Sample collection method in canisters

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for collecting a sample from a canister, comprising the steps of: providing an outer tube having a storage space and having a through hole formed therein at the bottom of the canister in the height direction; inserting an inner tube having a collection space and having a through portion formed therein into the storage space of the outer tube; loading the sample from the top of the canister and collecting the sample in the collection space through the through hole and the through portion; and separating the inner tube, in which at least a portion of the collection space is filled with the sample, from the outer tube.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for sampling in a canister.

Background Art

[0002] In nuclear power plants, a vitrification process is used to reduce the volume of generated miscellaneous solids, used resins, etc. and ensure disposal compatibility.

[0003] After the vitrification process of the target waste is completed, the molten glass is discharged into the mold or canister at the bottom of the low-temperature melting furnace, and the process is completed.

[0004] In order to evaluate the disposal compatibility of the discharged and solidified glass solid, it is necessary to sample without degrading the integrity of the glass solid.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for sampling in a canister.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The above object of the present invention is achieved through the steps of: providing an outer tube having an accommodation space and a through hole formed therein in the height direction at the bottom of the canister; inserting an inner tube having a sampling space and a through portion formed therein into the accommodation space of the outer tube; loading the sample from the upper part of the canister and collecting the sample into the sampling space through the through hole and the through portion; and separating the inner tube in which at least a part of the sampling space is filled with the sample from the outer tube.

[0007] The sample is a radioactive substance melted in a vitrification melting furnace, and the canister is provided at the lower part of the vitrification melting furnace.

[0008] The outer tube and the inner tube are circular pipes extending in the height direction, and the length of the inner tube is longer than the length of the outer tube.

[0009] In the insertion step, the upper end of the inner tube protrudes from the outer tube.

[0010] In the insertion step, the positions of the inner tube and the outer tube are adjusted so that the through hole and the through portion are in communication.

[0011] The through-hole and the through-hole portion overlap each other in some respects.

[0012] In the insertion step, the outer tube and the inner tube are fixed to each other by screw connections.

[0013] In the collection step, different samples are collected at different heights within the sampling space of the inner tube.

[0014] In the collection step, the sample is collected by being supplied sequentially from at least two melting furnaces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, a method for collecting samples in a canister is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a sequence diagram showing a sample collection method in a canister according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows the positional relationship between the canister and the outer tube in a sampling method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the outer tube used in a sampling method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the inner tube used in a sampling method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] A perspective view showing the insertion form of the outer tube and the inner tube in the sample collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] A vertical cross-sectional view showing the positions of the through hole and the through portion when the inner tube is inserted in the sample collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7A] A vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of the positions of the through hole and the through portion when the inner tube is inserted in the sample collection method according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7B] A vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of the positions of the through hole and the through portion when the inner tube is inserted in the sample collection method according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7C] A vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of the positions of the through hole and the through portion when the inner tube is inserted in the sample collection method according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] A view showing the joint portion of the outer tube and the inner tube in the sample collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9A] A view showing the sample collected by the sample collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9B] A view showing the sample collected by the sample collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9C] A view showing the sample collected by the sample collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. The attached drawings are only an example illustrated to more specifically explain the technical idea of the present invention, and the idea of the present invention is not limited to the attached drawings.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 2, the sample collection method in the canister 1 will be described.

[0019] Figure 1 is a sequence diagram showing a sample collection method in a canister 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the canister 1 and the outer tube 10 in the sample collection method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] The samples collected in the following description may, but are not limited to, radioactive material (molten glass) melted in a vitrification furnace.

[0021] Furthermore, while the following explanation uses a low-temperature melting furnace as an example of a melting furnace, it is not limited to this.

[0022] First, the outer tube 10 is placed inside the canister 1 (step S10).

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, canister 1 is located at the bottom of the melting furnace and contains the molten glass discharged from the melting furnace.

[0024] Canister 1 may be cylindrical or drum-shaped, and at least a portion of its top is open during the sample storage process.

[0025] The outer tube 10 is provided in the height direction at the bottom of the canister 1 and can be fixed to the bottom surface of the canister 1 by welding.

[0026] The outer tube 10 is preferably installed at a distance from the location where the sample is discharged from the low-temperature melting furnace.

[0027] If the outer tube 10 is positioned on the same vertical line as the position from which the sample is discharged from the low-temperature melting furnace, the sample will be collected in the sampling space of the inner tube 20, as described below, before the height of the sample in the canister 1.

[0028] In this case, a time lag occurs between the sample in the sampling space and the sample actually supplied to canister 1, which can lead to errors in sample interpretation.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the outer pipe 10 is a hollow, circular pipe extending in the height direction with a housing space inside, and has a plurality of through holes 110 formed on its side surface.

[0030] The through holes 110 are arranged in pairs horizontally, and multiple pairs are arranged at regular intervals vertically.

[0031] The height L' at which the through-hole 110 is formed extends over 70%, 80%, or 90% or more of the length L1 of the outer pipe 10.

[0032] The size of all through-holes 110 is the same, and their shape is circular, but the size and shape of the through-holes 110 are not limited to this.

[0033] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the through holes 110 are of different sizes, and the shape of the through holes 110 may be elliptical, triangular, quadrilateral, hexagonal, or rhombic.

[0034] Next, the inner tube 20 is inserted into the outer tube 10 (step S20).

[0035] The shape of the inner tube 20 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 4, a perspective view of the inner tube 20 used in a sampling method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The inner tube 20 is a hollow, circular pipe extending in the height direction with a sampling space inside, and a through-hole 210 extending in the height direction is formed on its side surface.

[0037] The outer diameter d2 of the inner tube 20 is set to be 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% or more of the inner diameter d1 of the outer tube 10 (disclosed in Figure 3), and is smaller than 100%.

[0038] In the subsequent step of separating the inner tube 20 from the outer tube 10, it is preferable that the outer diameter d2 of the inner tube 20 and the inner diameter d1 of the outer tube 10 be in close contact with each other so that no sample is located between the inner tube 20 and the outer tube 10.

[0039] The length L2 of the inner pipe 20 may be set to be longer than the length L1 of the outer pipe 10.

[0040] The configuration in which the inner tube 20 is inserted into the outer tube 10 will be explained with reference to Figure 5, which shows the insertion configuration of the outer tube 10 and the inner tube 20 in a sampling method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] When insertion is complete, the upper end A of the inner pipe 20 protrudes from the outer pipe 10, and at least a portion of the through-hole 110 of the outer pipe 10 overlaps with the through-hole 110 of the inner pipe 20.

[0042] The shape of the upper end A may be such that it is suitable for using a handle or tool, taking into consideration the subsequent process of separating the inner pipe 20 from the outer pipe 10, and a through-hole 210 may not be formed.

[0043] In the following section, the positional relationship between the inner tube 20 and the outer tube 10 during insertion, and the positional relationship between the through hole 110 and the through portion 210, will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 6.

[0044] Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positions of the through-hole 110 and the through-hole 210 when inserting the inner tube 20 in a sampling method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] As shown in Figure 6, during insertion, the inner tube 20 and the outer tube 10 are in close contact, and the multiple through holes 110a and 110b are in communication with the through portion 210, at least in part.

[0046] The positional relationship between the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 10, as described above, may be altered by the dimensions of the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 10, the shape of the through hole 110, etc. This will be explained with reference to Figures 7A to 7C.

[0047] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7A, the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 10 are in close contact, and the through hole 110 completely overlaps and communicates with the through portion 210.

[0048] In this embodiment, the through holes 110 are either formed continuously in the height direction, similar to the through-holes 210, or the through holes 110 are scattered in the height direction, but their width in the horizontal (vertical) direction can correspond to that of the through-holes 210.

[0049] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7B, the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 10 are separated, and the multiple through holes 110a and 110b are in communication with the through portion 210, overlapping at least in part.

[0050] In this embodiment, the inner tube 20 and the outer tube 10 are in the configurations shown in Figures 3 and 4, with only the diameter of the inner tube 20 being reduced.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7C, the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 10 are separated, and multiple through holes 110a, 110b are formed at intervals in the through-hole 210.

[0052] In this embodiment, the inner tube 20 and the outer tube 10 are in the configurations shown in Figures 3 and 4, with only the diameter of the inner tube 20 being reduced.

[0053] Although the through holes 110a and 110b and the through-hole 210 are spaced apart, the through holes 110a and 110b and the through-hole 210 are in communication through the space between the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 10.

[0054] During insertion, the inner tube 20 is fixed to the outer tube 10 via a connection. While screw connections are possible for this fixing method, it is not limited to this.

[0055] The fixing method will be explained with reference to Figure 8, which shows the joints B1 and B2 between the outer tube 10 and the inner tube 20 in a sample collection method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] For explanatory purposes, the joints B1 and B2 are not shown in Figures 3 to 5.

[0057] Joints B1 and B2 are formed at the lower parts of the outer pipe 10 and the inner pipe 20, respectively.

[0058] An internal thread is formed on the lower end of the outer tube 10, and an external thread is formed on the lower end of the inner tube 20. During insertion, the external and external threads connect to fix the outer tube 10 and the inner tube 20 together.

[0059] However, the positions of the joints B1 and B2 are not limited to these positions. The joint B1 of the outer pipe 10 may be formed on the upper part of the outer pipe 10, and the joint B2 of the inner pipe 20 may be formed in correspondence with the position of the joint B1.

[0060] Then, the sample is collected (step S30).

[0061] During sample collection, the sample loaded from the top of the canister 1 is collected in the collection space through the through-hole 110 and the through-hole 210.

[0062] Sample collection is performed during the vitrification process, and the outer tube 10 and inner tube 20 may be provided only in a portion of the canister 1. In other words, the canister 1 with the outer tube 10 and inner tube 20 is used only when sample collection is required. The timing of when sample collection is required can vary, such as at regular intervals or when the composition of the molten material changes.

[0063] The following describes in detail the process by which samples are collected.

[0064] As the sample discharged from the low-temperature melting furnace accumulates at the bottom of canister 1, the sample level rises within canister 1.

[0065] As the sample level rises, the sample flows into the through-hole 110 of the outer pipe 10 and into the through-hole 210 of the inner pipe 20, which is in communication with the through-hole 110.

[0066] The sample is placed in the sampling space of the inner tube 20 via the through-hole 210.

[0067] The height (water level) of the samples stacked in Canister 1 determines which samples are collected in the sampling space.

[0068] The samples collected in the inner tube 20, depending on the height, will be explained with reference to Figures 9A to 9C.

[0069] Figures 9A to 9C show samples collected by a sampling method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] As shown in Figure 9A, during the primary discharge from the vitrification equipment, the primary sample is stacked at the bottom of the inner tube 20, and as shown in Figure 9B, after the completion of the primary discharge from the vitrification equipment, during the secondary discharge, the secondary sample is stacked on top of the primary sample.

[0071] Similarly, as shown in Figure 9C, after the completion of secondary discharge, during tertiary discharge, the tertiary sample is stacked on top of the secondary sample.

[0072] Therefore, primary, secondary, and tertiary samples are collected in a structure where they are stacked in the height direction, and samples with different compositions can be collected at different heights of the inner tube 20.

[0073] In yet another embodiment, the sample can be supplied sequentially from at least two melting furnaces.

[0074] Finally, the inner tube 20 is separated from the outer tube 10 (step S40).

[0075] After the sample collected in the sampling space of the inner tube 20 has solidified, the inner tube 20 is separated from the outer tube 10.

[0076] If screw-connected, the upper end A of the inner tube 20 protruding from the outer tube 10 may include a non-circular polygonal shape to facilitate tool use.

[0077] For ease of separation, the sample can be housed below the outer tube 10, or the outer tube 10 can be set higher than the canister 1.

[0078] According to the present invention, the outer pipe 10 having a through hole 110 is in physical communication with the through-hole 210 of the inner pipe 20, making it possible to easily collect the incoming molten glass.

[0079] The outer tube 10 and the inner tube 20 are screw-connected, making separation and extraction easy after sample collection.

[0080] The penetration portion 210 of the inner tube 20 extends in the height direction, allowing it to reflect changes in the composition of the molten glass being collected.

[0081] Subsequently, the solidified sample is separated from the inner tube 20 and the sample is analyzed.

[0082] Having described in detail certain aspects of the present invention, it will be clear to those with ordinary skill in the art that such specific descriptions are merely desirable embodiments and do not limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, the substantial scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. In a method of collecting a sample from a canister, A step of providing an outer tube having a storage space and having a through hole formed therein at the bottom of the canister in the height direction, The steps include inserting an inner tube having a sampling space and a through-hole into the housing space of the outer tube, The steps include loading the sample from the top of the canister and collecting the sample in the sampling space through the through-hole and the through-port, The steps include separating the inner tube, in which at least a portion of the sampling space is filled with the sample, from the outer tube, A sample collection method, including the following.

2. The aforementioned sample is a radioactive material melted in a vitrification furnace. The sampling method according to claim 1, wherein the canister is provided at the bottom of the vitrification melting furnace.

3. The outer tube and the inner tube are, It has a circular pipe shape that extends in the vertical direction, The sampling method according to claim 1, wherein the length of the inner tube is longer than the length of the outer tube.

4. In the aforementioned insertion step, The sampling method according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the inner tube protrudes from the outer tube.

5. In the aforementioned insertion step, The sampling method according to claim 1, wherein the positions of the inner tube and the outer tube are adjusted so that the through hole and the through portion are in communication.

6. In the aforementioned insertion step, The sampling method according to claim 5, wherein a portion of the through hole and the through portion overlap each other.

7. In the aforementioned insertion step, The sampling method according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube and the inner tube are fixed to each other by a screw connection.

8. In the aforementioned collection step, The sampling method according to claim 1, wherein different samples are collected at different heights in the sampling space of the inner tube.

9. In the aforementioned collection step, The sampling method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is collected by being sequentially supplied from at least two melting furnaces.

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