Glass melt sampling system

Abstract

A sampling system for collecting a glass melt sample from a melting furnace of a radioactive waste vitrification facility for vitrifying radioactive waste is disclosed. The sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a vitrification melting furnace and a vitrification mold, and collects a glass melt sample from a glass melt sample produced and discharged from the vitrification facility for vitrifying radioactive waste. The sampling system includes a glass melt sampling device including a sample holder for receiving the glass melt sample discharged from the vitrification melting furnace, a transfer pipe connected to the sample holder and through which the received glass melt sample is transported, and a sample solidification mold connected to the transfer pipe for solidifying the glass melt sample to produce a solidified sample.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sampling system capable of sampling glass melt samples from a vitrification melting furnace and evaluating the characteristics of the samples, which is essential for the evaluation of the characteristics of vitrified wastes discharged from a vitrification facility. [Background technology]

[0002] Radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants and organizations that use radioisotopes must be disposed of safely. Radioactive waste is classified into low and intermediate-level waste and high-level waste depending on the strength of its radioactivity. Low- and medium-level radioactive waste consists mostly of waste generated during the operation of nuclear power plants, such as filter materials, ion exchange resins, concentrated sludge from waste evaporators, and miscellaneous solids such as work clothes, tools, and disposable paper used by radiation workers.

[0003] Such low- and medium-level radioactive waste is either mixed with solidifying materials such as cement or paraffin and sealed in waste drums to solidify, or compressed and sealed in waste drums and stored in a safe location such as a waste management facility. However, the construction and maintenance of waste management facilities requires considerable manpower and costs, and social aversion to such facilities makes their construction difficult, posing a serious social problem.

[0004] On the other hand, a technology for treating low- and medium-level radioactive waste is vitrification, in which the waste is incinerated or pyrolyzed, and then melted with glass at high temperatures to produce a vitrified waste. Such vitrification technology for low- and medium-level radioactive waste not only enables a dramatic reduction in the volume of waste, but also makes it possible to permanently block the leakage of radioactivity. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] On the other hand, when radioactive waste is treated using a vitrification facility, the characteristics of the vitrified waste formed from the molten glass discharged from the vitrification facility must be evaluated in order to dispose of the vitrified waste. In the past, workers were required to be sent in and directly collect a portion of the molten glass as a sample, which posed many challenges in terms of safety and workability.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems and provides a sampling system for sampling a portion of the glass melt produced in a melting furnace of a vitrification facility as a glass melt sample.

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

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sampling system that includes a vitrification melting furnace and a glass solidification mold, and samples, as a glass melt sample, a portion of a glass melt produced and discharged from a vitrification facility for vitrifying radioactive waste. The sampling system includes a glass melt sampling device that includes a sample container that contains the glass melt sample discharged from the vitrification melting furnace, a transfer pipe that is connected to the sample container and through which the contained glass melt sample is moved, and a sample solidification mold that is connected to the transfer pipe and solidifies the glass melt sample to produce a sample solidification mold.

[0009] The sample solidification mold is detachably connected to the transfer pipe.

[0010] The glass melt sampling device further includes a heat insulating cover that covers the outside of the sample solidification mold.

[0011] The glass melt sampling device further includes a heating unit located outside the transfer pipe and supplying heat to maintain the temperature of the glass melt sample being transferred.

[0012] The sampling system further includes a rail portion located below the vitrification melter furnace.

[0013] The glass melt sampling device is coupled to the rail portion and moves on the rail portion.

[0014] When the glass melt sampling device collects the glass melt sample, the glass melt sampling device moves on the rail portion so as to overlap with a discharge nozzle of the vitrification melting furnace.

[0015] When the glass melt sampling device samples the glass melt sample, the sample solidification mold is positioned adjacent to the vitrification mold.

[0016] When the glass melt sampling device completes collecting the glass melt sample, the glass melt sampling device moves on the rail portion to the end of the vitrification melting furnace so as not to overlap with the discharge nozzle of the vitrification melting furnace.

[0017] The sampling system includes a plurality of the glass melt sampling devices.

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

[0019] According to the present invention, a sampling system is provided for sampling a portion of a glass melt produced in a melting furnace of a vitrification facility as a glass melt sample. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 illustrates a glass melt sampling apparatus of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a rail portion of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating a sampling process of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a sampling process of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating a sampling process of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention including multiple glass melt sampling devices. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention is directed to a system for collecting, as a glass melt sample, a portion of a glass melt produced and discharged from a vitrification facility for vitrifying radioactive waste, the system including a vitrification melting furnace and a vitrification mold. The system includes a glass melt sample collection device, the glass melt sample collection device including a sample container for containing the glass melt sample discharged from the vitrification melting furnace, a transfer pipe connected to the sample container and through which the contained glass melt sample is moved, and a sample solidification mold connected to the transfer pipe for solidifying the glass melt sample to produce a solidified sample. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the present invention, as well as the methods for achieving them, will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and can be realized in various different forms. The present embodiments are provided merely 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 only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the specification.

