US3883441A - Apparatus for fixing radioactive waste - Google Patents
Apparatus for fixing radioactive waste Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3883441A US3883441A US056625A US5662570A US3883441A US 3883441 A US3883441 A US 3883441A US 056625 A US056625 A US 056625A US 5662570 A US5662570 A US 5662570A US 3883441 A US3883441 A US 3883441A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- metering
- platform
- fixing
- tank
- enclosure
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000002901 radioactive waste Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 abstract description 13
- 238000009933 burial Methods 0.000 abstract description 8
- 239000012736 aqueous medium Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012993 chemical processing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003758 nuclear fuel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,2-bis(ethenyl)benzene;1-ethenyl-2-ethylbenzene;styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1.CCC1=CC=CC=C1C=C.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1C=C NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004992 fission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003456 ion exchange resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003303 ion-exchange polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011268 mixed slurry Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003134 recirculating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002910 solid waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
- G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
- G21F9/04—Treating liquids
- G21F9/06—Processing
- G21F9/16—Processing by fixation in stable solid media
- G21F9/162—Processing by fixation in stable solid media in an inorganic matrix, e.g. clays, zeolites
- G21F9/165—Cement or cement-like matrix
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
- G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
- G21F9/008—Apparatus specially adapted for mixing or disposing radioactively contamined material
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S422/00—Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preserving, or sterilizing
- Y10S422/903—Radioactive material apparatus
Definitions
- Radioactive wastes accumulate in nuclear power generating stations and are, for example, contaminated bead ion exchange resin, powdered resin, filter aid, filter precoat and evaporator bottoms which are contaminated typically with corrosion and fission products.
- the present practice in disposal of radioactive wastes is to mix the wastes with cement and water, if required, and to cast these in drums for shipment to a burial ground. Fixing is required by most burial grounds in order that the radioactive waste not be available to the environment and is also desirable, as it prevents spread of radioactive material which might occur incidental to an accident in shipment.
- the present practice of fixing radioactive wastes at a nuclear facility is cumbersome and presents potential contamination problems.
- This invention is generally applicable to the disposal of any radioactive wastes which can be slurried in an aqueous medium and has for its general purpose fixing of such wastes on a production line basis avoiding the difficulties of atmospheric contamination and nonuniform mixture characterizing prior fixing methods.
- radioactive wastes are collected from time to time, and slurried in an aqueous medium in a metering tank which is contained in a shielded enclosure.
- the metering tank is adapted to meter the collected slurry, when required, through a mixer which is also connected simultaneously to receive cement or other fixing materials in metered quantities proportionate to the metering rate of the slurry.
- the mixer is shielded and arranged continuously to discharge metered and mixed fixing material and slurry into a shipping container for shipment to a burial ground when the mixture has set.
- the furing process is carried out only when a sufficient quantity of radioactive waste has been collected to constitute a suitable quantity for shipment to a burial ground.
- This quantity may involve one or several shipping casks or other containers and the fixing process is carried out continuously until the desired number of casks have been charged.
- expensive shipping casks are tied up at the particular plant only for that time necessary for the fixing operation and need not be kept on hand as storage vessels until an adequate quantity for shipment has been made up.
- Another advantage of this invention is that it is flexible in terms of achieving the proper ratio of water to fixing material in the mixture.
- the radioactive wastes are in slurry fonn containing excess water they can readily be dewatered by decanting or filtering from the metering tank prior to fixing. If they are solid wastes additional water can be added as required.
- the proportions of fixing material, water and waste materials are a function of density, shielding requirements, moisture content and ultimate disposition of the fixed waste.
- FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of the waste processing facility of a nuclear power plant
- FIG. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the facility shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is an end view partly in section of the same facility.
- HG. 4 is a schematic diagram of certain apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
- the reference numeral l0 designates a building, housing a waste processing facility at a nuclear power plant.
- the waste processing facility itself includes a metering tank ll, hopper l2 and.a mixer 13.
- Both metering tank It and its associated equipment and hopper l2 and its associated equipment are located on a platform 16 in the processing area of the power plant such that a portable shipping container, such as a movable shipping cask 14 or lCC approved drum mounted, for example, on a dolly 15 can be positioned beneath platform 16 to receive the contents of metering tank I] and hopper 12 through mixer 13 which is mounted on the underside of platform l6.
- Exemplary of the portable containers used in this invention are a shielded nuclear cask licensed in accordance with ABC regulations, Title 10, Chapter 71, Code of Federal Regulations for large quantities" of radioactive materials or Department of Transportation regulations for Group B shipments or Group A or low specific activity.
- lCC approved single trip containers for radioactive materials e.g., ICC-17H, 55 gallon steel, open head, typify the drums used herein.
- the processing area in building 10 is entirely enclosed in concrete, including an outside wall 17, a rear wall 18 and a ceiling 19 which are shown in the drawings.
- Platform 16 is mounted beneath ceiling 19 in the comer where rear wall 18 and outside wall 17 join, and metering tank 11 is positioned in such corner with hopper 12 mounted further out on the platform.
- Walls 17 and 18 and ceiling 19 are of thick concrete and thus serve partially to shield tank ll.
- Metering tank 11 is shielded further by providing a thick concrete floor 20 on platform 16 beneath tank 11 and by providing an outside wall 21 of thick concrete on platform l6 rising to ceiling l9 and extending from outer wall 17 in front of metering tank 11.
- the shielded enclosure for metering tank 11 is completed by a U-shaped partition 22 and baffle 23 formed of concrete and extending across platform 16 from floor 20 to ceiling l9 and from front wall 21 to rear wall 18 defining a U-shaped access to service metering tank 11 when required. Arrangements not shown are provided for charging metering tank It with slurried radioactive waste and water, as required, through ceiling l9.
- Hopper I2 is located on platfonn l6 outside of the enclosure in which metering tank 11 is mounted and is provided with a downward, gravity feed into an auger 24 leading to mixer 13 mounted on the underside of platform 16 beneath floor 20.
- Mixer 13 is also provided with a connection 25 through a slurry pump 26 from the underside of metering tank ll.
- Pump 26 is located in the shielded enclosure in which tank 11 is housed and is provided with suitable valving to discharge directly into mixer 13 or to discharge into a line 27 recirculating the discharge of slurry pump 26 to the upper end of tank 11.
- Mixer 13 itself, while located on the un derside of platform 16, is housed in a steel shielded compartment 28 and is provided internally with a power driven agitator such that fixing material and waste discharged from hopper l2 and tank 11 into the upper end of mixer 13 feed by gravity to the lower end of mixer 13 while being thoroughly mixed, such that they are discharged through outlet 29 in a suitably mixed condition for casting.
- water can be withdrawn through a filter 30 and line 31 from tank 11 when it is desired to dewater the contents.
- a radiation detector 32 is located in line 27 to measure the radioactivity of the contents during recirculation.
- An agitator 33 is also provided in metering tank 11 to provide thoroughly mixed slurry of uniform consistency.
- radioactive waste is collected from time to time and slurried and delivered to metering tank 11, for example, through a line 34.
- Spent resin in a demineralizer for example, can be backflushed and fed as a slurry through line 34 to metering tank 11.
- the operation of agitator 33 assures that the mixture is uniform without hot spots.
- Recirculation through line 27 enables radiation measurements to be made to verify that the Curie capacity of the shipping cask or casks to be used is not exceeded. Radiation measurements could be made on the surface of the metering tank alternatively.
- auger 24 is operated to supply fixing materials from hopper [2 into mixer 13 in the proper proportion for the slurry introduced from tank 11.
- Mixer 13 is also operated to agitate the mix so that, as it is discharged from outlet 29 into the shipping cask, the mix is properly uniform.
- cask I4 is filled it is sealed and the top secured, and the cask is shipped to the burial site typically on a flat bed trailer.
- one or more shipping casks 14 may be filled during the course of the operation.
