Screw compactor/dry active waste volume reduction and solidification technology

Conference · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5664483

Kuribayashi, H; Yagi, T; Sauda, K

Because of the large amounts of dry active waste (DAW) generated, treatment requires many man-hours and expensive equipment, resulting in the economical burden of waste management at nuclear power plants. To solve this problem, a new technology, called the screw compactor, has been developed. DAW generated at nuclear power plants contains such thermoplastics as polyethylene, which is utilized as a binder. The polyethylene is melted by compression and friction heat, mixed with other materials, and then extruded from the screw compactor. The screw compactor consists of one axial screw housed in a shell structure that incorporates a DAW shredder, hopper, and cutter. Shredded DAW is received in the hopper, then fed into the compactor. Wastes containing polyethylene are melted, mixed with other materials, and pressed by compression and friction heat. The screw compactor then extrudes these wastes from the nozzle. The cutter shears the extrusion into pellets, which are poured into drums. The screw compactor's design also permits higher packaging efficiency by the easy attachment of a piston-type machine that forms the pellets into pillar-shaped products. Most DAW, compactible as well as non-compactible wastes, can be volume reduced and compacted.

• OSTI ID: 5664483
• Report Number(s): CONF-851115-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 50
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220502* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Environmental Aspects-- Radioactive Effluents
COMPACTING
COMPACTORS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MELTING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SOLIDIFICATION
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLUME
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES