Light-Cured Resin Sealing for Radioactive Waste Container Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-integrity containers for radioactive waste face challenges in maintaining integrity and preventing leakage, particularly in the event of accidents such as drops or damage to the container cover, especially for dried concentrate powder and waste resin.
Innovation Solution
A polymer resin immobilization system comprising a polymer resin injection unit, sensing unit, and light curing unit is used to form, measure, and cure a polymer resin layer on the radioactive waste within the high-integrity container to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high-integrity container is used to store radioactive waste, then the storage safety is improved, but the risk of leakage in case of accidents (drops, cover damage) increases due to lack of additional immobilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting polymer resin into the high-integrity container before final sealing, creating an immobilization layer that prevents radioactive waste movement in advance of potential accidents. The resin is injected through the injection tube while the cover is temporarily open, allowing the resin to penetrate and bind with the waste material before the container is fully sealed and transported to the disposal site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the polymer resin with the radioactive waste material to create a composite structure. The polymer resin (typically epoxy or polyester resin mixed with hardener) penetrates and bonds with the radioactive waste particles, creating a composite mass that maintains structural integrity even under impact or cover damage conditions, thereby preventing leakage.
2Reliability
If the cover is opened to inject polymer resin, then the immobilization effect is improved, but the exposure time and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the minimal necessary function of opening the cover - specifically opening it just enough to insert the injection tube and inject the polymer resin. The cover remains largely in place and is immediately resealed after injection, extracting only the essential exposure time needed for resin injection while maintaining container integrity throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical sealing method (complete cover removal and replacement) with a more efficient system using injection tubes and seals that allow resin injection through a partially closed cover. This substitution reduces the time the cover needs to be fully open, minimizing exposure while achieving the same immobilization result.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple measurements of polymer resin layer thickness are taken, then the injection precision is improved, but the process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by measuring the polymer resin layer thickness during or after injection and using this information to adjust the injection process. If the measured thickness is insufficient, additional resin is injected; if adequate, injection stops. This feedback loop ensures precise thickness control while avoiding unnecessary extended measurement and adjustment cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by taking multiple measurements at strategic locations rather than continuous monitoring, and by injecting slightly more resin than the minimum required to ensure adequate coverage. This approach achieves sufficient precision for safety requirements without the excessive time consumption of continuous measurement and adjustment.
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 system effectively immobilizes and seals the upper part of radioactive waste, enhancing storage safety by preventing leakage in the event of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
a light curing unit curing the polymer resin layer
Data Source
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AI summary
A radioactive waste immobilization apparatus for immobilizing radioactive waste loaded in a high-integrity container to enhance the storage safety of the radioactive waste and a radioactive waste immobilization method using the same are disclosed. A radioactive waste immobilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is for immobilizing the upper part of radioactive waste loaded in a high-integrity container to prevent the possibility of the radioactive waste leaking to the outside, includes: a polymer resin injection unit forming a polymer resin layer by injecting an immobilizing polymer resin onto the radioactive waste loaded in the high-integrity container; a polymer resin sensing unit adjusting an injection amount of the polymer resin by measuring a thickness of the polymer resin layer; and a light curing unit curing the polymer resin layer.