Abstract: A shielding container for the transport and storage of irradiated nuclear fuel elements has a cast-metal vessel provided with a radiation-shielding cover whose cylindrical flange is bolted to a shoulder of a seat in the mouth of this vessel and has a thickness of two to four times the thickness of a projection of this cover extending into the space of the vessel receiving the radioactive material. A further cover has a projection extending into the seat and a flange overlying and bolted to the vessel wall. The thickness of the latter flange is twice the thickness of the projection of the further cover and both covers define annular control compartments whereby the sealing effectiveness can be monitored.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the treatment and storage of nuclear power plant wastes utilizes a jacket heating a cast iron storage container directly to vaporize liquid radioactive waste under suction applied to the container with interposition of a baffle preventing entrainment of droplets from the container.

Abstract: A device for pressing cylindrical containers holding nuclear facility waste materials into disk pellets includes an initial press and a main press. In the initial press, the container is deformed by an arrangement of movable dies and tension-relieving rams into a shape suitable to fit into a compaction chamber in the main press. After the container is collapsed by the dies and rams of the initial press, the initial press is opened and the collapsed container is deposited into the compaction chamber of the main press where it is compacted into a disk-like pellets and discharged from the compaction chamber.

Abstract: A shielded container for the treatment of radioactive waste has an upwardly open cast-iron vessel having a closed bottom, solid walls unitary therewith, and an open upper mouth itself closed by a cast-ion lid which is formed with separate vertically throughgoing intake and outlet passages. Screwthread formations either provided directly on the lid and vessel or on fasteners engaged between them hermetically secure the lid over the mouth. A flow deflector aligned inside the vessel underneath the outlet passage can be formed as a plate so aspirated gases do not entrain liquid or solid particles. A single cover is held by appropriate screwthread formations on the cover over the passages. The vessel can be relatively thin--8cm, 12cm, or 18cm--cast iron so it is possible to treat its contents. For drying radioactive wastes it is merely necessary to heat the outside of the container while applying suction to the outlet passage.

Abstract: Water-containing bibulous solids such as ion-exchange or filter matters from a nuclear electricity-generating power plant are introduced into a final storage container and heated therein under vacuum to dewater the solids and provide a high interstitial volume. The latter is substantially filled with radioactive salts by introducing flowable evaporator concentrate in one or more stages and for each stage heating the container under vacuum so as to drive off the concentrate water.

Abstract: Containers for the transportation and/or storage of radioactive wastes are filled by evacuating the containers and utilizing the vacuum thus generated to draw radioactive waste into the container. The radioactive waste is then dried in the container directly by continuing the vacuum and, if desired, heating the container with an electrical heater, the vapors thus produced being condensed before the withdrawn gas is filtered.

Abstract: A storage and transport container for radioactive waste has an upwardly open vessel having a closed bottom, solid walls, and an open upper mouth. A lid is sealingly engaged over and completely blocks the mouth. This lid is formed with at least one vertically throughgoing passage having a lower end and an upper end. A rigid guide tube fixed to the lid extends down in the vessel from the lower passage end to a location immediately adjacent the bottom of the vessel. Thus the interior of the tube forms a downward continuation of the passage to the location. A flexible feed tube extends along the passage and the continuation thereof and has an upper end screwed to the lid at the upper passage end and a lower end at the location. Thus the vessel can be filled and emptied through this feed tube, which therefore can be an accessory that need not be left on an inactive container, thereby greatly reducing cost per container.

Abstract: Spherolitic cast iron or cast steel containers or nuclear steel elements are modified by replacement of the complex boron steel baskets with stainless steel or austenitic manganese steel lattices therefor and the lattices define vertical compartments in which the fuel rods removed from the elements are received in densest-packed relationship directly or via the intermediary of thin-walled metal sleeves.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the packaging of radioactive waste wherein a steel container is placed in a horizontal hydraulic press chamber with the open end of the container turned toward a hydraulic ram, radioactive waste is accumulated ahead of the open end of this container, the ram is advanced to displace the radioactive waste into the container and then to corrugate the container wall and compress the radioactive waste against a retractable wall and the wall is then retracted to permit the ram to force the package out of the chamber.

Abstract: A package for radioactive material which comprises a radiation-absorbing vessel having a plug-type inner cover sealingly engaging this vessel and an outer security cover overlying the massive plug-type cover and defining a clearance therewith in which gas can be monitored to detect failure of the seal, this safety cover being sealed to the vessel so that the latter chamber is sealed from the atmosphere. According to the invention, this chamber is sealed with gas at a superatmospheric pressure which is also above the pressure within the vessel and the pressure of the chamber is monitored, a drop in pressure signaling a breach either of the seal between the plug-type cover and the interior of the vessel or between the safety cover and the vessel.

Abstract: A safety container for the disposal of radioactive wastes has a plug-type cover received in a complementary seat and having cylindrical and tapered (frustoconical) fitting parts sealed against the seat by elastic seals in part. This cover is over-lain by a safety cover engaging a corresponding portion of the vessel via a metal-to-metal seal while a further control cover is provided above the latter with a metallic or elastomeric seal. The covers define two control spaces from which fluid can be tapped to ascertain the effectiveness of the respective seals.

Abstract: A container for the transport, storage and disposal of radioactive wastes or other materials, such as irradiated fuel elements of a nuclear reactor capable of neutron emission, which comprises a cast receptacle, e.g. of cast iron, a cover and, in passages spaced apart in the cast wall of the vessel, a neutron moderating or absorbing material. According to the invention, the passages are of circular cross section with a spacing at least equal to twice the diameter, and the total cross-sectional area of the passages in any plane transversely through the vessel corresponds to the cross section in the same plane of a continuous theoretical layer disposed along the periphery of a vessel of corresponding thickness and size or is greater than the area of the theoretical layer in this plane in so far as neutron absorption or moderation effect is concerned.

Abstract: A unitarily cast receptacle for the storage of radioactive wastes consists of cast iron, especially spherolitic cast iron, or cast steel, and has upright walls defining a chamber in which the radioactive waste is stored above a base unitary with these walls. A cover is recessed in the receptacle and, according to the invention, is overlain by a safety cover which fits within an annular recess defined by a welding lip formed unitarily on the receptacle and defined at the upper end thereof by an upwardly open annular groove. The safety cover, which overlies the shielding cover which can be of the plug type, may have a counterlip which is likewise defined by an upwardly open annular groove.

Abstract: A transport or storage canister for radioactive wastes has an upright one-piece cast iron or steel vessel with an upwardly open mouth adapted to receive a complementary, stepped plug-type cover which is overlain by a safety cover which peripherally overhangs the plug cover and is likewise recessed in the top of the body. Seals are provided between the several steps so that respective gaps or compartments are formed, the compartments communicating with a fitting in the body which enables monitoring or control units to be connected to the compartments to determine whether leakage may have occurred.

Abstract: A transport and storage vessel for radioactive materials, especially irradiated nuclear-reactor fuel elements, comprises a one-piece hollow body having lateral walls and a base formed unitarily with one another and open at an upper end which is provided with a removable cover. The walls of the body have an outer layer, an intermediate layer and an inner layer, the outer and intermediate layers being cast unitarily from a carbon-containing ferrous metal or a copper alloy while the intermediate layer consists of a cast matrix phase in which heavy metal particles having a melting point above 800.degree. C. are embedded to absorb radiation. The inner layer can be a lining of stainless steel which surrounds the chamber receiving the radioactive material.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrical canister is oriented in an upright position with its fill hole directed upwardly, and hydraulic cement is loaded into the top of this canister. The canister is then tipped on its side and connected via a swivel coupling to a suction line and to a line through which a radioactive-waste slurry may be fed. The interior of the canister is then evacuated and the canister is rotated about a horizontal axis passing through this swivel coupling. Radioactive waste is then sucked into the canister by the subatomospheric pressure therein and is intimately mixed with cement already inside the canister by inwardly projecting mixing vanes provided inside the canister.

Abstract: A transport and storage receptacle for radioactive waste, capable of shielding the environment from radiation, comprises a vessel shell, bottom and cover. The shell and bottom are cast in one piece from cast iron (especially spherolytic cast iron) or cast steel and the cover is a shielding cover which can be recessed in the shell. The wall of the vessel is formed unitarily with at least one passage which communicates with the bottom of the chamber receiving the waste and terminates in an end wall along the upper face of the receptacle which can be provided with a separate closure for this passage.

Abstract: A container for the ultimate disposal of radioactive wastes comprises an outer receptacle of standard size and interchangeable inner receptacles receivable in the outer receptacle and provided with spacers for centering the inner receptacle within the outer receptacle. For radioactive waste with reduced radioactivity, a larger receptacle containing a larger quantity of the waste can be disposed within the outer receptacle whereas, for more highly radioactive waste, a smaller receptacle containing smaller quantities of the radioactive waste can be disposed within the outer receptacle. The space between the two receptacles is filled with a substance capable of absorbing radiation from the inner receptacle, i.e. a radiation absorber or shielding material.