US4579069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Volume reduction of low-level radioactive wastes
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1983-02-17
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2003-02-17
Abstract
Abstract The volume of low-level radioactive wastes containing free water is reduced by introducing the waste as a finely atomized spray into a zone heated by means of a hot gas. Contact of the spray particles with the hot gas results in the production of a dry, flowable radioactive solid product and a gaseous non-radioactive product which contains substantially no NO x or SO x and no volatile radionuclides, which are retained in the solid product.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Gay
- 👤 LeRoy F. Grantham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:34
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/28; G21F9/30; G21F9/32; G21F9/04; G21F9/06; G21F9/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A process for reducing the volume of a low-level radioactive liquid waste containing a compound of an element selected from the group consisting of I, Cs, Fe, Co and Mn which comprises: introducing said low-level radioactive liquid waste in the form of a finely atomized spray into a spray drying zone and contacting it with a hot gas stream within said zone, said gas stream having a temperature in the range of about 45° to 300° C. sufficient to vaporize the water contained in said low-level radioactive liquid waste but insufficient to produce any oxidation products of said low-level radioactive liquid waste or to volatilize any radionuclides therefrom; and removing from said zone a dry, flowable solid radioactive product containing said compound of said element and a gaseous product comprising water vapor, said gaseous product containing substantially no NO x , SO x , or oxidation products of said liquid radioactive waste and no volatile compounds of I or Cs, the ratio of the volume of said low-level radioactive liquid waste to said dry, flowable solid radioactive product being in the range of about 2:1 to 3.5:1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process for reducing the volume of a low-level radioactive liquid waste containing a compound of an element selected from the group consisting of I, Cs, Fe, Co and Mn which comprises: introducing said low-level radioactive liquid waste in the form of a finely atomized spray into a spray drying zone and contacting it with a hot gas stream within said zone, said gas stream having a temperature in the range of about 45° to 300° C. sufficient to vaporize the water contained in said low-level radioactive liquid waste but insufficient to produce any oxidation products of said low-level radioactive liquid waste or to volatilize any radionuclides therefrom; and removing from said zone a dry, flowable solid radioactive product containing said compound of said element and a gaseous product comprising water vapor, said gaseous product containing substantially no NO x , SO x , or oxidation products of said liquid radioactive waste and no volatile compounds of I or Cs, the ratio of the volume of said low-level radioactive liquid waste to said dry, flowable solid radioactive product being in the range of about 2:1 to 3.5:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste comprises an aqueous solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste comprises an aqueous slurry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains Na 2 SO 4 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains boric acid or borate salts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains an ion exchange resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains a filter aid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said temperature is in the range of about 65° to 205° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said hot gas stream is produced by burning a fuel in an excess of an oxygen-containing gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said hot gas stream is produced by burning fuel oil in an excess of an oxygen-containing gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said hot gas stream is produced by burning natural gas in an excess of an oxygen-containing gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
A process for reducing the volume of a liquid waste containing a compound of an element selected from the group consisting of I, Cs, Fe, Co and Mn which comprises: burning a fuel with an excess of an oxygen-containing gas; introducing the products obtained by burning said fuel into a spray drying zone to heat said spray drying zone to a temperature within the range of about 45° to 300° C.; introducing a finely atomized spray of said liquid waste into the heated spray drying zone; removing from said spray drying zone a dry, flowable solid product containing said compound of an element selected irom the group consisting of I, Cs, Fe, Co and Mn and a gaseous product containing substantially no oxidation products of said liquid waste and no volatile compound of I or Cs; and separating said dry, flowable solid product from said gaseous product; the ratio of the volume of said liquid waste to said dry, flowable, solid product being in the range of about 2:1 to 3.5:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
171 words
A process for reducing the volume of a liquid waste containing a compound of an element selected from the group consisting of I, Cs, Fe, Co and Mn which comprises: burning a fuel with an excess of an oxygen-containing gas; introducing the products obtained by burning said fuel into a spray drying zone to heat said spray drying zone to a temperature within the range of about 45° to 300° C.; introducing a finely atomized spray of said liquid waste into the heated spray drying zone; removing from said spray drying zone a dry, flowable solid product containing said compound of an element selected irom the group consisting of I, Cs, Fe, Co and Mn and a gaseous product containing substantially no oxidation products of said liquid waste and no volatile compound of I or Cs; and separating said dry, flowable solid product from said gaseous product; the ratio of the volume of said liquid waste to said dry, flowable, solid product being in the range of about 2:1 to 3.5:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 12 wherein the temperature to which said zone is heated is in the range of about 65° to 250° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for reducing the volume of a low-level radioactive liquid waste which comprises: burning a fuel with an excess of an oxygen-containing gas; introducing the products obtained by burning said fuel into a spray drying zone to provide a spray drying zone uniformly heated to a temperature within the range of about 45° to 300° C.; introducing a finely atomized spray of said low-level liquid radioactive waste into said uniformly heated spray drying zone; removing from said uniformly heated spray drying zone a dry, flowable solid radioactive product and a gaseous non-radioactive product comprising water vapor, said gaseous non-radioactive product containing substantially no NO x or SO x and no volatile radionuclides, the ratio of the volume of said low-level liquid radioactive waste to said dry, flowable solid radioactive product being in the range of about 2:1 to 3.5:1; and further reducing the volume of said dry, flowable solid radioactive product by applying to said dry, flowable solid radioactive product a pressure in the range of about 550 kPa to 34.5 MPa, to a ratio in the range of about 2.5:1 to 10.8:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for reducing the volume of a low-level radioactive liquid waste which comprises: burning a fuel with an excess of an oxygen-containing gas; introducing the products obtained by burning said fuel into a spray drying zone to provide a spray drying zone uniformly heated to a temperature within the range of about 45° to 300° C.; introducing a finely atomized spray of said low-level liquid radioactive waste into said uniformly heated spray drying zone; removing from said uniformly heated spray drying zone a dry, flowable solid radioactive product and a gaseous non-radioactive product comprising water vapor, said gaseous non-radioactive product containing substantially no NO x or SO x and no volatile radionuclides, the ratio of the volume of said low-level liquid radioactive waste to said dry, flowable solid radioactive product being in the range of about 2:1 to 3.5:1; and further reducing the volume of said dry, flowable solid radioactive product by applying to said dry, flowable solid radioactive product a pressure in the range of about 550 kPa to 34.5 MPa, to a ratio in the range of about 2.5:1 to 10.8:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste comprises an aqueous solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste comprises an aqueous slurry.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains Na 2 SO 4 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains boric acid or borate salts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains an ion exchange resin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said low-level radioactive liquid waste contains a filter aid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said temperature is in the range of about 65° to 205° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said hot gas stream is produced by burning fuel oil in an excess of an oxygen-containing gas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein said hot gas stream is produced by burning natural gas in an excess of an oxygen-containing gas.
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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) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |