Radioactive waste supplying device

Abstract

To disclose a radioactive waste supplying device used in a radioactive waste vitrification facility for vitrifying radioactive waste.SOLUTION: A radioactive waste supplying device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention supplies radioactive waste to a vitrification melting furnace 30. The radioactive waste supplying device 10 may comprise: a main supply pipe including one end and the other end, the one end facing the vitrification melting furnace 30, and supplying the radioactive waste in the direction from the other end toward the one end; a sub-supply pipe 20 including one side and the other side and disposed in the main supply pipe in such a manner that the one side is adjacent to the one end; and a scattering part positioned on one side of the sub-supply pipe and causing the radioactive waste passing through the sub-supply pipe 20 to be scattered and input into the melting furnace.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply device for supplying radioactive waste to a vitrification melting furnace, and to a radioactive waste supply device that supplies radioactive waste in a dispersed manner into the melting furnace, thereby preventing radioactive waste from remaining in the supply pipe. [Background technology]

[0002] The stable treatment, storage, and management of waste, especially hazardous waste such as radioactive waste, is a very important issue. Among the methods of waste treatment and storage, the use of glass to treat waste is called vitrification, which is a method of permanently isolating radioactive waste, sludge, contaminated soil, or industrial waste by enclosing it in a glass structure to prevent it from seeping into the surrounding environment.

[0003] In general, a waste vitrification device melts a glass-forming agent and waste in a melting furnace to vitrify the waste, exhausts volatile components in the waste through an exhaust treatment process, and applies heat to toxic substances such as radionuclides and heavy metals so that they become part of a glass network structure. A residence time is given until a homogeneous molten glass mixture is formed, and the glass melt is then discharged to form a vitrified body.

[0004] There are various types of melting furnaces depending on the heating method, and among them, the cold crucible induction melter (CCIM) mainly consists of a cylindrical melting chamber with electrical insulators inserted between multiple metal sectors through which cooling water circulates, and a high-frequency induction coil installed on the outside of the melting chamber. The high-frequency current applied to the induction coil melts the materials (e.g., waste and glass) inside the melting chamber.

[0005] When the radioactive waste is fed into the melting furnace, it must be fed evenly, otherwise the melting of the radioactive waste in the melting furnace will be uneven. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a radioactive waste supply device that allows radioactive waste to be supplied in a dispersed manner into a melting furnace and prevents radioactive waste from remaining in the supply pipe.

[0007] The objects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other objects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a radioactive waste supply device for supplying radioactive waste to a vitrification melting furnace may include a main supply pipe having one end and the other end, the one end facing the vitrification melting furnace and supplying the radioactive waste from the other end toward the one end, a sub-supply pipe having one side and the other side and disposed within the main supply pipe so that the one side is adjacent to the one end, and a spreading portion located on one side of the sub-supply pipe so that the radioactive waste passing through the sub-supply pipe is spread and fed into the melting furnace.

[0009] The spreading portion may include a spreading structure and a support portion extending from the spreading structure and fixed to an inner diameter of the sub-supply pipe.

[0010] The support portion may be fixed to an inner diameter of the sub-supply pipe so that the spreading structure is positioned at a center portion of the sub-supply pipe.

[0011] The sub-supply pipe may rotate within the main supply pipe.

[0012] The sub-supply pipe may include a first gear portion on the other side, and the main supply pipe may include a second gear portion that provides power to the first gear portion.

[0013] The first gear portion is a ring gear, and the second gear portion is a pinion gear.

[0014] The device may further include a drive motor that provides power to the second gear portion.

[0015] The main supply pipe may include a bearing portion, and the bearing portion may be located on an inner diameter of the main supply pipe and may contact an outer diameter of the sub-supply pipe.

[0016] The system may further include a constant observation unit for observing the supply status of the radioactive waste, and the constant observation unit may include a first glass window located on the side of the main supply pipe and a first observation camera for observing the inside of the main supply pipe through the first glass window.

[0017] The system may further include an auxiliary observation unit for observing the supply status of the radioactive waste, and the auxiliary observation unit may include a second glass window located at the other end of the main supply pipe and a second observation camera for observing the inside of the main supply pipe through the second glass window.

[0018] Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, there is provided a radioactive waste supplying device that allows radioactive waste to be supplied to a melting furnace in a dispersed manner, thereby preventing radioactive waste from remaining in a supply pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a radioactive waste vitrification facility to which a radioactive waste supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a radioactive waste feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a portion of a radioactive waste feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram showing a gear portion of a radioactive waste supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The present invention provides a radioactive waste supply device including: a main supply pipe having one end and the other end, the one end facing the vitrification melting furnace and supplying the radioactive waste from the other end toward the one end; a sub-supply pipe having one side and the other side and disposed within the main supply pipe so that the one side is adjacent to the one end; and a spreading portion located on one side of the sub-supply pipe, allowing the radioactive waste passing through the sub-supply pipe to be spread and fed into the melting furnace.

[0022] MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention, as well as methods for achieving them, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and may be realized in various different forms. These embodiments are provided solely to complete the disclosure of the present invention and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention is defined solely by the scope of the claims. The same reference symbols refer to the same elements throughout the specification.

[0023] A radioactive waste supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a radioactive waste vitrification facility to which a radioactive waste supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a radioactive waste supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a radioactive waste supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a gear portion of a radioactive waste supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] First, with reference to FIG. 1, a radioactive waste vitrification facility 1 to which a radioactive waste supplying device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described as follows.

[0026] The radioactive waste vitrification facility 1 may include a radioactive waste storage section 20, a radioactive waste supply device 10, and a vitrification melting furnace 30.

[0027] Radioactive waste vitrification facility 1 is a facility that processes radioactive waste more safely. It can not only dramatically reduce the volume of medium and low level radioactive waste, but also minimize the leakage of radioactive materials into the surrounding area under any environment, thereby significantly improving the safety of radioactive waste processing.

[0028] Radioactive waste vitrification facility 1 not only fundamentally blocks radioactive materials from leaking into the environment by combining radioactive waste with a glass structure, but also revolutionarily reduces the volume of radioactive waste. Vitrification technology can reduce the initial volume of all combustible and non-combustible medium- and low-level radioactive waste generated at nuclear power plants to less than 1 / 20. This not only ensures the safety of radioactive waste disposal, but also greatly contributes to the stable promotion of disposal projects for the construction of management facilities.

[0029] The radioactive waste vitrification facility 1 can vitrify radioactive waste through the following process.

[0030] Glass raw materials are placed in the induction heating vitrification melting furnace 30, where the glass is melted by heat induced by an electromagnetic field. Once a glass melt at approximately 1100°C is produced, crushed waste stored in the radioactive waste storage unit 20 is fed to the glass melt via the radioactive waste supply device 10 and decomposed on the glass melt, with the radioactive materials firmly bonding with the glass components. Combustible waste that can be treated in the induction heating vitrification melting furnace 30 includes workers' clothing, gloves, shoes, and paper waste, as well as low-radioactivity waste resin used for water purification at nuclear power plants.

[0031] Once in the glass structure, radionuclides cannot escape under any environmental conditions. The strength of the bond between the glass structure and radionuclides has been confirmed by internationally recognized leaching tests.

[0032] Next, a radioactive waste supplying apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0033] The radioactive waste supplying apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for supplying radioactive waste to a vitrification melting furnace 30 of a radioactive waste vitrification facility 1. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the radioactive waste supplying apparatus 10 of the present invention may include a main supply pipe 100, a sub-supply pipe 200, and a radioactive waste spreading section 300.

[0034] The main supply pipe 100 includes one end 101 and the other end 102, and the one end 101 faces the vitrification melting furnace 30, and the radioactive waste can be supplied from the other end 102 toward the one end 101. The main supply pipe 100 constitutes the main body of the radioactive waste supply device 10 and may have a hollow housing structure so that the radioactive waste that has entered the other end 102 can move toward the one end 101. The main supply pipe 100 may be made of, for example, stainless steel, to minimize corrosion due to the outside air.

[0035] The sub-supply pipe 200 is located inside the main supply pipe 100 .

[0036] The sub-supply pipe 200 includes one side 201 and the other side 202, and is disposed such that the one side 201 is adjacent to one end 101 of the main supply pipe 100. That is, the sub-supply pipe 200 may be disposed within the main supply pipe 100 adjacent to the vitrification melter 30.

[0037] The sub-supply pipe 200 may have a hollow housing structure so that the radioactive waste supplied to the main supply pipe 100 can move to the vitrification melting furnace 30. In addition, the sub-supply pipe 200 may be made of, for example, stainless steel to minimize corrosion due to the outside air.

[0038] The sub-supply pipe 200 can rotate within the main supply pipe 100. Radioactive waste passing through the main supply pipe 100 and the sub-supply pipe 200 can accumulate on the inner diameters of the main supply pipe 100 and the sub-supply pipe 200, causing the pipes to become clogged, but by rotating the sub-supply pipe 200, the accumulation of radioactive waste inside the pipes can be prevented.

[0039] 3 and 4, the sub-supply pipe 200 may include a first gear portion 211 to rotate the sub-supply pipe 200. The first gear portion 211 is located on the other side 202 of the sub-supply pipe 200. The first gear portion 211 meshes with a second gear portion 152 (described later) to receive power, thereby allowing the sub-supply pipe 200 to rotate.

[0040] In addition, the main supply pipe 100 may include a second gear portion 152 that is meshed with and connected to the first gear portion 211. The second gear portion 152 may provide power to the first gear portion 211 so that the sub supply pipe 200 can rotate.

[0041] 4, the first gear portion 211 and the second gear portion 152 may be configured, for example, as bevel gears. A bevel gear is a conical gear used to transmit motion between two intersecting axes. The first gear portion 211 may be a ring gear, and the second gear portion 152 may be a pinion gear.

[0042] The radioactive waste supply device 10 of the present invention may further include a drive motor 150 that provides power to the second gear unit 152. The drive motor 150 can provide rotational power to the second gear unit 152. As a result, the second gear unit 152 can rotate about a horizontal axis. The first gear unit 211, which is vertically meshed with the second gear unit 152, receives rotational power from the second gear unit 152 and converts the power rotating about the horizontal axis into power rotating about a vertical axis. As a result, the sub-supply pipe 200 including the first gear unit 211 can rotate about the vertical axis.

[0043] In addition, the main supply pipe 100 may further include a bearing unit 160 so that the vertical supply pipe 200 can easily rotate while being fixed and disposed within the main supply pipe 100. To this end, the bearing unit 160 may be located on the inner diameter of the main supply pipe 100 and contact the outer diameter of the sub-supply pipe 200. The bearing unit 160 may fix the rotating shaft of the sub-supply pipe 200 in a fixed position. In addition, the bearing unit 160 may support the weight of the shaft and the load acting on the shaft, allowing the rotation shaft of the sub-supply pipe 200 to rotate.

[0044] The radioactive waste scattering unit 300 is located at one side 201 of the sub-supply pipe 200 so that the radioactive waste passing through the sub-supply pipe 200 is scattered and fed into the vitrification melting furnace 30 .

[0045] The spreading portion 300 may include a spreading structure 301 and a support portion 302 extending from the spreading structure 301 and fixed to the inner diameter of the sub-supply pipe 200. The support portion 302 may include a plurality of support portions 302.

[0046] In this case, the support part 302 is fixed to the inner diameter of the sub-supply pipe 200 so that the spreading structure 301 is positioned at the center of the sub-supply pipe 200. The spreading structure 301 and the support part 302 may be made of stainless steel.

[0047] The radioactive waste supplying apparatus 10 may further include a constant observation unit 120 for observing the supply status of the radioactive waste. To observe the supply status of the radioactive waste, the constant observation unit 120 may include a first glass window 111 located on the side of the main supply pipe 100 and a first observation camera 121 that can observe the inside of the main supply pipe 100 through the first glass window 111. This allows the status of the radioactive waste supplied by the radioactive waste supplying apparatus 10 to be monitored in real time.

[0048] The radioactive waste supplying device 10 may further include an auxiliary observation unit 130 for more closely observing the state of radioactive waste supply. To more closely observe the state of radioactive waste supply together with the constant observation unit 120, the auxiliary observation unit 130 may include a second glass window 112 located at the other end 102 of the main supply pipe 100 and a second observation camera 122 for observing the inside of the main supply pipe 100 through the second glass window 112. This allows the state of radioactive waste supplied by the radioactive waste supplying device 10 to be monitored in real time together with the constant observation unit 120.

[0049] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and is not limiting.

Claims

1. A radioactive waste supply device for supplying radioactive waste to a vitrification melting furnace, a main supply pipe including one end and another end, the one end facing the vitrification melting furnace, and supplying the radioactive waste from the other end toward the one end; a sub-supply pipe including one side and another side, the sub-supply pipe being disposed within the main supply pipe such that the one side is adjacent to the one end; a spreading section located on one side of the sub-supply pipe, which spreads and feeds the radioactive waste passing through the sub-supply pipe into the melting furnace; a constant observation unit for observing the supply state of the radioactive waste; and an auxiliary observation unit for observing the supply state of the radioactive waste; Equipped with the spreading portion includes a spreading structure and a support portion extending from the spreading structure and fixed to an inner diameter of the sub-supply pipe; the spreading structure is located at a center of the sub-supply pipe and is fixed to an inner diameter of the sub-supply pipe by the support part; the sub-supply pipe is rotatable within the main supply pipe; the sub supply pipe includes a first gear portion on the other side, and the main supply pipe includes a second gear portion that transmits power to the first gear portion; the main supply pipe includes a bearing portion, the bearing portion being located on an inner diameter of the main supply pipe and contacting and supporting an outer diameter of the sub-supply pipe; the constant observation unit includes a first glass window located on a side of the main supply pipe, and a first observation camera that observes the inside of the main supply pipe through the first glass window, the auxiliary observation unit includes a second glass window located at the other end of the main supply pipe, and a second observation camera for observing the inside of the main supply pipe through the second glass window; Radioactive waste feeder.

2. 2. The radioactive waste supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first gear portion is a ring gear, and the second gear portion is a pinion gear.

3. The radioactive waste feeding apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a drive motor that provides power to the second gear portion.

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