Conveyor for sorting radioactive waste

Patent · Tue Jul 14 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6206565

Prisco, A J; Johnson, A N

An apparatus is described for detecting radioactive components in dry active waste, the apparatus comprising: means for reducing the waste to pieces of substantially uniform size, first and second conveyors and a housing for the conveyors; means for conveying the pieces from the means for reducing the waste to the first and second conveyors; each of the first and second conveyors includes a receiving portion and a discharge portion; the discharge portion is spaced above and upstream from the receiving portion to disperse the pieces as they are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor so that pieces which are in clusters are separated from each other to increase the likelihood of detecting radiation emanating means for detecting radioactive radiation emanating from the pieces, at least one of radiation detector means is located on each of the conveyors. Each is disposed in close overlying relation to its respective conveyor so that low levels of radiation emanating from the pieces can be detected; each of the conveyors includes means for flattening the pieces of waste before the pieces pass under the radiation detector means; and the means for flattening disposed between the receiving portion of each conveyor and the radiation detector means; the housing is generally closed; and means for providing a generally closed connection between the housing and the means for reducing the waste so that air that is in the housing and in the means for reducing the waste can be controlled.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4679738
• OSTI ID: 6206565
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
CONNECTORS
CONVEYORS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PROCESSING
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SORTING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES