Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
588016000 | Surrounding with specified material or structure | 25 |
20090069621 | METHOD OF REMOVING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS FROM A SUBMERGED STATE AND/OR PREPARING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL FOR DRY STORAGE - A system, apparatus and method of processing and/or removing radioactive materials from a body of water that utilizes the buoyancy of the water itself to minimize the load experienced by a crane and/or other lifting equipment. In one aspect, the invention is a method comprising: a) submerging a container having a top, a bottom, and a cavity in a body of water having a surface level, the cavity filling with water; b) positioning radioactive material within the cavity of the submerged container; c) raising the submerged container until the top of the containment apparatus is above the surface level of the body of water while a major portion of the container remains below the surface level of the body of water; and d) removing bulk water from the cavity while the top of the container remains above the surface level of the body of water and a portion of the container remains submerged. The bulk water can be added back into the cavity to add neutron shielding after the container is placed in a staging area and prior to personnel performing the desired operations to the container. As a result, gamma radiation and neutron shielding of the container can be maximized for any crane capacity. | 03-12-2009 |
20090198092 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND/OR STORING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS HAVING A JACKET ADAPTED TO FACILITATE THERMOSIPHON FLUID FLOW - A system, method and apparatus for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, such as spent nuclear fuel. In one aspect, the invention is a jacket apparatus that is filled with a neutron absorbing fluid and adapted to facilitate a cyclical thermosiphon flow of the neutron absorbing fluid within the jacket when the neutron absorbing fluid is subjected to heat emanating from the cavity. In other aspects, the invention can be a method and container incorporating and/or using the same. In another aspect, the invention can be a container comprising: a gamma radiation absorbing body forming a cavity for receiving radioactive material; a jacket surrounding the body thereby forming a gap between the body and the jacket for holding a neutron absorbing fluid; a baffle positioned in the gap in spaced relation to both the body and the jacket so as to divide the gap into an inner region and an outer region; a passageway at or near a bottom of the gap between the inner region and the outer region that allows the neutron absorbing fluid to flow from the outer region into the inner region; and a passageway at or near a top of the gap between the inner region and the outer region that allows the neutron absorbing fluid to flow from the inner region into the outer region. | 08-06-2009 |
20100030008 | Segmented waste rods for handling nuclear waste and methods of using and fabricating the same - Example embodiments and methods may provide segmented waste rods capable of containing and disposing of waste generated from spent nuclear fuel, including elements left over from fuel that has been harvested for desired isotopes produced in the fuel. Example methods may provide methods for forming and using example embodiment segmented waste rods. | 02-04-2010 |
20100105975 | Nuclear Assisted Hydrocarbon Production Method - A method is disclosed for the temporary or permanent storage of nuclear waste materials comprising the placing of waste materials into one or more repositories or boreholes constructed into an unconventional oil formation. The thermal flux of the waste materials fracture the formation, alters the chemical and/or physical properties of hydrocarbon material within the subterranean formation to allow removal of the altered material. A mixture of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and/or other formation fluids are produced from the formation. The radioactivity of high-level radioactive waste affords proliferation resistance to plutonium placed in the periphery of the repository or the deepest portion of a borehole. | 04-29-2010 |
20100179367 | Device For Cleaning And/Or Securing A Safe Containment Defined In A Device For Transporting And/Or Storing Radioactive Materials - A method for underwater packaging of radioactive materials includes creating a vacuum in a cavity of a cleaning device to automatically cause a portion of the cleaning device to move upward to actuate the cleaning device from an open position to a closed position; mounting the cleaning device inside a safe containment area of a transportation and/or storage device; placing the transportation and/or storage device in a pool after filling the safe containment area with water; loading a radioactive material into the safe containment area; closing the transportation and/or storage device using at least one cover; extracting the transportation and/or storage device from the pool; draining the water inside the safe containment area; and creating a pressure differential in the safe containment area to dry the safe containment area, wherein the pressure differential causes the cleaning device to automatically actuate from the closed position to the open position. | 07-15-2010 |
20100324350 | Radioactive Waste Storage - Radioactive waste may be stored in storage containers that are suitable for long-term disposal, but do not provide adequate shielding. By assembling an overpack from metal plates, the metal plates each being substantially flat, and the overpack providing sufficient shielding for the radioactive waste, and enclosing the storage container that contains radioactive waste in the overpack, the storage container can then be stored safely in a weatherproof enclosure. The enclosure does not need to provide radiation shielding. The plates can be stored as a flat-pack, and assembled into the overpack when required. | 12-23-2010 |
20110021859 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF STORING AND/OR TRANSFERRING HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE - A system and method for storing high level waste. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising: an outer shell having an open top end and a hermetically closed bottom end; an inner shell forming a cavity, the inner shell positioned inside the outer shell so as to form a space between the inner shell and the outer shell; at least one passageway connecting the space and a bottom portion of the cavity; at least one passageway connecting an ambient atmosphere and a top portion of the space; a lid positioned atop the inner shell, the lid having at least one passageway connecting the cavity and the ambient atmosphere; and a seal between the lid and the inner shell so at form a hermetic lid-to-inner shell interface. In another aspect, the invention can be a system for storing high level radioactive comprising: a metal plate; a first metal tubular shell having a top end and a bottom end, the metal plate connected to the bottom end of the first metal tubular shell so as to hermetically close the bottom end of the first metal tubular shell; a second metal tubular shell forming a cavity, the second metal tubular shell positioned within the first metal tubular shell so as to form a space between the first metal tubular shell and the second metal tubular shell; at least one opening in the second tubular shell that forms a passageway connecting the space and a bottom portion of the cavity; a lid comprising a plug portion and a flange portion surrounding the plug portion, the plug portion extending into the cavity and the flange portion resting atop the inner shell and the outer shell; at least one passageway connecting the cavity and the ambient atmosphere; and at least one passageway connecting the space and the ambient atmosphere. | 01-27-2011 |
20110077449 | CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING NUCLEAR WASTE WITH FORCE-FITTED LID - The container is comprised of a side wall of which the end edges are each provided with a blocking member, of which at least one is inserted in order to close an opening. | 03-31-2011 |
20110124943 | ENCAPSULATING COMPOSITION FOR THE STORAGE OF WASTE THAT IS TOXIC TO HEALTH AND/OR THE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS DEVOID OF AN AROMATIC AMINE HARDENING AGENT - The invention relates to a coating composition for the storage or containment of waste that is toxic to health and/or the environment, comprising a composition based on an epoxy resin and a curing composition free from an aromatic amine curing agent. The invention also relates to the use of this composition for the coating of said waste. | 05-26-2011 |
20110172484 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RADIATION SHIELDING TO HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS - A system, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. The invention utilizes a tubular shell that is ancillary to the ventilated cask that circumscribes the ventilated cask to add radiation shielding protection while improving heat removal by natural convective air flow. Because the tubular shell and cask are non-unitary and slidably separable from one another, crane lifting capacity is not affected. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a cask holding high level radioactive materials comprising: a tubular shell extending from an open bottom end to an open top end, the tubular shell having an inner surface that forms a cavity about a longitudinal axis; a plurality of primary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; a plurality of secondary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; and an annular seal coupled to the tubular shell and extending from the inner surface of the tubular shell; wherein the secondary apertures are located at an axial height above the annular seal and the primary apertures are located at an axial height below the annular seal. | 07-14-2011 |
20110301400 | Handling Of Radioactive Materials - A radioactive material handling assembly ( | 12-08-2011 |
20120142991 | APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RADIATION SHIELDING TO A CONTAINER HOLDING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS, AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME TO HANDLE AND/OR PROCESS RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS - The present invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a container holding radioactive materials. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus that includes a tubular shell constructed of a gamma radiation absorbing material and having an inner surface that forms a cavity having an axis, the cavity having an open top end and an open bottom end; a plurality of spacers extending from the inner surface of the shell toward the axis of the cavity, the spacers extending a first height from the inner surface of the tubular shell; and one or more flange members located at or near the open top end of the cavity extending from the tubular shell toward the axis of the cavity, the flange member extending a second height from the inner surface of the shell, the second height being greater than the first height. | 06-07-2012 |
20120226088 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TRANSFER OF HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE TO AND/OR FROM A POOL - A method, apparatus and system for the transferring a container for receiving high level radioactive waste into and/or out of a pool. The instant invention utilizes a specially designed container in order to make effective use of a stand placed within the pool. In one embodiment, the invention is a system for transferring high level radioactive waste comprising: a container for receiving high level radioactive waste, the container having a support structure; a stand comprising a cavity for receiving the container and an opening forming a passageway into the cavity; wherein the support structure is sized, shaped and/or arranged so that: (i) when the container is substantially vertically oriented in a first rotational position, the support structure can not pass through the opening due to contact between the support structure and the stand; and (ii) when the substantially vertically oriented container is rotated an angle about a vertical axis to a second rotational position, the support structure can pass through the opening in an unobstructed manner. | 09-06-2012 |
20120302814 | Stacking Apparatus and Method of Stacking - The invention provides a storage device adapted for use for the storage of waste materials in a glovebox, the device comprising support means incorporating engaging means, the support means comprising a substantially hollow body and the engaging means being adapted to restrain an object therein. It is a particular advantage of the device that the support means defines a hollow interior section in the device, thereby facilitating the storage of additional waste materials integrally within the device in a safe and orderly manner. The device finds particular application in a method for the removal of waste materials located in a glovebox, wherein the waste materials comprise hazardous biological or radioactive materials. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the storage device comprises an essentially cylindrical stacker comprising a collar and, extending therefrom, three elongate members each comprising, at the distal end thereof, engaging means comprising flanges and rims which thereby defining a groove and form feet which allow the device to stand upright. | 11-29-2012 |
20130072741 | Removal equipment and method for the storage facility for transuranium compounds - A nuclear chemistry laboratory adopts In-site Cutting Technique to remove the large-scale glove box contaminated by transuranium compounds. During removal operation, to prevent further spreading of contamination, it is necessary to build an alpha airtight quarantine tent around the glove box that is ready to be cut. Each section of the quarantine tent maintains a stable airflow and sufficient air exchange to meet negative pressure requirements and effectively prevent leak of α contamination. It is necessary to install a negative pressure ventilation system to assure the operation of the quarantine tent that has a pressure gradient and allows airflow from low contamination area to high contamination area to effectively prevent spreading of α contamination and also increase the safety for the transuranium contaminated glove box that is not in service. | 03-21-2013 |
20130131420 | Hazardous Liquid Triple Containment - Systems and methods for containing a hazardous fluid are described, in which first and second precast concrete segments are coupled together to form wall elements having a plurality of void spaces. A precast concrete floor segment can be coupled to the wall elements to form a cavity, and a metal liner can be disposed within the cavity to form a container capable of storing a hazardous fluid. An external barrier configured to be impervious to the hazardous fluid can be coupled to an exterior portion of at least one of the first and second segments. | 05-23-2013 |
20130261367 | Long-Term Storage Device Including a Ventilated Storage Case Intended To House a Containment Case Containing Radioactive Materials - The invention relates to a long-term storage device ( | 10-03-2013 |
20140039235 | Systems And Methods For Dry Storage And/Or Transport Of Consolidated Nuclear Spent Fuel Rods - In one embodiment, a system and method for dry storage comprises removing spent fuel rods from their fuel rod assemblies and placing the freed fuel rods in a storage cell of a dry storage canister with a high packing density and without a neutron absorber material present. | 02-06-2014 |
20140066685 | METHOD FOR DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE - Provided is a method for disposal of radioactive waste which can reduce the radiation level until the waste can be reused as landfill or the like and which prevents the leakage of radiation nuclides in the ground. The method includes the following: a primary treatment step of turning the radioactive waste into a radioactive waste (primary treated waste) which has a radiation level equal to or less than a reference value via a radiation shielding agent composed of or predominantly composed of a Ca-based inorganic compound; and a secondary treatment step of heating to melt the primary treated waste and thereafter cooling the same to glass granules, and then sealing radioactive nuclides in the glass body. | 03-06-2014 |
20140155675 | ROBUST MULTILAYER ENCAPSULATION AND STORAGE OF ATOMIC WASTE - The invention includes a radioactive waste containment system for containing a radioactive waste material. The radioactive waste containment system includes a radioactive waste containment system outermost exterior containment layer comprised of an exterior containment layer glass material having an exterior containment layer property. The radioactive waste containment system includes a radioactive waste containment system adjacent interior containment layer, the adjacent interior containment layer comprised of an adjacent interior containment layer glass material having an adjacent interior containment layer property, the radioactive waste containment system adjacent interior containment layer is fused with the radioactive waste containment system outermost exterior containment layer with the properties not equal wherein the fused adjacent interior containment layer and the radioactive waste containment system outermost exterior containment layer are in compression. | 06-05-2014 |
20140221721 | Filling Container and Method For Storing Hazardous Waste Material - The present invention provides systems, methods and devices for storing and/or disposing of hazardous waste material. In some embodiments, the waste material includes nuclear waste such as calcined material. In certain embodiments, the device includes a container having a container body, a filling port configured to couple with a filling nozzle and a filling plug, and an evacuation port having a filter. The evacuation port is configured to couple with an evacuation nozzle and an evacuation plug. In certain embodiments, the method includes (a) adding hazardous waste material via a filling nozzle coupled to a filling port of a container, the container including an evacuation port, (b) evacuating the container during adding of the hazardous waste material via an evacuation nozzle coupled to an evacuation port of the container, (c) sealing the filling port, (d) heating the container, and (e) sealing the evacuation port. | 08-07-2014 |
20140316182 | MANIFOLD SYSTEM FOR THE VENTILATED STORAGE OF HIGH LEVEL WASTE AND A METHOD OF USING THE SAME TO STORE HIGH LEVEL WASTE IN A BELOW-GRADE ENVIRONMENT - A system and method for storing multiple canisters containing high level waste below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a ventilated system for storing high level waste emitting heat, the system comprising: an air-intake shell forming an air-intake cavity; a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a storage cavity; a lid positioned atop each of the storage shells; an outlet vent forming a passageway between an ambient environment and a top portion of each of the storage cavities; and a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed passageways between a bottom portion of the air-intake cavity and at least two different openings at a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities such that blockage of a first one of the openings does not prohibit air from flowing from the air-intake cavity into the storage cavity via a second one of the openings. | 10-23-2014 |
20140364673 | CONTAINER, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ENCAPSULATING A FUEL ROD OR A FUEL ROD PORTION IN A GAS-TIGHT MANNER - A container, a device, and a method encapsulate a fuel rod or a fuel rod portion in a gas-tight manner. The container has a hollow cylindrical container part which is closed at the free ends of the container part in a fluid-tight manner by a respective single-piece closure stopper. The closure stopper is provided with a channel that fluidically connects the flushing chamber of the container part to the exterior exclusively in an intermediate position, which is assumed prior to reaching an end position during the assembly process and in which the closure stopper additionally projects out of the container part by an axial length compared to the end position of the closure stopper. | 12-11-2014 |
20150340112 | RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL STORAGE CANISTER AND METHOD FOR SEALING SAME - A canister for storing radioactive materials includes a base plate, side wall and a top plate. The top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel, and with a channel set in from the top edge. The top plate is sealed to the sidewall by a weld formed between the beveled top edge and the top of the side wail. The base plate is sealed to a bottom of the sidewall, so that a sealed vessel is formed. | 11-26-2015 |
20160163406 | METHOD FOR LONG-TERM STORAGE OF WASTE NUCLEAR FUEL - The method for the long-term storage of waste nuclear fuel of a nuclear reactor consists in that, first, prior to the waste fuel assembly of the nuclear reactor being disposed in a steel case and the latter being hermetically sealed with a cover, a material which is chemically inert in relation to the material of the casing of the fuel elements of the waste fuel assemblies, to the material of the body of the case, to air and to water, is arranged in the steel case, the steel case is mounted in a heating device, the steel case is heated along with the material arranged in said steel case until said material passes into a liquid state, and then the waste fuel assembly which has been extracted from the nuclear reactor is arranged in the steel case in such a way that the fuel part of the fuel elements of the waste fuel assemblies is lower than the level of the liquid material in the steel case, the waste fuel assembly is fixed in this position, and the case is hermetically sealed by the cover, whereupon the hermetically sealed steel case is extracted from the heating device and mounted in a storage facility which is cooled by atmospheric air. This technical solution makes it possible to ensure long-term safe storage of waste fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor in storage facilities with cooling using atmospheric air, in particular with natural circulation of atmospheric air, and also to transport the waste fuel assemblies to a factory for processing so as to ensure an increased level of safety. | 06-09-2016 |