- a waste processing facility for preparing radioactive wastes for disposal which includes means defining a shielded enclosure, a metering tank positioned in said enclosure, said metering tank including metering means for removing liquid contents therefrom at a metered rate and measuring means for measuring the radioactivity of liquid contents thereof, mixing means for continuously receiving, mixing and discharging fixing materials and liquids said mixing means being con nected to said metering means to receive the contents of said tank through said metering means, fixing materials feed means connected to said mixing means to deliver fixing materials thereto at a regulated rate, means defining a space in which to position a container relative to said mixing means to receive the discharged contents therefrom.
- a waste processing facility which further includes means for storing fixing materials adjacent said enclosure defining means.
- a waste processing facility in which said means defining an enclosure is located on a platform in which said mixing means is positioned on the underside of said platform, the space beneath said platform thereby constituting said space in which to position a container.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (3)
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US056625A US3883441A (en) | 1970-07-20 | 1970-07-20 | Apparatus for fixing radioactive waste |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US056625A US3883441A (en) | 1970-07-20 | 1970-07-20 | Apparatus for fixing radioactive waste |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3883441A true US3883441A (en) | 1975-05-13 |
Family
ID=22005634
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US056625A Expired - Lifetime US3883441A (en) | 1970-07-20 | 1970-07-20 | Apparatus for fixing radioactive waste |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3883441A (en) |
Cited By (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4139488A (en) * | 1975-06-26 | 1979-02-13 | Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke Aktiengesellschaft | Method of preparing solid radioactive or toxic waste for long-term storage |
| US4168243A (en) * | 1973-11-26 | 1979-09-18 | Nuclear Engineering Company | System for disposing of radioactive waste |
| US4174938A (en) * | 1977-02-04 | 1979-11-20 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Remote nuclear green pellet processing apparatus |
| US4196169A (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1980-04-01 | Nuclear Engineering Company, Inc. | System for disposing of radioactive waste |
| US4274962A (en) * | 1975-04-11 | 1981-06-23 | Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft | Apparatus for treating radioactive concentrates |
| US4297827A (en) * | 1978-05-23 | 1981-11-03 | B. & R. Engineering Limited | Apparatus for treating waste material |
| US4364859A (en) * | 1978-03-13 | 1982-12-21 | Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan | Method for producing oxide powder |
| US4409137A (en) * | 1980-04-09 | 1983-10-11 | Belgonucleaire | Solidification of radioactive waste effluents |
| US4422964A (en) * | 1981-11-30 | 1983-12-27 | Capolupo & Gundal, Inc. | Radioactive waste container with immobilization compartment and method |
| US4436655A (en) | 1978-10-27 | 1984-03-13 | Comitatonazionale Per Lienergia Nucleare | Process for the continuous purification of contaminated fluids and for conditioning the resulting concentrates |
| US4481165A (en) * | 1982-07-19 | 1984-11-06 | The United States of America as represented by the United States Department _of Energy | System for handling and storing radioactive waste |
| US4600514A (en) * | 1983-09-15 | 1986-07-15 | Chem-Technics, Inc. | Controlled gel time for solidification of multi-phased wastes |
| US4666676A (en) * | 1985-08-30 | 1987-05-19 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Radioactive waste processing apparatus |
| US4816228A (en) * | 1985-03-14 | 1989-03-28 | Ngk Insulators, Ltd. | Apparatus for melting waste |
| US20140137986A1 (en) * | 2011-06-02 | 2014-05-22 | Australian Nuclear Science And Technology Organisation | Modularized Process Flow Facility Plan For Storing Hazardous Waste Material |
| CN108281211A (en) * | 2017-12-27 | 2018-07-13 | 中核四0四有限公司 | A kind of additive blending device |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3012385A (en) * | 1959-04-15 | 1961-12-12 | Terry D Hufft | Means for disposal of atomic waste |
| US3142648A (en) * | 1961-12-06 | 1964-07-28 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | Process for the production of solid products containing radioactive waste material and products obtained by this process |
| US3507801A (en) * | 1968-02-19 | 1970-04-21 | Siemens Ag | Entrapment of radioactive waste water using sodium borate |
| US3513100A (en) * | 1967-09-25 | 1970-05-19 | Halliburton Co | Method for subsurface disposal of radioactive waste |
-
1970
- 1970-07-20 US US056625A patent/US3883441A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3012385A (en) * | 1959-04-15 | 1961-12-12 | Terry D Hufft | Means for disposal of atomic waste |
| US3142648A (en) * | 1961-12-06 | 1964-07-28 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | Process for the production of solid products containing radioactive waste material and products obtained by this process |
| US3513100A (en) * | 1967-09-25 | 1970-05-19 | Halliburton Co | Method for subsurface disposal of radioactive waste |
| US3507801A (en) * | 1968-02-19 | 1970-04-21 | Siemens Ag | Entrapment of radioactive waste water using sodium borate |
Cited By (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4168243A (en) * | 1973-11-26 | 1979-09-18 | Nuclear Engineering Company | System for disposing of radioactive waste |
| US4196169A (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1980-04-01 | Nuclear Engineering Company, Inc. | System for disposing of radioactive waste |
| US4274962A (en) * | 1975-04-11 | 1981-06-23 | Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft | Apparatus for treating radioactive concentrates |
| US4139488A (en) * | 1975-06-26 | 1979-02-13 | Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke Aktiengesellschaft | Method of preparing solid radioactive or toxic waste for long-term storage |
| US4174938A (en) * | 1977-02-04 | 1979-11-20 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Remote nuclear green pellet processing apparatus |
| US4364859A (en) * | 1978-03-13 | 1982-12-21 | Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan | Method for producing oxide powder |
| US4297827A (en) * | 1978-05-23 | 1981-11-03 | B. & R. Engineering Limited | Apparatus for treating waste material |
| US4436655A (en) | 1978-10-27 | 1984-03-13 | Comitatonazionale Per Lienergia Nucleare | Process for the continuous purification of contaminated fluids and for conditioning the resulting concentrates |
| US4409137A (en) * | 1980-04-09 | 1983-10-11 | Belgonucleaire | Solidification of radioactive waste effluents |
| US4422964A (en) * | 1981-11-30 | 1983-12-27 | Capolupo & Gundal, Inc. | Radioactive waste container with immobilization compartment and method |
| US4481165A (en) * | 1982-07-19 | 1984-11-06 | The United States of America as represented by the United States Department _of Energy | System for handling and storing radioactive waste |
| US4600514A (en) * | 1983-09-15 | 1986-07-15 | Chem-Technics, Inc. | Controlled gel time for solidification of multi-phased wastes |
| US4816228A (en) * | 1985-03-14 | 1989-03-28 | Ngk Insulators, Ltd. | Apparatus for melting waste |
| US4666676A (en) * | 1985-08-30 | 1987-05-19 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Radioactive waste processing apparatus |
| US20140137986A1 (en) * | 2011-06-02 | 2014-05-22 | Australian Nuclear Science And Technology Organisation | Modularized Process Flow Facility Plan For Storing Hazardous Waste Material |
| US9741459B2 (en) * | 2011-06-02 | 2017-08-22 | Australian Nuclear Science And Technology Organisation | Modularized process flow facility plan for storing hazardous waste material |
| CN108281211A (en) * | 2017-12-27 | 2018-07-13 | 中核四0四有限公司 | A kind of additive blending device |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ATCOR ACQUIRING CORPORATION, 135 DARLING DRIVE, AV Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ATCOR ENGINEERED SYSTEMS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004464/0014 Effective date: 19850821 Owner name: ATCOR ACQUIRING CORPORATION, A CORP OF CONNECTICU Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ATCOR ENGINEERED SYSTEMS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004464/0014 Effective date: 19850821 |
|
| AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DURATEK CORPORATION, 6411 IVY LANE, STE. 204, GREE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ATCOR ENGINEERED SYSTEMS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004746/0654 Effective date: 19870811 Owner name: DURATEK CORPORATION, MARYLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ATCOR ENGINEERED SYSTEMS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004746/0654 Effective date: 19870811 |