table is horizontally reciprocated and rotated in the horizontal direction.
Since the presence or absence of metals mixed into radioactive waste is recognized based on the density of the image taken from the X-ray image from the direction, the operation of rotating the container containing the radioactive waste can be easily performed, and ID management is also easy. it can.

[0030]

Thus, according to the present invention, the operation of rotating a container for storing radioactive waste such as a carton box or a plastic bag can be easily performed, and ID management can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of an image detected and image-processed by an X-ray detection device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a waste driving device and an X-ray storage device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from above of a state in which the waste driving device has been moved and combined with the X-ray storage device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. X-ray storage device 2. X-ray generation device 3. X
Line detector 4 ... Waste 7 ... Centralized controller 8 ... Image processor 9 ... Image recorder 10 ... Display 11 ...
Waste drive unit 12 ... Table

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] September 25, 2001 (2001.9.2)
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

The present invention relates to the related metal identification method and apparatus in radioactive waste inspecting carton box in radioactive waste, whether the shape of the interior of the metals of the container of plastic bags such as without opening It is. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 15, 2002 (2002.2.1
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A container containing radioactive waste is mounted on a table, and the table is rotated horizontally and reciprocally, and X-ray images are taken from two directions of a rotation angle.
A method for identifying metals in radioactive waste, comprising: performing image processing on image data in the direction; and recognizing the presence or absence of metals mixed into the radioactive waste based on the density of the image. 2. A container containing radioactive waste is mounted on a table, and the table is moved 90 degrees in a horizontal direction.
X-rays are taken every two degrees of rotation at 0 ° and 90 °, image processing is performed on the image data of the two directions, and the presence or absence of metals mixed into the radioactive waste based on the density of the image. A method for identifying metals in radioactive waste, comprising: 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the density of the image of the cluster of metals and the image of the cluster such as a rag impregnated or adhered with contaminants in a captured image have different gradients at a boundary portion. A method for identifying metals in radioactive waste, comprising determining the presence or absence of the metals. 4. A container containing radioactive waste is mounted on a table, and the table is rotated horizontally and reciprocally, and X-ray images are taken from two directions of a rotation angle.
An apparatus for identifying metals in radioactive waste, comprising: performing image processing of image data in the direction; and recognizing the presence or absence of metals mixed into the radioactive waste based on the density of the image. 5. A table on which a container storing radioactive waste is mounted, a driving device for horizontally reciprocating the table and rotating the table in a horizontal direction, and an X-ray for X-ray imaging from two directions of the horizontal rotation angle An imaging device, and an image processing device that performs image processing on the image data in the two directions captured by the X-ray imaging device and recognizes the presence or absence of metals mixed into the radioactive waste based on the density of the image. A device for identifying metals in radioactive waste.