Radioactive Waste Container Adapter for Pressure Relief and Inerting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to reliably and efficiently depressurize and inert waste containers for radioactive waste, particularly for low-level and medium-level waste, due to the buildup of explosive gas mixtures like hydrogen and oxygen, which poses safety risks during transport and storage.
Innovation Solution
An adapter device with an internal volume connected to the container lid, filled with inert gas under overpressure, creates a mixed pressure to relieve the container interior, allowing for the removal of hazardous gases and replacement with inert gas, ensuring safe and effective pressure relief and inerting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container interior is depressurized and inerted using conventional methods, then the pressure relief function is achieved, but the process is complex and unreliable due to explosive gas mixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component between the container interior and the external environment. The adapter contains a receiving chamber that temporarily holds and isolates explosive gas mixtures during the pressure relief process. This mediator allows safe transfer of gases without direct exposure, enabling reliable depressurization and inerting while simplifying the overall process by providing a controlled intermediate stage for gas management.
2Reliability
If the container is sealed tightly to prevent leaks, then containment integrity is maintained, but pressure buildup from radiolysis and gas generation cannot be relieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by equipping the container with a pressure relief device that includes an adapter with a receiving chamber before pressure buildup becomes dangerous. The adapter is pre-configured with sealing elements and connection mechanisms that enable controlled gas release when pressure thresholds are reached. This preliminary preparation allows the container to maintain tight sealing for containment integrity while providing a pre-arranged pathway for safe pressure relief when necessary.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If inert gas is introduced to prevent explosive atmospheres, then safety is improved, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pressure relief function and the inerting function into a single integrated adapter system. The receiving chamber of the adapter serves dual purposes: it temporarily contains explosive gas mixtures during pressure relief and subsequently receives inert gas for atmosphere displacement. This consolidation of functions eliminates the need for separate pressure relief and inerting equipment, simplifying the overall process while maintaining safety by preventing explosive atmospheres through efficient inert gas introduction.
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 solution enables simple, reliable, and safe pressure relief and inerting of waste containers, effectively managing explosive gas mixtures and ensuring compliance with safety requirements, allowing for safe handling and transport of radioactive waste containers.
Implementation Method 1
a mixed pressure is created in the interior volume of the adapter and in the interior space of the container in accordance with the pressure difference between the pressure in the interior space of the container and the overpressure in the adapter interior volume
Implementation Method 2
a negative pressure is then generated in the interior of the container and from the interior of the container removed gas or gas mixture is replaced by an inert gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A method for pressure relief and inerting of waste containers for radioactive waste, wherein an adapter with an adapter internal volume (3) is connected to the container (1), in particular to the container lid (4). The adapter (2) is then filled with an inert gas under overpressure, and subsequently a connection is established between the container interior (5) and the adapter internal volume (3), so that a mixed pressure is established according to the pressure difference between the pressure in the container interior (5) and the overpressure in the adapter internal volume (3). The mixed pressure in the container interior (5) is then released, and subsequently a negative pressure is created in the container interior (5), and the gas removed from the container interior (5) is replaced by an inert gas.