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US4623510A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Permanent disposal of radioactive particulate waste in cartridge containing ferromagnetic material

Assignee: EnergySolutions Services Inc
•
Filing: 1983-10-28
•
Granted: 1986-11-18
•
Expires: 2003-10-28
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Abstract

Abstract A cartridge for the permanent storage and disposal of radioactive particulate waste composed of a liquid impervious casing enclosing a waste storage region provided with a ferromagnetic matrix made of steel wool, together with inlet and outlet conduits suitably associated with the waste storage region to enable a liquid containing such waste material to be conducted through the matrix while the particulate waste is adhered thereto under the influence of a magnetic field and the remaining liquid filtrate is expelled from the cartridge, and to then permit an encapsulating material, such as a resin-catalyst mixture, to be introduced into the waste storage region to completely fill that region. The cartridge is temporarily connected into a system including remotely controllable valves and conduits for permitting the liquid containing waste material to be introduced into the cartridge while the liquid component thereof is removed to a storage container, and the encapsulating material to be then introduced into the waste storage region, followed by direct insertion of the cartridge into a drum which can be subsequently sealed and permanently stored, all of this occurring in a fully mechanized and remote manner which does not require the exposure of any operating personnel to significant radiation dose.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael Troy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 13:08
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/28; G21F5/00; G21F5/005; G21F9/008; G21F9/04; G21F9/06; G21F9/30; G21F9/301; G21F9/307

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 122 words
A cartridge for permanent disposal of solid radioactive particulate waste, comprising: a liquid impervious casing having an upper end cover, a lower end cover and a side wall extending between said covers, said casing enclosing a waste storage region; ferromagnetic fibrous material defining a waste retaining matrix and filling a major portion of the waste storage region; means defining an inlet conduit extending through said upper end cover and axially of said casing through the waste storage region, and opening into the waste storage region in the vicinity of said lower end cover; and means defining first and second outlet conduits extending through said upper end cover and opening into the waste storage region in the vicinity of said upper end cover.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 122 words
A cartridge for permanent disposal of solid radioactive particulate waste, comprising: a liquid impervious casing having an upper end cover, a lower end cover and a side wall extending between said covers, said casing enclosing a waste storage region; ferromagnetic fibrous material defining a waste retaining matrix and filling a major portion of the waste storage region; means defining an inlet conduit extending through said upper end cover and axially of said casing through the waste storage region, and opening into the waste storage region in the vicinity of said lower end cover; and means defining first and second outlet conduits extending through said upper end cover and opening into the waste storage region in the vicinity of said upper end cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing and said conduits are made of plastic and are securely bonded together to form a rigid unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 2 wherein said plastic is fiberglass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein said ferromagnetic fibrous material is constituted by steel wool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 55 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 further comprising two annular perforated retainer-distribution plates secured to said casing in the waste storage region and delimiting the portion of the waste storage region containing said matrix, each said plate being axially spaced from a respective one of said covers to define therewith a fluid circulation space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper end cover is formed to define a liquid reservoir separated from the waste storage region by said upper end cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper end cover is formed to define a radially inwardly projecting annular flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 44 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 further comprising a check valve mounted in said second outlet conduit for closing said second outlet conduit in response to pressure exerted thereon by a fluid flowing into said second outlet conduit from the waste storage region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 8 further comprising a switch disposed in said second outlet conduit and operatively associated with said check valve to be actuated in response to closing of said check valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 arranged to be exposed to a magnetic field which traverses said fibrous material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3984345A Cited
US3982134A Cited
US4217213A Cited
US4197467A Cited
JPS54134300A Cited
US4257912A Cited
US4436655A Cited
US4476394A Cited
US4491540A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-11-17 1990-05-19 1990-11-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-11-17 1994-05-19 1994-11-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-11-17 1998-05-19 1998-11-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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