Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of filling an evacuated metal vessel ith a radioactive glass melt from a glass melting furnace. The metal vessel is equipped with a suction tube mounted at the bottom of the vessel. The steps of filling and sealing the metal vessel are carried out faster and with the furnace atmosphere properly sealed off. For this purpose the vessel is placed in a holding device which is positioned over a closable suction port of the glass melting furnace. The suction port is hermetically sealed off from the atmosphere of the cell and is then opened. The vessel is lowered vertically until the suction tube dips into the glass melt. After the vessel has been filled, the glass in the suction tube is frozen thereby forming a plug. The vessel is moved upwardly in the vertical direction until the suction tube is drawn out of the furnace. The suction port is closed and a sealing cover for the vessel is put into position over the port.

Abstract: Suction molds used in the suction removal process must first be prepared ore they can receive vitrified radioactive waste materials. A method is disclosed for preparing the suction mold which includes a suction pipe welded into the base of the mold with a desired-break location whereat the suction pipe is broken off during the suction removal process. An evacuation stub is mounted in the mouth of the suction pipe and communicates with the interior of the mold. The method of the invention includes evacuating the mold through the evacuation stub and then heating the mold to remove moisture and organic impurities. The mold is then filled with a dry inert gas and the evacuation stub is cleaned. The mold is then evacuated to a predetermined residual pressure. Thereafter, the evacuation stub is cold-press welded so as to close off the interior of the mold from the ambient.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of filling an evacuated metal vessel ith a radioactive glass melt from a glass melting furnace. The metal vessel is equipped with a suction tube mounted at the bottom of the vessel. The steps of filling and sealing the metal vessel are carried out faster and with the furnace atmosphere properly sealed off. For this purpose the vessel is placed in a holding device which is positioned over a closable suction port of the glass melting furnace. The suction port is hermetically sealed off from the atmosphere of the cell and is then opened. The vessel is lowered vertically until the suction tube dips into the glass melt. After the vessel has been filled, the glass in the suction tube is frozen thereby forming a plug. The vessel is moved upwardly in the vertical direction until the suction tube is drawn out of the furnace. The suction port is closed and a sealing cover for the vessel is put into position over the port.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for vitrifying highly radioace waste solutions. The arrangement has a glass melting furnace and a wet scrubber for scrubbing particles of dust out of the offgas from the glass melting furnace. The offgas is passed from the glass melting furnace into the wet scrubber through an offgas conduit. The solids in the offgas are deposited in the offgas conduit. In order to counteract the disadvantageous consequences of such deposits, the offgas conduit includes two conduit lengths. The glass melting furnace is connected to one end of a first one of the conduit lengths via a connecting conduit stub mounted on the melting furnace and the wet scrubber is connected to one end of the second conduit length via a connecting conduit stub on the scrubbers. The two conduit lengths extend upwardly and are inclined toward each other so that they interconnect at their respective other ends.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for making a glass block containing dioactive fission products in a metal vessel. The method includes the steps of placing the radioactive glass melt in the metal vessel and cooling the same therein. To minimize the formation of fissures in the glass block which is formed, the inner wall surfaces of the metal vessel are coated with a carbon material. The metal vessel is then placed in a thermally-insulating receptacle. The metal vessel is then filled with a radioactive glass melt emanating from a glass melting furnace and, after the filling step, is cooled slowly in the heat insulating receptacle. A container assembly for use in performing the method of the invention is also disclosed.