Dewatering nuclear wastes
US4952339A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1989 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21F9/08
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of predictably dewatering a slurry that contains radioactive particles to a condition for safe permanent storage. Interstitial water is removed from the slurry, and then a sufficient quantity of adsorbed water is removed from the particles so that at the permanent storage temperature the particles will be just unsaturated with respect to adsorbed water. The dewatering endpoint is set to at least unsaturate the particles at the permanent storage temperature. This minimum volume of adsorbed water removal is necessary to assure the subsequent uptake of any condensed water that develops during storage in a sealed container. An upper dewatering endpoint is preferably set so that the volume of adsorbed water removed from the particles does not excessively unsaturate the particles, so that the sealed storage container that eventually confines the dewatered particles will not burst if the particles later become exposed to ambient water or water vapor. This upper dewatering limit is both particle- and container-specific and is set to assure that any increase in particle volume, if the particular particles become further hydrated at the permanent storage temperature, will not exceed…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.