Adaptive Containment Cask for Radioactive Waste Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an inexpensive containment cask that can safely transport and store small modular Type B fissile waste, including DOE-EM legacy wastes and Canada deuterium uranium spent fuel, while adhering to extensive regulations for fissile and radioactive contents in the U.S. and Canada, and accommodating various drum sizes.
Innovation Solution
A containment cask design featuring a sealed and shielded containment vessel with an outer container, which can be either an iron outer shield vessel for higher activity waste or an overpack assembly for lower activity waste, providing additional protection during hypothetical accident conditions, and incorporating a common containment vessel made of stainless steel with supplemental shielding and impact limiters for safe handling and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an outer shield vessel made from iron is used for higher activity waste, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing two different outer container configurations: an outer shield vessel made from iron for higher activity waste requiring more shielding, and an overpack assembly for lower activity waste requiring less shielding. This allows each system to be optimized locally according to the specific radiation hazard level, improving shielding effectiveness where needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the shielding material and thickness based on the activity level of the waste. For higher activity waste, an iron outer shield vessel provides enhanced shielding; for lower activity waste, a lighter overpack assembly suffices. This parameter-based differentiation resolves the contradiction by matching shielding complexity to actual radiation hazard levels.
2Device complexity
If an overpack assembly is used for lower activity waste, then device complexity is reduced, but shielding effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing two different outer container configurations: an outer shield vessel made from iron for higher activity waste requiring more shielding, and an overpack assembly for lower activity waste requiring less shielding. This allows each system to be optimized locally according to the specific radiation hazard level, improving shielding effectiveness where needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the shielding material and thickness based on the activity level of the waste. For higher activity waste, an iron outer shield vessel provides enhanced shielding; for lower activity waste, a lighter overpack assembly suffices. This parameter-based differentiation resolves the contradiction by matching shielding complexity to actual radiation hazard levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a containment cask is designed to accommodate various drum sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a common containment vessel with standardized dimensions and features that can accommodate multiple drum sizes (55-gal, 85-gal, and 110-gal drums). The universal design allows a single containment system to serve multiple waste drum configurations, improving adaptability while avoiding the need for multiple specialized containment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements segmentation by providing removable payload liners that can be customized to fit different drum sizes within the universal containment vessel. The containment system is divided into the standardized outer vessel and interchangeable inner liners, allowing adaptability to various drum dimensions without redesigning the entire containment structure.
4Reliability
If a sealed and shielded containment vessel is used, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by placing the drum inside a containment vessel, which is in turn placed inside an outer container. This nested configuration provides multiple layers of containment and shielding, significantly improving reliability through redundant protection barriers while using relatively simple, cost-effective materials and assembly methods for each individual layer.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The containment cask effectively shields and protects radioactive hazardous waste during transport and storage, meeting regulatory requirements while being cost-effective and adaptable to different drum sizes, allowing for efficient handling and storage of various types of radioactive materials.
Implementation Method 1
a sealed and shielded containment vessel containing the drum
Implementation Method 2
an overpack assembly that adds protection for hypothetical accident conditions (e.g., free drop, puncture, and fire)
Data Source
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AI summary
A containment cask for safely transporting and storing radioactive hazardous waste in a dry air environment. The cask comprises a single drum containing the radioactive hazardous waste, a sealed and shielded containment vessel containing the drum, and an outer container. The outer container can be in the form of an outer shield vessel (OSV) made from iron to provide further shielding. This outer container is appropriate for a drum having higher activity waste. The outer container can also be in the form of an overpack assembly that adds protection for atmospheric hazards, but adds little in terms of shielding. This outer container is appropriate for a drum having lower activity waste.