Abstract: Filtered storage containers for hazardous waste, such as radioactive waste, more particularly plutonium in the form of oxides and salts, are made of stainless steel and include lids which are retained by retaining rings that utilize bayonet or ratchet closures that cooperate with rims that are integral with cans to hold the lids in place. Sealing arrangements are provided that each include an O-ring of a circular cross section which seals radially between the lid and rim, as well as a seal of cruciform cross section, which seal provides compression sealing between the lid and an annular shelf within the rim upon locking the retaining ring to the rim with the bayonet or ratchet fitting.

Abstract: Information is obtained from a storage container that houses hazardous or potentially harmful waste. A sensor device is inserted into the container to allow a sensor using a sensor well to extend into the container. The sensor collects information on the conditions of the waste. The sensor well extends through a hole for a filter that vents gasses or vapors from the container. The sensor device also includes a housing with circuitry to perform the sensing as well as transmit and receive signals. In this manner, the sensor device transmits signals with information about the materials within the container for remote monitoring.

Abstract: Filtered storage containers for hazardous waste, such as radioactive waste, more particularly plutonium in the form of oxides and salts, are made of stainless steel and include lids which are retained by retaining rings that utilize bayonet or ratchet closures that cooperate with rims that are integral with cans to hold the lids in place. Sealing arrangements are provided that each include an O-ring of a circular cross section which seals radially between the lid and rim, as well as a seal of cruciform cross section, which seal provides compression sealing between the lid and an annular shelf within the rim upon locking the retaining ring to the rim with the bayonet or ratchet fitting.

Abstract: Information is obtained from a storage container that houses hazardous or potentially harmful waste. A sensor device is inserted into the container to allow a sensor using a sensor well to extend into the container. The sensor collects information on the conditions of the waste. The sensor well extends through a hole for a filter that vents gasses or vapors from the container. The sensor device also includes a housing with circuitry to perform the sensing as well as transmit and receive signals. In this manner, the sensor device transmits signals with information about the materials within the container for remote monitoring.

Abstract: Vents for containers include a perforated substrate portion (20) of polymer material over which is thermally bonded a gas permeable membrane (30). The thermal bond (31) is direct and adhesive-free so that there is no adhesive available for chemical attachment by materials within the containers (58) and no opportunity for an adhesive to interfere with or block perforations through the substrate.

Abstract: Spherical storage containers for radioactive materials, such as plutonium oxides and salts, are comprised of coupled hemispheres joined by helical threads or bayonet connections. The spherical storage containers are supported in a barrel by a vertical strut and laterally extending straps or are supported in cylindrically configured frames.

Abstract: A container for hazardous wastes, such as, plutonium wastes, includes a can and a lid wherein the lid is locked to and sealed with respect to the can by radially projected locking bolts. In order to lock the lid to the can the bolts are cammed radially by rotating a U-shaped handle to place the locking bolts behind a locking rim at the mouth of the can. The bolts are then pivoted to apply an axial force to the locking rim to urge the lid against a gasket to seal the lid by turning a threaded axial force element to pivot the locking bolts on the fulcrums.

Abstract: A vent insert with an integral carbon-to-carbon composite filter element is used to vent enclosures such as drums and convenience cans containing transuranic materials which generate hydrogen. The vent inserts do not utilize adhesive to retain filter elements therein but rather utilize a housing having a filter element support with a knife edge to form a seal and a press fitted lid. Both the housing and lid are formed of corrosion resistant HASTELLOY® C-22® alloy. The vent inserts resist HCl corrosion as well as corrosion induced by nitric acid and chlorinated solvents.

Abstract: A headspace gas sampling and venting method utilizes a vent port and a sampling port which are punched through the lid of a drum containing hazardous materials, such as transuranic waste. In accordance with the system, a punch having a hollow passage therethrough, which passage has a filter element therein is first inserted through the lid using a pneumatic gun. A second punch, similar to the first punch, but having a passage with a septa seal therein is thereafter inserted through the lid with the pneumatic gun. Headspace gas beneath the lid is then sampled with a needle inserted through the septa seal. Both the venting port and sampling port are configured with detachable punch points which pass through the lid and are then released from the venting and sampling ports so as to open ends of the passages therethrough for communication with the headspace.

Abstract: A headspace gas sampling and venting method utilizes a vent port and a sampling port which are punched through the lid of a drum containing hazardous materials, such as transuranic waste. In accordance with the system, a punch having a hollow passage therethrough, which passage has a filter element therein is first inserted through the lid using a pneumatic gun. A second punch, similar to the first punch, but having a passage with a septa seal therein is thereafter inserted through the lid with the pneumatic gun. Headspace gas beneath the lid is then sampled with a needle inserted through the septa seal. Both the venting port and sampling port are configured with detachable punch points which pass through the lid and are then released from the venting and sampling ports so as to open ends of the passages therethrough for communication with the headspace.

Abstract: A drum vent filter useful for venting hydrogen gas from transuranic wastes in order to remove particles from the gas while controlling the release of VOCs has a carbon-to-carbon filter media of increased density with a relatively large filter face and reduced thickness. In addition, a protective lid is provided over the filter element which has been substantially increased so as to enhance the diffusion of hydrogen gas through the filter element.

Abstract: Vent filters for containers such as barrels which contain hazardous waste, such as transuranic (nuclear) waste, include a bore therethrough which does not intersect the material of carbon-to-carbon filter media inserts disposed within the vent filter. Each of the bores has a stainless steel tube disposed therein wherein the stainless steel tube has at an interior end a septa-type seal and at an outer end an impenetrable plug. In order to sample head gases, a syringe is used with a needle that penetrates the septa-type seal. After the needle is withdrawn, the septa-type seal closes and the impenetrable plug is replaced.

Abstract: A bag for containing nuclear waste material has a venting arrangement having of a plurality of vent holes through the wall of the bag. Each vent hole includes a filter arrangement in which there is a first film mounted on the inside of the bag in alignment with the vent hole and a second film mounted on the outside of the bag aligned with both the vent hole and the first film to define a chamber between the first and second films, the chamber including the vent hole. A HEPA filter media is disposed in the chamber, so that fluid in the chamber passing through apertures in the first and second films also passes through the filter media. A preferred use of the present invention is to vent explosive gasses, such as hydrogen, from bags containing waste material such as nuclear waste material.

Abstract: Plutonium powders are stored in three embodiments of stainless steel canisters with stainless steel lids. The stainless steel canisters are extruded and have no interior welds. Each canister has a stainless steel lid with a vent having an integral HEPA filter. In order to secure the lids on the canister, collars with annular internal notches and external threads are disposed between the bodies of the canisters and the lids. The lids have internal threads so that the lids can be tightly screwed onto the collars. O-ring seals are disposed between the lids and collars.

Abstract: A high quality HEPA filter is used in a vent for venting a chamber containing a radioactive material such as a plutonium slurry. The filter element includes a stainless steel wire mesh tube which supports a sintered stainless steel filter media thereon. The wire mesh tube has a stainless steel end plate completely closing one end thereof and a stainless steel end plate with an exhaust outlet opening at the other end. The outlet opening communicates with a hollow core defined by the stainless steel wire mesh tube. The sintered stainless steel filter media has its longitudinal edges joined by a tungsten inert gas weld and is also welded directly to the end plates by completely closed circular welds. An annular housing of stainless steel surrounds the filter element in spaced relation thereto and has an axial inlet. The gas to be filtered flows into the inlet, around the filter element and through the sintered stainless steel filter media before exiting through the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: Plutonium powders are stored in stainless steel canisters with stainless steel lids. The stainless steel canisters are extruded and have no interior welds. Each canister includes a vent with an integral HEPA filter. The canisters are of various capacities and nest, one within another, when not used for storage.

Abstract: A vent assembly useful for venting bags containing radioactive waste material includes a base plate with a chamber projecting therefrom and a cap plate which has a center portion that snap fits over the chamber. The base plate and cap plate have flange portions which overlie the inner and outer surfaces of the bag to secure the vent to the bag by clamping against the wall of the bag. A ring is snap fitted into the chamber prior to snap fitting the cap plate to the base plate and a compressible mass of fibrous filter material is contained within the ring. The filter material may be selected from a number of filter materials such as spun polyester, activated carbon felt, fibrous cellulose or sintered stainless steel fibers. Preferably, the filter material is electrically charged, fibrous polymer material.