Radioactive Waste Treatment and Scan Sorting for Lower Disposal Class
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear facilities generate radiologically-contaminated waste that is difficult and expensive to dispose of due to high contamination levels, requiring efficient methods to reduce waste classification for safer and less costly disposal.
Innovation Solution
A method involving surface and subsurface treatments, real-time scanning, and consolidation techniques to reduce contamination levels, allowing for disposal via different routes based on classification, using agents like LOMI, CITROX, and Rad-Release, and technologies like Orion ScanSort for sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If radiologically-contaminated waste is disposed of directly without treatment, then disposal can be performed immediately, but disposal costs are high and disposal routes are limited due to high contamination levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by treating the waste to alter its contamination level from a high state (Class B/C) to a lower state (Class A). This is achieved through decontamination treatments that reduce the radioactive contamination concentration, thereby changing the waste classification parameters and enabling different disposal routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary treatment process between waste generation and final disposal. This intermediary step includes decontamination treatments and real-time scanning classification, which mediate the transition from high-contamination waste to low-contamination waste, allowing for more flexible and cost-effective disposal options.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If decontamination treatment is applied to reduce contamination levels, then waste classification can be reduced for cheaper disposal, but treatment processes and real-time scanning add complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual classification and treatment planning with real-time scanning technology that automatically detects and classifies waste contamination levels. This substitution of automated detection systems for manual processes reduces operational complexity while maintaining effective decontamination outcomes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the waste treatment process into distinct stages: initial decontamination treatment, real-time scanning classification, and subsequent disposal based on classification. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity by breaking down the complex problem into manageable steps.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If waste is sorted into different contamination levels, then disposal routes can be optimized for cost efficiency, but sorting and classification processes increase processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous real-time scanning classification during the waste handling process, eliminating the need for separate batch sorting operations. This continuous classification approach maintains the waste flow without interruption, reducing the time loss associated with discrete sorting steps while achieving effective contamination level differentiation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided herein is a method for reducing radiologically-contaminated waste. The method comprises treating radiologically-contaminated surfaces, wherein the radiologically- contaminated surfaces are treated with a surface treatment agent; treating radiologically- contaminated subsurfaces, wherein the radiologically-contaminated subsurfaces are treated with a surface/subsurface treatment agent; consolidating soil waste; employing real-time scanning technology to classify waste, wherein the classifying is based at least in part on a threshold of radiological contamination, and wherein the classified waste is sorted based on the classification; and disposing of the waste via at least one of different disposal routes, based at least in part on the classification.