[0026] A glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a glass melt sampling device of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a rail portion of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 3 to 5 are diagrams for explaining a sampling process of a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a glass melt sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention including a plurality of glass melt sampling devices.

[0028] A glass melt sampling system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can sample a portion of the glass melt produced from a vitrification facility as a glass melt sample. Here, the vitrification facility can include a vitrification melting furnace 11 and a vitrified body mold 12 .

[0029] More specifically, vitrification equipment is a facility for treating radioactive waste more safely, and not only can it dramatically reduce the volume of low- and medium-level radioactive waste, but it can also minimize the leakage of radioactive materials into the surrounding area in any environment, thereby significantly improving the safety of radioactive waste treatment.

[0030] Radioactive waste vitrification equipment not only combines radioactive waste with a glass structure to fundamentally prevent radioactive materials from leaking into the environment, but also dramatically reduces the volume of radioactive waste. Vitrification technology can reduce the initial volume of all combustible and non-combustible low-level radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants to less than 1 / 20. This will not only ensure the safety of radioactive waste disposal, but will also greatly contribute to the stable promotion of disposal projects toward the construction of management facilities.

[0031] The radioactive waste vitrification equipment can vitrify radioactive waste through the following process.

[0032] Glass raw materials are placed in an induction heating vitrification melting furnace, and the glass is melted by heat induced by an electromagnetic field. Once a glass melt of approximately 1100°C is produced, finely crushed waste stored in the radioactive waste repository is fed into the glass melt via a radioactive waste feeder 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 11 includes clothing, gloves, shoes, and paper used by workers, as well as low-radioactivity waste resin used for water purification at nuclear power plants.

[0033] The radionuclides that form the glass structure will not leak out of the glass structure under any environmental conditions. The strength of this glass structure and radionuclide binding has been confirmed by internationally recognised leaching tests.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, a sampling system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a vitrification melting furnace 11 and a glass mold 12, and is capable of sampling a portion of a glass melt produced and discharged from a vitrification facility that vitrifies radioactive waste as a glass melt sample.

[0035] To this end, the sampling system 100 includes a glass melt sampling device 101 .

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a glass melt sampling apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sample receiving portion 110, a transfer pipe 120, and a sample solidification mold .

[0037] The glass melt sampling device 101 of the present invention can collect a part of the glass melt discharged from the vitrification melting furnace 11 as a sample. When the glass melt discharged from the vitrification melting furnace 11 becomes a vitrified waste, it is necessary to evaluate the characteristics of the vitrified waste for disposal.

[0038] For this purpose, a portion of the glass melt is collected as a glass melt sample and its characteristics are evaluated, and based on the evaluation data, the characteristics of the low- and medium-level radioactive waste that will be introduced into the vitrification mold and turned into vitrified waste can be understood. Depending on the identified characteristics, the vitrified waste can be disposed of, improving the safety and efficiency of radioactive waste disposal.

[0039] First, a glass melt sampling apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sample receptacle 110 .

[0040] The sample storage section 110 faces the lower part of the vitrification melting furnace 11 . In particular, when collecting a glass melt sample, the sample receptacle 110 is positioned so as to overlap with the glass melt discharge nozzle (see 13 in FIG. 2) of the vitrification melting furnace 11.

[0041] The upper end of the sample storage section 110 is connected to a rail section (see 102 in FIG. 2) which will be described later. The upper end of the sample holding portion 110 is connected to the rail portion 102 , so that the sample holding portion 110 can move on the rail portion 102 . For example, the sample receiving portion 110 can slide on the rail portion 102 . As the sample holding portion 110 moves, the transfer pipe 120 connected to the sample holding portion 110 and the sample solidification mold 130 connected to this transfer pipe 120 can also move on the rail portion 102.

[0042] The sample storage section 110 temporarily stores a glass melt sample, which is a part of the glass melt discharged from the discharge nozzle 13 of the vitrification melting furnace 11 . The sample storage unit 110 temporarily stores the glass melt sample and transfers it to the transfer pipe 120 . For this purpose, the lower end of the sample storage section 110 is connected to a transfer pipe 120 .

[0043] Next, the glass melt sampling apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a transfer pipe 120 connected to the sample receiving portion 110 .

[0044] The glass melt sample temporarily stored in the sample storage section 110 is transferred to the transfer pipe 120 , which then transfers the sample to the sample solidification mold 130 . The transfer pipe 120 is positioned at a predetermined angle to the vertical direction so that the glass melt sample can be transferred to the sample solidification mold 130 by gravity.

[0045] The transfer pipe 120 is configured as a pipe for flowing the glass melt sample, and is made of stainless steel or the like for corrosion resistance.

[0046] A heat generating section 122 is located outside the transfer pipe 120 . That is, the glass melt sampling device 101 includes a heating unit 122 outside the transfer pipe 120 so that the flow of the glass melt sample in the transfer pipe 120 can be facilitated. This allows the heating part 122 to transfer heat to the glass melt sample in the transfer pipe 120, and the glass melt sample that has received the heat is not solidified but can maintain its temperature and fluidity.

[0047] The heat generating portion 122 is configured by, for example, a high frequency induction coil. In this case, the high frequency induction coil can be wound around the outer surface of the transfer pipe 120 . The high frequency induction coil can convert electrical energy supplied from an external power source (not shown) into thermal energy. That is, the converted thermal energy is transferred to the transfer pipe 120, which is a conductor, and the transfer pipe 120 is heated. When the transfer pipe 120 is heated, heat is supplied to the glass melt sample in the transfer pipe 120, and the fluidity of the glass melt sample is maintained.

[0048] Next, the glass melt sampling apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a sample solidification mold 130 connected to the transfer pipe 120 and configured to solidify the glass melt sample to produce a solidified sample.

[0049] The sample solidification mold 130 accommodates the glass melt sample transferred from the transfer pipe 120 and forms a solidified sample while slowly cooling the glass melt sample. The sample solidification mold 130 may be in the shape of a container with an open top and a housing at the bottom and sides to accommodate the glass melt sample.

[0050] The sample solidifying mold 130 is configured to be detachable. That is, the sample solidification mold 130 contains the glass melt sample, and then slowly cools it to form a solidified sample, which can then be separated by an operator. The sample solidification mold 130 can be separated from one end of the transfer piping 120 . When the sample solidification mold 130 is separated, the solidified sample formed in the sample solidification mold 130 can be obtained and its properties can be evaluated. Based on the evaluation of the properties of the solidified sample, the properties of the glass melt produced from the vitrification melting furnace 11 can be evaluated.

[0051] When the sample solidification mold 130 is separated to obtain the solidified sample, the glass melt sampling device 101 is left without the sample solidification mold 130 . At this time, an empty sample solidification mold 130 that does not contain a solidified sample can be attached to one end of the transfer pipe 120. This allows the glass melt sampling operation to be carried out continuously. In conclusion, the sample solidification mold 130 in the glass melt sampling device 101 is configured to be detachable, and glass melt samples can be continuously collected.

[0052] The glass melt sampling device 101 includes a heat insulating cover 132 that covers the outside of the sample solidification mold 130 . The heat-retaining cover 132 allows the glass melt sample contained in the sample solidification mold 130 to be gradually cooled and transformed into a solidified sample.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 2, the sampling system 100 includes a rail portion 102 . The rail portion 102 can be located at the bottom of the vitrification melting furnace 11 so that the glass melt sampling device 101 can move at the bottom of the vitrification melting furnace 11. That is, the rail portion 102 can be positioned across the lower part of the vitrification melting furnace 11.

[0054] The glass melt sampling device 101 is coupled to a rail portion 102 and is movable on the rail portion 102 . The upper end of the sample receptacle portion 110 of the glass melt sampling device 101 is connected to the rail portion 102 .

[0055] The glass melt sampling device 101 can collect or complete a glass melt sample while moving on the rail portion 102. The glass melt sampling device 101 moves on the rail portion 102 to collect the glass melt sample, as will be described later.

[0056] 3 to 5, a process of sampling a glass melt sample using the sampling system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 3, a glass melt sampling device 101 of a sampling system 100 is coupled onto a rail portion 102 . Before taking the glass melt sample, the glass melt sampling device 101 can be positioned and waited at the end of the vitrification melting furnace 11 .

[0058] Referring to FIG. 4, a glass melt sampling device 101 moves on a rail section 102 to collect glass melt samples. At this time, the glass melt sampling device 101 moves on the rail part 102 so that the sample storage part 110 of the glass melt sampling device 101 faces (i.e., overlaps) the discharge nozzle of the vitrification melting furnace 11.

[0059] That is, when the glass melt sampling device 101 samples a glass melt sample, the glass melt sampling device 101 moves on the rail portion 102 so as to overlap with the discharge nozzle 13 of the vitrification melting furnace. When the movement is completed in this manner, the glass melt sample S is collected from the vitrification melting furnace 11.

[0060] The sample receiving portion 110 of the glass melt sampling device 101 receives the glass melt sample S discharged from the discharge nozzle 13 . The glass melt sample S accommodated in the sample storage portion 110 flows into the sample solidification mold 130 via the transfer pipe 120 . At this time, in order to prevent the glass melt sample (S) from solidifying, the heating unit (122) disposed outside the transfer pipe (120) can supply heat to the glass melt sample (S).

[0061] The glass melt sample transferred to the sample solidification mold 130 via the transfer pipe 120 is contained in the sample solidification mold 130 . The glass melt sample contained in the sample solidification mold 130 can be slowly cooled and formed into a solidified sample. For this reason, the sample solidification mold 130 can be positioned adjacent to the vitrification mold 12 when the glass melt sampling device 101 collects the glass melt sample.

[0062] Continuing to refer to FIG. 5 , when the glass melt sampling device 101 completes collecting the glass melt sample, the glass melt sampling device 101 can move on the rail portion 102 to the end of the vitrification melting furnace 11 so as not to overlap with the discharge nozzle 13 of the vitrification melting furnace 11. At this time, when the glass melt sampling device 101 moves to the end of the vitrification melting furnace 11 , the glass melt discharged from the discharge nozzle 13 of the vitrification melting furnace 11 is introduced into the vitrification mold 12 . The glass melt introduced into the vitrification mold 12 is cooled and solidified into a vitrified solid.

[0063] After the glass melt sampling device 101 has moved to the end, the sample solidification mold 130 is separated from the glass melt sampling device 101 in order to obtain the solidified sample formed in the sample solidification mold 130 and evaluate its properties. After obtaining the solidified sample from the separated sample solidification mold 130, a characterization of the solidified sample can be performed to understand the properties of the glass melt produced from the vitrification melting furnace 11.

[0064] Through the above process, the sampling system 100 including the glass melt sampling device 101 and the rail portion 102 can collect a glass melt sample.

[0065] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6, the sampling system 100 of the present invention may include a plurality of glass melt sampling devices 101, 201. As a result, when any one of the glass melt sampling devices 101 has completed sampling of a glass melt sample, the other glass melt sampling devices 201 can continuously perform sampling of a glass melt sample. The plurality of glass melt sampling devices 101, 201 can move on a rail section 102. The glass melt sampling devices 101, 201 can be flexibly operated on the rail portion 102 depending on the sampling situation, the operating status of the vitrification facility, the state of the radioactive waste, and the like.

[0066] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily collect samples for characterization, which is essential for the disposal of vitrified radioactive waste produced by a vitrification facility. According to the present invention, there is an advantage that it is not necessary for an operator to directly collect glass melt samples at the vitrification melting furnace, and glass melt samples can be collected by remote control.

[0067] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical concept or essential features thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A sampling system for sampling a portion of a glass melt generated and discharged from a vitrification facility for vitrifying radioactive waste, the vitrification facility including a vitrification melting furnace and a glass mold, as a glass melt sample, comprising: the sampling system includes a glass melt sampling device; The glass melt sampling device is a sampling system including: a sample storage unit that stores the glass melt sample discharged from the vitrification melting furnace; a transfer pipe connected to the sample storage unit and through which the stored glass melt sample is moved; and a sample solidification mold connected to the transfer pipe that solidifies the glass melt sample to produce a solidified sample.

2. The sample collection system according to claim 1 , wherein the sample solidification mold is detachably connected to the transfer pipe.

3. The glass melt sampling system of claim 2 , wherein the glass melt sampling device further comprises a thermal cover covering the outside of the sample solidification mold.

4. The glass melt sampling system according to claim 1 , wherein the glass melt sampling device further comprises a heating unit located outside the transfer pipe and supplying heat to maintain the temperature of the glass melt sample being moved.

5. The sampling system of claim 1 , further comprising a rail portion located below the vitrification melter furnace.

6. 6. The sampling system of claim 5, wherein the glass melt sampling device is coupled to the rail portion and moves on the rail portion.

7. 7. The sampling system of claim 6, wherein when the glass melt sampling device collects the glass melt sample, the glass melt sampling device moves on the rail portion so as to overlap with a discharge nozzle of the vitrification melting furnace.

8. 8. The sampling system of claim 7, wherein the sample solidification mold is positioned adjacent to the vitrification mold when the glass melt sampling device collects the glass melt sample.

9. 7. The sampling system according to claim 6, wherein when the glass melt sampling device completes collecting the glass melt sample, the glass melt sampling device moves on the rail portion to an end of the vitrification melting furnace so as not to overlap with a discharge nozzle of the vitrification melting furnace.

10. The sampling system of claim 1 , wherein the sampling system comprises a plurality of the glass melt sampling devices.

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