초록 ▼

A nuclear waste packaging facility for receiving both contact and remote handled nuclear waste in portable shipping containers and encapsulating this waste into ground-disposable modules is disclosed herein. The facility generally comprises a separately shielded section for processing remote handled

A nuclear waste packaging facility for receiving both contact and remote handled nuclear waste in portable shipping containers and encapsulating this waste into ground-disposable modules is disclosed herein. The facility generally comprises a separately shielded section for processing remote handled waste including various remotely-controlled winches and conveyors, as well as a second, separately shielded section for processing contact handled waste. A module transportation and loading section is disposed between the remote and contact handled waste sections of the facility, and places empty module containers in a loading position adjacent each of the two, separately shielded sections of the facility. Both the contact and remote handled waste sections include radiation and ultrasonic detectors for determining the radioactive level of the waste, and whether or not any of this waste is in liquid form. The outputs of these detectors are connected to a central computer, which generates a signal indicating how much of the contact or non-contact handled waste may be loaded into a particular module container before the surface radiation of the completed module will exceed a certain, preselected limit. Additionally, the computer actuates an alarm circuit when either of the ultrasonic detectors generates a signal indicating that any of the waste is in liquid form. Finally, a common grouting station having an extendable trough may be used to grout modules loaded from either the contact or remote handled waste sections of the facility. The facility is preferably close to a land burial site to minimize the distance the completed modules must be transported before they are permanently buried.

대표청구항 ▼

A nuclear waste packaging facility comprising: (a) a first section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for remotely handling waste delivered to said first section and for placing the waste into a disposal module; (b) a second section substantially surrounded by radiation

A nuclear waste packaging facility comprising: (a) a first section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for remotely handling waste delivered to said first section and for placing the waste into a disposal module; (b) a second section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for handling a deformable container bearing waste that is delivered to said second section, said handling means including a compactor and means for placing the waste bearing deformable container into said compactor, said compactor capable of applying a compacting force to the waste bearing containers sufficient to inelastically deform the waste and container, and means for delivering the deformed waste bearing containers to a disposal module (c) a module transportation and loading section disposed between said first and second sections including a transport means and means for handling empty modules delivered to said facility and for loading the empty modules on said transport means, said transport means moving empty disposal modules to said first section and empty disposal modules to said second section for locating empty modules in a position for loading with nuclear waste, and (d) a grouting station comprising means for pouring grout into the waste bearing disposal module, and a capping station comprising means for placing a lid onto the waste bearing grout-filled disposal module to completely encapsulate the waste.