Patent US3469691A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3748864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for recovery and containment of radioactive gases
Assignee: Airco Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-21
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1989-01-21
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to apparatus and methods for the removal and safe containment of radioactive krypton and xenon present in the air leakage stream of a nuclear plant utilizing a boiling water reactor. The invention utilizes cryogenic techniques to separate the xenon and krypton isotopes from the air and then stores the same until they are no longer a safety hazard.
Inventors
- 👤 A Lofredo
- 👤 D Goldschmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:25
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C19/00; G21C19/28; G21C19/30; G21C19/303; F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/0228; F25J3/028; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/20; F25J2215/00; F25J2215/34; F25J2215/36; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/919; Y10S62/923; Y10S62/925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
18 words
The process defined in claim 1 in which the off gases comprise air substantially saturated with water vapor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process defined in claim 2 characterized by removing at least part of said water vapor from said off gases by cooling said off gases to condense said water vapor, storing said condensed water vapor in a shielded environment until the level of radioactivity of the condensed water vapor reaches a tolerable level, and then releasing the water from said environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process defined in claim 3 characterized by continually sensing the level of radioactivity in the water being released to insure that a tolerable level of radioactivity is not exceeded, ceasing the release of said water when said level is reached.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The process defined in claim 1 characterized by removing at least part of said carbon dioxide by lowering the temperature of said off gases to a temperature causing said carbon dioxide to freeze out, storing the carbon dioxide in a shielded environment until the level of radioactivity of the carbon dioxide reaches a tolerable level, and then releasing the carbon dioxide from said environment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process defined in claim 1 characterized by refrigerating the xenon during storage to maintain said xenon in liquid form while in storage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process defined in claim 6 characterized by refrigerating said xenon with liquid nitrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process defined in claim 6 characterized by releasing said xenon from storage when its level of radioactivity has been reduced to a tolerable level, utilizing at least part of the refrigeration capacity of said released xenon in the liquefying of the said remaining off gases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process defined in claim 1 wherein the remaining off gases contain at least part of the krypton in said off gases and storing said resulting liquid containing krypton in a storage vessel until its level of radioactivity has been reduced to a tolerable level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process defined in claim 9 characterized by releasing said liquid when said level has been reached and utilizing at least part of the refrigeration capacity of said liquid to liquefy the remaining off gases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process defined in claim 1 characterized by passing the xenon and the said resulting liquid through delay tanks wherein the storage takes place, and then intermixing the xenon and the resulting liquid and passing the mixture through a storage vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process defined in claim 11 characterized by sensing the radioactive level of the mixture leaving said storage vessel and storing said mixture in said vessel when an unacceptable level is reached.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process defined in claim 12 characterized by refrigerating said storage vessel when a mixture is being stored therein to reduce pressure buildup in said vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for treating a gas stream containing radioactive krypton and xenon comprising separating at least part of the xenon present in the stream by distillation, storing the radioactive xenon until it is safe to discharge into the atmosphere, storing the remainder of the gas stream until it is safe to discharge into the atmosphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as defined in claim 14 characterized by liquefying at least part of the remainder of the said gas stream and storing said liquid until it is safe to dischArge into the atmosphere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process defined in claim 11 characterized by refrigerating the delay tank in which the xenon is stored with a cryogenic refrigerant, controlling the temperature of the refrigerant exhaust to maintain the xenon at a desired low temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |