Method and apparatus for eliminating volatiles or airborne entrainments when vitrifying radioactive and/or hazardous waste
US5678236A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB09B2101/35
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In this invention radioactive or hazardous containing materials are vitrified in a melter having two or more chambers. Glass feed materials are added to the primary chamber of the melter and they are heated to a molten glass which is then transported to one or more secondary chambers where hazardous and/or radioactive containing materials are added and are encapsulated and/or melted. In addition, the non-plutonium part of a glass feed can be melted in a non-radioactive environment which permits contact operations and maintenance; no radioactive shielding; and a conventional off gas system-similar to commercial vitrification plants. The hot molten "clean" glass is directed into a radioactive containment such as a "glove box"; shielded "glove box"; or hot cell, or a combination of these. By delivering hot "clean" glass from a melter including non-radioactive materials, 90% of the off gases will be non-radioactive. Thereby only minimum heating is needed in the radioactive containment resulting in very significant reductions in size of the maintenance requirements for the radioactive portion of the process. In the radioactive portion, the glove box will include means for adding plutoni…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.