US3894364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of cleaning nuclear power plants
Assignee: Siemens AG
•
Filing: 1973-12-03
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Cleaning of components of nuclear reactor power plants as for example steam generators, by blasting the contaminated surface with boron trioxide sand propelled by compressed gas, withdrawing the gas containing suspended boron trioxide particles and abraded solid particles from the atmosphere around the treating area and passing the gas containing suspended particles through a vortex separator to separate the particles from the gas. The gas after removal of the particles may be returned to the chamber enclosing the surfaces to be cleaned thereby minimizing contamination in the area surrounding the enclosed chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland Korn
- 👤 Gunter Seyd
- 👤 Uwe Paulsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:09
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24C; B24C1/00; G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/001; G21F9/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
IN A PROCESS FOR CLEANING COMPONENTS OF NUCLEAR REACTOR POWDER PLANTS WHICH HAVE BEEN WETTED DURING THE OPERATION WITH H2O OR D2O, PARTICULARLY FOR THE DECONTAMINATION OF RADIO-ACTIVELY CONTAMINATED REGIONS BY MECHANICALLY ABRADING THE SURFACES TO BE CLEANED DOWN TO THE PASSIVATION LAYER OF THE BASE MATERIAL BY MEANS OF BORON TRIOXIDE PARTICLES WITH THE AID OF COMPRESSED GAS, PRODUCING AN ATMOSPHERE AROUND SAID REGIONS OF SAID GAS HAVING SUSPENDED THEREIN BORON TRIOXIDE PARTICLES AND SOLID PARTICLES ABRADED FROM SAID SURFACES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES WITHDRAWING SAID GAS CONTAINING SUSPENDED BORON TRIOXIDE PARTICLES AND ABRADED SOLID PARTICLES FROM SAID REGIONS, PASSING SAID GAS CONTAINING SUSPENDED PARTICLES THROUGH A VORTEX SEPARATOR TO EFFECT SEPARATION OF THE PARTICLES FROM THE GAS, DISCHARGING THE SEPARATED PARTICLES AND DISCHARGING THE GAS FROM THE VORTEX SEPARATOR AFTER SEPARATION OF THE PARTICLES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
IN A PROCESS FOR CLEANING COMPONENTS OF NUCLEAR REACTOR POWDER PLANTS WHICH HAVE BEEN WETTED DURING THE OPERATION WITH H2O OR D2O, PARTICULARLY FOR THE DECONTAMINATION OF RADIO-ACTIVELY CONTAMINATED REGIONS BY MECHANICALLY ABRADING THE SURFACES TO BE CLEANED DOWN TO THE PASSIVATION LAYER OF THE BASE MATERIAL BY MEANS OF BORON TRIOXIDE PARTICLES WITH THE AID OF COMPRESSED GAS, PRODUCING AN ATMOSPHERE AROUND SAID REGIONS OF SAID GAS HAVING SUSPENDED THEREIN BORON TRIOXIDE PARTICLES AND SOLID PARTICLES ABRADED FROM SAID SURFACES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES WITHDRAWING SAID GAS CONTAINING SUSPENDED BORON TRIOXIDE PARTICLES AND ABRADED SOLID PARTICLES FROM SAID REGIONS, PASSING SAID GAS CONTAINING SUSPENDED PARTICLES THROUGH A VORTEX SEPARATOR TO EFFECT SEPARATION OF THE PARTICLES FROM THE GAS, DISCHARGING THE SEPARATED PARTICLES AND DISCHARGING THE GAS FROM THE VORTEX SEPARATOR AFTER SEPARATION OF THE PARTICLES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
Process in accordance with claim 1 wherein suction is applied to accelerate said withdrawing of said gas containing suspended boron trioxide particles and abraded solid particles at a rate sufficient to retain at least a major portion of the particles suspended in the gas thereby restricting deposition to no more than a minor portion of the particles in said regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
PrOcess in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cleaning area is in an enclosed chamber and wherein said gas from the vortex separator after separation of the particles is recycled to said enclosed chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas from the vortex separator after separation of the particles is compressed and employed as said compressed gas to propel said boron trioxide particles to mechanically abrade the surfaces to be cleaned.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2948092A
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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) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |