A shipping container comprises a tubular or cylindrical shell having a closed end and an open end, a top end-cap removably secured to the open end of the tubular or cylindrical shell, and at least one fuel assembly compartment defined inside the shell. Each fuel assembly compartment includes elastomeric sidewalls and is sized and shaped to receive an unirradiated nuclear fuel assembly through the open end of the shell. The shipping container may further include a divider component, for example having a cross-shaped cross-section with ends of the cross secured to inner walls of the shell, and the divider component and the inner walls of the shell define the fuel assembly compartments. To load, the shipping container is arranged vertically and an unirradiated nuclear fuel assembly is loaded through the open end of the shell into each compartment, after which the open end is closed off by securing the top end-cap.

The invention generally relates to a radiation shielding apparatus that includes a shielding box unit into which a radiation generating device is inserted, a locking unit disposed on an outside of the shielding box unit, an operation display unit disposed on the outside of the shielding box unit to display a locked state of the locking unit, and a control unit for controlling an operation of each of the radiation generating device and the operation display unit.

Radiation monitoring devices and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, a radiation monitoring device includes a housing configured to pass radiation emitted from a radiological source located in proximity to the radiation monitoring device, a radiation detector configured to receive the radiation emitted from the radiological source and to generate information regarding the radiation, and communications circuitry configured to communicate the information regarding the radiation in a plurality of communications at a plurality of different moments in time externally of the radiation monitoring device

A device for transferring a toxic substance from a dispensing vessel to at least one receiving vessel comprising: (i) a receiving portion arranged to receive a dispensing vessel containing a toxic substance; and (ii) a transfer apparatus having a first infusion line adapted for fluid communication with the dispensing vessel to transfer a carrier fluid into said vessel and a second infusion line having one end adapted for fluid communication to withdraw and transfer the carrier fluid and the toxic substance from the dispensing vessel and the other end of the second infusion line arranged to connect with the at least one receiving vessel.

A nuclear waste cask in one embodiment includes an axially elongated cask body defining a longitudinally-extending opening forming an entrance to an internal storage cavity of the cask configured for holding radioactive nuclear waste materials. A closure lid detachably coupled to the cask body at the top opening seals the cavity. A cask locking mechanism includes a plurality of first locking protrusions spaced apart on the lid which are selectively interlockable with a plurality of second locking protrusions spaced apart on the cask body to lock the lid to the cask body. The first locking protrusions may be disposed on slideable locking bars moveable between locked and unlocked positions while the lid remains stationary on the cask body. Hydraulic or pneumatic actuators may be used to change position of the locking bars. The cask and lid may include other features such as impact absorbers and lifting elements.

A nuclear waste cask in one embodiment includes an axially elongated cask body defining a longitudinally-extending opening forming an entrance to an internal storage cavity of the cask configured for holding radioactive nuclear waste materials. A closure lid detachably coupled to the cask body at the top opening seals the cavity. A cask locking mechanism includes a plurality of first locking protrusions spaced apart on the lid which are selectively interlockable with a plurality of second locking protrusions spaced apart on the cask body to lock the lid to the cask body. The first locking protrusions may be disposed on slideable locking bars moveable between locked and unlocked positions while the lid remains stationary on the cask body. Hydraulic or pneumatic actuators may be used to change position of the locking bars. The cask and lid may include other features such as impact absorbers and lifting elements.

A method of follow-up decontamination operation for the polluted storage canister of a high activity nuclear waste storage facility, using needle and steel brushes driven by pneumatic tools for abrading the bottom and the inner wall of the storage canister to remove contaminants, a multi-level filter system for air filtration and removing pollutants in the storage canister, and a cover to be used in association with the pneumatic tools and the multi-level filtration system suitable to cap the storage canister, thus effectively block the exposure of contaminant of the storage canister to the external environment, achieving effective decontamination of the radioactive waste and reducing spreading to the environment.

A method of follow-up decontamination operation for the polluted storage canister of a high activity nuclear waste storage facility, using needle and steel brushes driven by pneumatic tools for abrading the bottom and the inner wall of the storage canister to remove contaminants, a multi-level filter system for air filtration and removing pollutants in the storage canister, and a cover to be used in association with the pneumatic tools and the multi-level filtration system suitable to cap the storage canister, thus effectively block the exposure of contaminant of the storage canister to the external environment, achieving effective decontamination of the radioactive waste and reducing spreading to the environment.

A canister for storing radioactive materials includes a base plate, side wall and a top plate. The top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel, and with a channel set in from the top edge. The top plate is sealed to the sidewall by a weld formed between the beveled top edge and the top of the side wall. The base plate is sealed to a bottom of the sidewall, so that a sealed vessel is formed.

A disposal system is provided for transferring material to a container. The disposal system includes a discharge chute having a mating surface. The mating surface is configured to engage with a container, and the discharge chute is configured to extend and retract so that the mating surface moves along a path between an extended position and a retracted position. The disposal system also includes at least one controller that is configured to cause the discharge chute to extend and retract.