Systems, devices, apparatus and methods for cleaning contaminated tanks without introducing large amounts of free water or liquefier into the tanks. A gathering arm assembly and a bucket assembly is used to remove and break up waste debris from a contaminated tank.

Systems, devices, apparatus and methods for cleaning contaminated tanks without introducing large amounts of free water or liquefier into the tanks. A gathering arm assembly and a bucket assembly is used to remove and break up waste debris from a contaminated tank.

A container system for radioactive waste and method for using the same is provided. The system includes a canister configured for holding radioactive waste and a lid system. In one embodiment, the lid system comprises a two-part lid assembly including a confinement lid and a shielded lifting lid. The confinement lid is detachably mounted to the confinement lid. In use, the lifting lid supports the confinement lid for lifting and placement on the canister. The lifting lid further shields operators while the confinement lid is mounted to the canister. Thereafter, the lifting lid is removed and may be reused for confinement lid mountings on other canisters. In one embodiment, the confinement lid is bolted to the canister. The canister may be disposed in a protective overpack for transport and storage.

A container system for radioactive waste and method for using the same is provided. The system includes a canister configured for holding radioactive waste and a lid system. In one embodiment, the lid system comprises a two-part lid assembly including a confinement lid and a shielded lifting lid. The confinement lid is detachably mounted to the confinement lid. In use, the lifting lid supports the confinement lid for lifting and placement on the canister. The lifting lid further shields operators while the confinement lid is mounted to the canister. Thereafter, the lifting lid is removed and may be reused for confinement lid mountings on other canisters. In one embodiment, the confinement lid is bolted to the canister. The canister may be disposed in a protective overpack for transport and storage.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for operating a system in which dismantling works are performed underwater in a liquid-filled vessel (10) of a nuclear facility, the liquid being guided in a circuit (20) and flowing through at least one filter device (26, 28, 30). The liquid in the circuit flows through at least a first filter device (26) in the form of a coarse filter and a second filter device (28), in which at least one device from the group of ion exchangers (1, 2, 3), reverse osmosis systems, ultrafiltration systems, activated carbon filters, zeolite filters, and biological filters is used for filtration.

A method of disposing of uranium oxides and of disposing of metal casks that had formerly held uranium hexafluoride may include steps of: (a) receiving at least a quantity of at least one type of uranium oxide; (b) receiving at least one metal cask selected from the metal casks that was formerly housing at least some quantity of the uranium hexafluoride; (c) cutting up and/or shredding the at least one metal cask into smaller pieces; and (d) loading at least some of the quantity of the at least one type of uranium oxide and/or loading at least some of the smaller pieces into one or more human-made caverns. The one or more human-made caverns may be located within at least one deeply located geologic (rock) formation. The at least one deeply located geologic (rock) formation may be located at least 2,000 feet vertically below a terrestrial surface of the Earth.

A method of disposing of uranium oxides and of disposing of metal casks that had formerly held uranium hexafluoride may include steps of: (a) receiving at least a quantity of at least one type of uranium oxide; (b) receiving at least one metal cask selected from the metal casks that was formerly housing at least some quantity of the uranium hexafluoride; (c) cutting up and/or shredding the at least one metal cask into smaller pieces; and (d) loading at least some of the quantity of the at least one type of uranium oxide and/or loading at least some of the smaller pieces into one or more human-made caverns. The one or more human-made caverns may be located within at least one deeply located geologic (rock) formation. The at least one deeply located geologic (rock) formation may be located at least 2,000 feet vertically below a terrestrial surface of the Earth.

A module for storing high level radioactive waste includes an outer shell, having a hermetically closed bottom end, and an inner shell forming a cavity and being positioned inside the outer shell to form a space therebetween. At least one divider extends from the top to the bottom of the inner shell to create a plurality of inlet passageways through the space, each inlet passageway connecting to a bottom portion of the cavity. A plurality of inlet ducts each connect at least one of the inlet passageways and ambient atmosphere, and each includes an inlet duct cover affixed atop a surrounding inlet wall, the inlet wall being peripherally perforated. A removable lid is positioned atop the inner shell and has at least one outlet passageway connecting the cavity and the ambient atmosphere, the lid and the top of the inner shell being configured to form a hermetic seal therebetween.

A module for storing high level radioactive waste includes an outer shell, having a hermetically closed bottom end, and an inner shell forming a cavity and being positioned inside the outer shell to form a space therebetween. At least one divider extends from the top to the bottom of the inner shell to create a plurality of inlet passageways through the space, each inlet passageway connecting to a bottom portion of the cavity. A plurality of inlet ducts each connect at least one of the inlet passageways and ambient atmosphere, and each includes an inlet duct cover affixed atop a surrounding inlet wall, the inlet wall being peripherally perforated. A removable lid is positioned atop the inner shell and has at least one outlet passageway connecting the cavity and the ambient atmosphere, the lid and the top of the inner shell being configured to form a hermetic seal therebetween.

A containment enclosure for shielding an outer cask containing an inner canister loaded with nuclear waste such as spent fuel rods. The enclosure includes a lower base portion at least partially embedded in a concrete pad and an upper radiation shielding portion defined by a shield jacket coupled to and supported by the lower base portion at a circumferential joint. Cavities of the base and shielding portions collectively define a contiguous containment space for the cask. A portion of the cask resides in each of the base and shielding portions which completely enclose and shield the cask to minimize radiation dosage of personnel in the environment surrounding the cask. The cask is cooled by a natural convectively-driven ambient cooling air ventilation system including air inlets at the circumferential joint of the enclosure. The concrete pad may be part of a spent nuclear fuel storage installation comprising plural cask containment enclosures.