초록 ▼

In an apparatus for separating radionuclides from non-radionuclides in a mixture of nuclear waste, a vessel is provided wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature greater than the temperature of vaporization for the non-radionuclides but less than the temperature of vaporization for the radionuc

In an apparatus for separating radionuclides from non-radionuclides in a mixture of nuclear waste, a vessel is provided wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature greater than the temperature of vaporization for the non-radionuclides but less than the temperature of vaporization for the radionuclides. Consequently the non-radionuclides are vaporized while the non-radionuclides remain the solid or liquid state. The non-radionuclide vapors are withdrawn from the vessel and condensed to produce a flow of condensate. When this flow decreases the heat is reduced to prevent temperature spikes which might otherwise vaporize the radionuclides. The vessel is removed and capped with the radioactive components of the apparatus and multiple batches of the radionuclide residue disposed therein. Thus the vessel ultimately provides a burial vehicle for all of the radioactive components of the process.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for separating radionuclides from non-radionuclides comprising: a reactor vessel including wall members defining a reactor chamber adapted to receive a mixture of the radionuclides and non-radionuclides in a solid or liquid phase; the radionuclides having temperatures of vaporization highe

Apparatus for separating radionuclides from non-radionuclides comprising: a reactor vessel including wall members defining a reactor chamber adapted to receive a mixture of the radionuclides and non-radionuclides in a solid or liquid phase; the radionuclides having temperatures of vaporization higher than a first temperature; the non-radionuclides having temperatures of vaporization lower than a second temperature; means for heating the mixture in the chamber to a temperature greater than the second temperature but less than the first temperature to drive the non-radionuclides to a vapor phase while retaining the radionuclides in a solid or liquid phase; means for removing the vapors of the non-radionuclides from the chamber; whereby substantially all of the non-radionuclides exit the chamber in a vapor phase while the radionuclides remain within the chamber in a solid or liquid phase. A method for disposing of radionuclides present in a mixture of non-radionuclides and radionuclides, comprising the steps of: providing a reactor apparatus including a reactor vessel having wall members defining a reactor chamber; depositing the mixture of radionuclides and non-radionuclides in the chamber of the reactor vessel, both the radionuclides and the non-radionuclides being in the liquid or solid phase; transforming the non-radionuclides to a vapor phase while retaining the radionuclides in a solid or liquid phase, within the chamber; removing the non-radionuclides in the vapor phase from the chamber of the vessel while retaining the radionuclides in the solid or liquid phase within the chamber of the vessel; separating the reactor vessel from at least a portion of the remainder of the reactor apparatus; and burying the reactor vessel with the radionuclides disposed within the chamber of the reactor vessel.