US3603788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gamma radiation source and method for the treatment of sewage
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-05-06
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1988-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for the treatment of contaminated water (sewage) by the gamma rays from fission byproduct waste so as to kill bacteria and/or degrade chemical waste in the contaminated water. The fission byproduct waste is encapsulated in a leachresistant glass or ceramic product to form a radiation source. The radiation source is held by a holder inside a casing containing coolant. The source, holder, casing and coolant form a natural convection cell for the dissipation of heat. The casing with contents form radiation cells which may be interlocked into rows to form channels. The rows of cells may be fitted with guide vanes to give a generally helical motion and mixing of the contaminated water so as to ensure uniform irradiation of the water. The channels may be cleaned by high velocity water jets. As a result, a treatment plant may be designed and built so that sewage receives at least 0.14 megarads of radiation, which is sufficient to kill at least 99.99 percent of the Escherichia Coli bacteria degrade many chemical compounds, especially the benzyl sulfonate detergents, and accelerate sedimentation.
Inventors
- 👤 Floro D Miraldi
- 👤 Edward J Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:20
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/30; G; G21; G21K; G21K5/00; G21K5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of treating contaminated water to kill bacteria and degrade chemical compounds, comprising: enclosing a gamma radiation source comprising fission product waste; passing the source and the contaminated water with respect to each other to expose the water to the radiation in order to sterilize and kill bacteria in the water; the fission product waste being encapsulated in a leachresistant glass or ceramic product to form a radiation source, the radiation source being substantially below the level of the contaminated water so that adequate shielding is provided.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of treating contaminated water to kill bacteria and degrade chemical compounds, comprising: enclosing a gamma radiation source comprising fission product waste; passing the source and the contaminated water with respect to each other to expose the water to the radiation in order to sterilize and kill bacteria in the water; the fission product waste being encapsulated in a leachresistant glass or ceramic product to form a radiation source, the radiation source being substantially below the level of the contaminated water so that adequate shielding is provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 in which the gamma radiation is substantially that of the cesium-barium isotope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 in which the fission product waste is held in a container with coolant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 in which the source and the container form a natural convection cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 in which the up and down flows of the convection current are essentially separated by the construction of the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 in which the containers are arranged in channels and the sewage or contaminated water flows along the channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 in which the radiation source is in the form of beads or balls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the radiation source is in the form of bricks.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for the radiation treatment of sewage to kill a high proportion of the Escherichia Coli bacteria present and degrade chemical compounds, comprising: providing a plurality of gamma radiation sources in spaced relationship with channels therebetween and substantially parallel to each other in the direction of the sewage flow; providing a flow-diverting means to divert the sewage to an adjoining channel whereby a portion of the sewage is diverted to an adjacent channel thereby to enhance thorough mixing so that equal dosages of gamma radiation will radiate throughout the sewage to kill the Escherichia Coli bacteria therein.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for the radiation treatment of sewage to kill a high proportion of the Escherichia Coli bacteria present and degrade chemical compounds, comprising: providing a plurality of gamma radiation sources in spaced relationship with channels therebetween and substantially parallel to each other in the direction of the sewage flow; providing a flow-diverting means to divert the sewage to an adjoining channel whereby a portion of the sewage is diverted to an adjacent channel thereby to enhance thorough mixing so that equal dosages of gamma radiation will radiate throughout the sewage to kill the Escherichia Coli bacteria therein.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for the radiation treatment of sewage to kill a high proportion of the Escherichia Coli bacteria present and degrade chemical compounds, comprising: providing a plurality of gamma radiation sources in spaced relationship with channels therebetween and substantially parallel to each other in the direction of the sewage flow; providing a flow-diverting means associated with said radiation source to divert sewage downwardly in one channel and upwardly in an adjacent channel thereby producing a helical flow of contaminated water around the source.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for the radiation treatment of sewage to kill a high proportion of the Escherichia Coli bacteria present and degrade chemical compounds, comprising: providing a plurality of gamma radiation sources in spaced relationship with channels therebetween and substantially parallel to each other in the direction of the sewage flow; providing a flow-diverting means associated with said radiation source to divert sewage downwardly in one channel and upwardly in an adjacent channel thereby producing a helical flow of contaminated water around the source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A radiation cell, comprising: a source of gamma radiation impregnated in a leach-resistant ceramiclike material; a holder for said source having a low attenuation to gamma radiation; a low attenuation cooling fluid surrounding said radiation source on all sides; and a liquid-impervious enclosure for said radiation source, holder, and fluid providing for low attenuation of gamma radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A radiation cell, comprising: a source of gamma radiation impregnated in a leach-resistant ceramiclike material; a holder for said source having a low attenuation to gamma radiation; a low attenuation cooling fluid surrounding said radiation source on all sides; and a liquid-impervious enclosure for said radiation source, holder, and fluid providing for low attenuation of gamma radiation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The radiation cell of claim 11 in which the source holder has openings above and below the source and a channel providing fluid communication from the upper to the lower portions of said cell whereby natural convection currents of warmed fluid will rise in said source holder and pass outwardly through the openings above the source into the channel and then downwardly in a circulatory manner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
211 words
A sewage treatment apparatus for exposing bacterial and chemical compound-contaminated sewage to irradiation, comprising: a tank for containing the sewage and having inlet and outlet means; a plurality of spaced substantially parallel radiation cells in said tank forming channels therebetween; each of said cells having its radiation source substantially below the upper level of sewage in the tank; a series of impervious baffles extending between the source meMbers and from a point below the upper level of the radiation cells to a point above the bottom of the tank; a plurality of angled vanes at the bottom of the tank beneath the radiation cells, said vanes being formed in rows and alternating with respect to each other whereby a flow of contaminated sewage in the tank flows from one channel over the baffles at the top of the tank and flows downwardly to the vanes at the bottom of the tank to adjacent channels in a helical pattern whereby the vanes at the bottom create a pressure differential in the channel where the vanes at the bottom are angled toward one another in the direction of flow, resulting in a higher pressure, consequently sewage will flow at the top of that same channel to adjacent channels because of the pressure differential.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
211 words
A sewage treatment apparatus for exposing bacterial and chemical compound-contaminated sewage to irradiation, comprising: a tank for containing the sewage and having inlet and outlet means; a plurality of spaced substantially parallel radiation cells in said tank forming channels therebetween; each of said cells having its radiation source substantially below the upper level of sewage in the tank; a series of impervious baffles extending between the source meMbers and from a point below the upper level of the radiation cells to a point above the bottom of the tank; a plurality of angled vanes at the bottom of the tank beneath the radiation cells, said vanes being formed in rows and alternating with respect to each other whereby a flow of contaminated sewage in the tank flows from one channel over the baffles at the top of the tank and flows downwardly to the vanes at the bottom of the tank to adjacent channels in a helical pattern whereby the vanes at the bottom create a pressure differential in the channel where the vanes at the bottom are angled toward one another in the direction of flow, resulting in a higher pressure, consequently sewage will flow at the top of that same channel to adjacent channels because of the pressure differential.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
235 words
A sewage treatment apparatus for exposing bacterial and chemical compound-contaminated sewage to irradiation, comprising: a tank for containing the sewage and having inlet and outlet means; a plurality of spaced substantially parallel radiation cells in said tank forming channels therebetween; each of said cells having its radiation source substantially below the upper level of sewage in the tank; a series of at least one upper and one lower vane means disposed between said radiation cells and projecting at an incline into the channels defined thereby, said vane means comprising flow restrictors and openings between the rows of cells whereby the flow of sewage along substantially parallel paths will be restricted and will pass to an adjacent channel to provide substantially equal radiation treatment to the sewage in the tank; an opening adjacent to each vane providing fluid communication between the channel into which the vane projects and the channel adjacent thereto; each vane of a given series being inclined in the same direction; the vanes of the said one series being divergent with respect to the vane of the other series and vanes of one series being vertically disposed with respect to the vanes of the other series, whereby approaching sewage will be diverted from the channel into which the vane projects through said opening into the channel adjacent thereto and then in a direction which includes a vertical component, in a generally helical manner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
235 words
A sewage treatment apparatus for exposing bacterial and chemical compound-contaminated sewage to irradiation, comprising: a tank for containing the sewage and having inlet and outlet means; a plurality of spaced substantially parallel radiation cells in said tank forming channels therebetween; each of said cells having its radiation source substantially below the upper level of sewage in the tank; a series of at least one upper and one lower vane means disposed between said radiation cells and projecting at an incline into the channels defined thereby, said vane means comprising flow restrictors and openings between the rows of cells whereby the flow of sewage along substantially parallel paths will be restricted and will pass to an adjacent channel to provide substantially equal radiation treatment to the sewage in the tank; an opening adjacent to each vane providing fluid communication between the channel into which the vane projects and the channel adjacent thereto; each vane of a given series being inclined in the same direction; the vanes of the said one series being divergent with respect to the vane of the other series and vanes of one series being vertically disposed with respect to the vanes of the other series, whereby approaching sewage will be diverted from the channel into which the vane projects through said opening into the channel adjacent thereto and then in a direction which includes a vertical component, in a generally helical manner.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |