Method and apparatus for extracting tritium and preparing radioactive waste for disposal
Apparatus is described for heating an object such as a nuclear target bundle to release and recover hydrogen and contain the disposable residue for disposal. The apparatus comprises an inverted furnace, a sleeve/crucible assembly for holding and enclosing the bundle, conveying equipment for placing the sleeve onto the crucible and loading the bundle into the sleeve/crucible, a lift for raising the enclosed bundle into the furnace, and hydrogen recovery equipment including a trap and strippers, all housed in a containment having negative internal pressure. The crucible/sleeve assembly has an internal volume that is sufficient to enclose and hold the bundle before heating; the crucible's internal volume is sufficient by itself to hold and enclose the bundle's volume after heating. The crucible can then be covered and disposed of; the sleeve, on the other hand, can be reused. 4 figures.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5298196; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-883997
- OSTI ID:
- 5077159
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 18 May 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ISOTOPE SEPARATORS
DESIGN
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MATERIALS HANDLING
TRITIUM
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
EQUIPMENT
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
070100* - Physical Isotope Separation
052000 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Management