US4681706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear waste packaging facility
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1984-07-05
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Granted: 1987-07-21
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Expires: 2004-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear waste packaging facility for receiving both contact and remote handled nuclear waste in portable shipping containers and encapsulating this waste into ground-disposable modules is disclosed herein. The facility generally comprises a separately shielded section for processing remote handled waste including various remotely-controlled winches and conveyors, as well as a second, separately shielded section for processing contact handled waste. A module transportation and loading section is disposed between the remote and contact handled waste sections of the facility, and places empty module containers in a loading position adjacent each of the two, separately shielded sections of the facility. Both the contact and remote handled waste sections include radiation and ultrasonic detectors for determining the radioactive level of the waste, and whether or not any of this waste is in liquid form. The outputs of these detectors are connected to a central computer, which generates a signal indicating how much of the contact or non-contact handled waste may be loaded into a particular module container before the surface radiation of the completed module will exceed a certain, preselected limit. Additionally, the computer actuates an alarm circuit when either of the ultrasonic detectors generates a signal indicating that any of the waste is in liquid form. Finally, a common grouting station having an extendable trough may be used to grout modules loaded from either the contact or remote handled waste sections of the facility. The facility is preferably close to a land burial site to minimize the distance the completed modules must be transported before they are permanently buried.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Mallory
- 👤 Ralph E. Watts
- 👤 Joseph B. Paladino
- 👤 John E. Razor
- 👤 Arthur W. Lilley
- 👤 Steven J. Winston
- 👤 Billy C. Stricklin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:26
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/28; G21F9/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A nuclear waste packaging facility comprising: (a) a first section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for remotely handling waste delivered to said first section and for placing the waste into a disposal module; (b) a second section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for handling a deformable container bearing waste that is delivered to said second section, said handling means including a compactor and means for placing the waste bearing deformable container into said compactor, said compactor capable of applying a compacting force to the waste bearing containers sufficient to inelastically deform the waste and container, and means for delivering the deformed waste bearing containers to a disposal module (c) a module transportation and loading section disposed between said first and second sections including a transport means and means for handling empty modules delivered to said facility and for loading the empty modules on said transport means, said transport means moving empty disposal modules to said first section and empty disposal modules to said second section for locating empty modules in a position for loading with nuclear waste, and (d) a grouting station comprising means for pouring grout into the waste bearing disposal module, and a capping station comprising means for placing a lid onto the waste bearing grout-filled disposal module to completely encapsulate the waste.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A nuclear waste packaging facility comprising: (a) a first section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for remotely handling waste delivered to said first section and for placing the waste into a disposal module; (b) a second section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for handling a deformable container bearing waste that is delivered to said second section, said handling means including a compactor and means for placing the waste bearing deformable container into said compactor, said compactor capable of applying a compacting force to the waste bearing containers sufficient to inelastically deform the waste and container, and means for delivering the deformed waste bearing containers to a disposal module (c) a module transportation and loading section disposed between said first and second sections including a transport means and means for handling empty modules delivered to said facility and for loading the empty modules on said transport means, said transport means moving empty disposal modules to said first section and empty disposal modules to said second section for locating empty modules in a position for loading with nuclear waste, and (d) a grouting station comprising means for pouring grout into the waste bearing disposal module, and a capping station comprising means for placing a lid onto the waste bearing grout-filled disposal module to completely encapsulate the waste.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 1, wherein said grouting station includes an extendable trough for pouring grout into modules bearing nuclear waste.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 1, wherein said module loading and transportation section includes first and second parallel rail assemblies adjacent the first and second facility sections, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 3, further comprising a shield wall between said parallel rail assemblies for shielding the second section of the facility from the radiation emanating from remote handled waste when the remote handled waste is loaded into a module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 3, wherein said module loading and transportation section further includes rail carts for moving empty modules to said first section and to said second section and locating empty modules in a position for loading with said nuclear waste, wherein the rail assemblies have inclined beds so that the rail carts roll into loading positions by the force of gravity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 1, wherein said first, remote handled waste section of the facility includes a characterization station having means for determining the liquid content and means for determining the radioactive level of the remote handled waste containers delivered to the first section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 6, wherein the outputs of the means for determining the radioactive level of the waste are connected to a computer which generates a signal indicative of how many waste containers may be loaded into a particular module before the surface radiation of the grouted module will exceed a certain, preselected value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 1, wherein said first, remote handled section of the facility includes a lag well for temporarily storing remote handled waste delivered to said first section before placement in a module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 1, wherein said first, remote handled section of the facility includes a separately shielded remedial section for repairing broken shipping containers delivered to said first section and solidifying radioactive liquids delivered to said first section before placement in a module.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 1, wherein said second section of the facility includes a characterization station having means for determining the liquid content and means for determining the radioactive level of the contact handled waste containers delivered to the second section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility for claim 1, wherein said second section of the facility includes a lag well for temporarily storing contact handled waste delivered to said second section before placement in a module.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 1, wherein said second section of the facility includes a separately shielded remedial section for repairing broken shipping containers delivered to said first section and solidifying radioactive liquids delivered to said first section before placement in a module.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
278 words
A nuclear waste packaging facility comprising: (a) a first section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for remotely handling waste delivered to said first section and for placing the waste into a disposal module, a characterization station having means for determining the radioactive level of the waste and means for determining the liquid content of waste delivered to said first section before placement in a module; (b) a second section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for handling a deformable container bearing waste that is delivered to said second section, said handling means including a compactor and means for placing the waste bearing deformable container into said compactor, a characterization station having means for determining the radioactive level of the waste and means for determining the liquid content of waste delivered to said second section before placement in a module, said compactor capable of applying a compacting force to the waste bearing containers sufficient to inelastically deform the waste and container, and means for delivering the deformed waste bearing containers to a disposal module; and (c) a module transportation and loading section including a transport means and means for handling empty modules delivered to said facility and for loading the empty modules on said transport means, said transport means moving empty disposal modules to said first section and empty disposal modules to said second section and for locating empty modules in a position for loading with nuclear waste, and (d) a grouting station comprising means for pouring grout into the waste bearing disposal module, and a capping station comprising means for placing a lid onto the waste bearing grout-filled disposal module to completely encapsulate the waste.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
278 words
A nuclear waste packaging facility comprising: (a) a first section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for remotely handling waste delivered to said first section and for placing the waste into a disposal module, a characterization station having means for determining the radioactive level of the waste and means for determining the liquid content of waste delivered to said first section before placement in a module; (b) a second section substantially surrounded by radiation shielding, including means for handling a deformable container bearing waste that is delivered to said second section, said handling means including a compactor and means for placing the waste bearing deformable container into said compactor, a characterization station having means for determining the radioactive level of the waste and means for determining the liquid content of waste delivered to said second section before placement in a module, said compactor capable of applying a compacting force to the waste bearing containers sufficient to inelastically deform the waste and container, and means for delivering the deformed waste bearing containers to a disposal module; and (c) a module transportation and loading section including a transport means and means for handling empty modules delivered to said facility and for loading the empty modules on said transport means, said transport means moving empty disposal modules to said first section and empty disposal modules to said second section and for locating empty modules in a position for loading with nuclear waste, and (d) a grouting station comprising means for pouring grout into the waste bearing disposal module, and a capping station comprising means for placing a lid onto the waste bearing grout-filled disposal module to completely encapsulate the waste.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 13, further comprising a computer which is connected to the outputs of the means for determining the radioactive level of the waste of the characterization stations and which generates a signal indicative of the number of waste containers which can be loaded into a particular module container before the surface radiation of the completed module will exceed a certain, preselected level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 14, wherein the outputs of the means for determining the liquid content of the waste are connected to the input of the computer, and wherein the computer will actuate an alarm circuit when it receives a signal from either of the ultrasonic detectors which indicates that a radioactive waste is at least in part in a liquid state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 13, wherein said compactor is capable of applying a compacting force to the shipping containers of the contact waste of between 500 and 1,200 tons.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 13, wherein said second section of the facility includes a compactor capable of applying a compacting force to the shipping containers of the contact waste of approximately 600 tons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The nuclear waste packaging facility of claim 13, wherein said deformable container handling means includes a conveyor means for conveying the shipping containers of contact waste to the compactor.
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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) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-01-19 | 1991-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-01-19 | 1995-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |