COMBINATION OF CONTAINERS AND METHOD FOR ELIMINATING RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of containers intended to discharge radioactive substances into the earth's magma by pouring them into lava lakes, and to a method for using these containers. The radioactive substances are preferably placed in ovoid waste containers that are loaded into a transport container and discharged therewith into a lava lake. The transport container decomposes by melting following a first immersion at a given depth and releases the waste containers, which continue to move downwards.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A container system for disposal of radioactive substances in magma, said container system comprising: at least one waste container comprising: an inner shell consisting of a material having a melting point greater than molten lava, said inner shell being configured to receive a radioactive substance; and an outer shell coating an exterior surface of said inner shell; and a transport container configured to store therein said waste container.

15. The container system of claim 14, wherein said inner shell consists of two halves, which are assembled after filling with the radioactive substance.

16. The container system of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of perforated individual containers each configured to receive radioactive substance, and wherein one of said two halves of said inner shell includes a support wall configured to support each of said individual containers.

17. The container system of claim 16, wherein said individual containers are each made of cast-iron.

18. The container system of claim 17, wherein said two halves each include a contact edge provided with threading configured to assemble said two halves of said inner shell together, wherein said two halves of said inner shell are assembled and said outer shell coats said assembled inner shell resulting in said waste container being sealed.

19. The container system of claim 18, wherein said inner shell is made of tungsten steel.

20. The container system of claim 18, wherein said outer shell is made of a ceramic material.

21. The container system of claim 18, wherein an outer shape of said sealed waste container is a hollow ovoid.

22. The container system of claim 18, wherein an outer shape of said sealed waste container is a spindle-shaped.

23. The container system of claim 18, wherein an outer shape of said sealed waste container is oblong.

24. The container system of claim 18, wherein said sealed waste container is a plurality of sealed waste containers, and said transport container is configured to store therein said plurality of sealed waste containers.

25. The container system of claim 18, wherein said sealed waste container has a center of gravity situated in one of said two halves so that it assumes a vertical position when in a lava stream.

26. The container system of claim 18, wherein said transport container consists of a material which melts at an earliest at a depth of more than three thousand meters underground.

27. The container system of claim 18, wherein said transport container is coated with a ceramic layer.

28. The container system of claim 27, wherein said transport container and said ceramic layer is surrounded by a brass ring.

29. The container system of claim 28, wherein said transport container includes a hook configured for lifting or lowering said transport container.

30. A method for using a container system for disposal of radioactive substances into magma of lava lakes, said method comprising the steps of: a) introducing a radioactive substance into a plurality of ovoid waste containers each including an inner shell made of tungsten steel and an outer shell made of ceramic material; b) introducing said waste containers into a metal transport container that is cladded with ceramic material, while said transport container containing said waste containers; and c) immersing said transport container in magma of a lava lake by a crane system so that said transport container melts after immersion at a depth of three thousand meters so that said waste containers are released upon melting of said transport container and continue to sink into the lava lake.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The characteristics and advantages of the present invention are illustrated by the following description of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

[0038] There is shown in:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the principle of construction of a sealed waste container.

[0040] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the two separate and loaded halves of a waste container.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view the principle of construction of a transport container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows an ovoid transport container 1. The latter consists of two shells, namely an inner wall 2 made of tungsten steel, and an outer wall 3 consisting of ceramics or ceramic components.

[0043] The inner shell 2 is made of a metal or metal alloy having a melting point higher than that of molten lava. Here, preference is given to tungsten steel. This inner shell 2 is coated on its outside with the outer shell 3 including a ceramic layer resistant to shocks and difficult to destroy in order to avoid damage by hardened lava plates or blocks of rock of the Earth's crust and upper reaches of the lava lake.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows the open waste container, consisting of two halves, namely the lower ovoid shape 4 and the upper ovoid shape 5. In addition to their screw connection, these two halves each have on their edge a thin threading 6 which connects them after filling and which is sealed even more tightly by laser treatment.

[0045] The waste container is preferably composed of the two-part halves 4, 5 that are sealed after filling with the radioactive charge so as to be gastight and resistant to mechanical damage. Preference is given here to a threaded connection 6 on the edges of both halves 4, 5 by means of which they can be screwed together. Additional laser welding on the contact points provides even more safety. The radioactive substances are packed into the elementary tungsten container by way of a plurality of cast-iron perforated individual containers 14, so that no critical nuclear reaction can occur. The individual containers 14 are supported inside one of the two-part halves 4, 5 by way of a support wall 12. The screw connections prevent waste from escaping.

[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates the principle of mounting a transport container 7 on a transport vehicle 8. It is coated with a ceramic layer 9 and provided with a fastening ring 10. On one end, it has a hook 11 by which it is raised up and into the lava lake by means of a crane.

[0047] The ovoid containers and those containing radioactive substances are transported in the special transport container 7 to be conveyed to the lava lakes and discharged into the molten lava lake. This container 7 can have mechanical stability at temperatures up to 1400° C. and can melt at the earliest at a depth of about three thousand metres. The transport container is, for instance, itself made of metal, and clad by ceramic parts. It is also provided with a fastening ring 10 and devices for discharge into the lava lake by using cranes. The proposed material is brass. After slow immersion into the molten lava, this ring 10 and the connection systems to the crane melt. Once the depth is attained at which the immersion is no longer reversible, the transport container 7 itself melts as well, thereby releasing the waste container(s) 1 which continue to sink.

[0048] While embodiments of the container and method for eliminating radioactive substances have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present technology. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present technology, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present technology. For example, any suitable sturdy material may be used instead of the above-described.

[0049] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the present technology. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the present technology to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the present technology.