For Explosive Or Radioactive Material Patents (Class 110/237)
  • Patent number: 11969613
    Abstract: An explosion-proof housing having external walls, which enclose a housing interior so as to be proof against ignition penetration relative to an atmosphere at risk of explosion. At least one insert is arranged in at least one outer wall. The insert facilitates a gas flow between the housing interior and an environment around the housing. The at least one insert is configured in such a way that a gas flow having a sufficient mass flow or volumetric flow rate is permitted, but a flow connection which is proof against ignition penetration is produced. Attached to the outer wall having the at least one insert is a guiding means which together with the relevant outer wall delimits a flow channel. The flow channel defines a main flow direction of a main gas flow through the flow channel substantially parallel to the directly adjoining outer wall. In this way, the gas exchange between the environment and the housing interior can be improved and facilities arranged in the housing interior can be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: R. STAHL SCHALTGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Elena Kondrus, Jürgen Schmitt, Natascha Sekinger, Otto Walch, Christian Kochendörfer, Bernd Limbacher
  • Patent number: 11167989
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for recovering phosphorus by thermochemical reaction of a phosphorus-containing material such as an alternative fuel, for example, in the presence of calcium-containing particles in a moving bed reactor and subsequent separation of fines enriched with phosphorus from the moving bed reactor. Furthermore, the present invention concerns the use of a recyclable material obtained by the method as a fertilizer or fertilizer additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ZENTRUM FÜR SONNENENERGIE- UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG GEMEINNÜTZIGE STIFTUNG
    Inventors: Jochen Brellochs, Michael Specht, Ulrich Zuberbühler, Christian Eder, Christoph Kornmayer, Benjamin Klausing, Martin Schaub
  • Patent number: 10386064
    Abstract: A stoker-type incinerator includes: a recirculated exhaust gas supply unit which allows exhaust gas resulting from treating combustion gas to reflux to a combustion gas channel via a recirculated exhaust gas nozzle provided on the combustion gas channel and supplies the exhaust gas as recirculated exhaust gas. The stoker-type incinerator further includes a secondary combustion air supply unit which supplies secondary combustion air on a downstream side of the recirculated exhaust gas nozzle on the combustion gas channel via a secondary combustion air nozzle provided on the combustion gas channel, in which the recirculated exhaust gas nozzle and the secondary combustion air nozzle are arranged in different positions in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENVIRONMENTAL & CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Mawatari, Yoshimasa Sawamoto, Kouji Namerisawa
  • Patent number: 10041672
    Abstract: A method for real-time burner monitoring and control of a flare system, including analyzing a flare gas and/or flare exhaust gas by one or more analytical techniques and determining the flare gas and/or flare exhaust gas composition. The method may also include an ash particle monitoring system. The method further includes an analytical control unit for real-time adjustment of process conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Oleg Zhdaneev
  • Patent number: 9777673
    Abstract: A method is provided for solid-propellant engines to be dismantled safely and in accordance with environmental standards having been scrapped. For each engine to be dismantled, it is mounted on a static test rig, immersed in a tank filled with water and started such that propellant is used up under the water. The soluble part of the combustion products (gases or condensates) thus remains trapped in the water in the tank while the non-soluble solid products drop to the bottom of the tank. The body of the engine emptied of its fuel in this way and rendered pyrotechnically inert is then taken apart or disassembled. Periodically, the water in the tank is withdrawn and the tank stripped of its deposits such that subsequent dismantling operations can be carried out under proper conditions. All of the combustion products recovered are sent to appropriate reprocessing plants. The method allows high dismantling rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ROXEL FRANCE
    Inventors: Didier Maillet, Christophe Douais, Nicolas Rumeau, Dominique Leveque
  • Patent number: 9291431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blast-proof chamber (1, 20, 30, 60, 70) for improved handling and transport of a detonation-dangerous object, wherein the said blast-proof chamber (1, 20, 30, 60, 70) comprises an outer chamber (2, 21, 32, 61, 71) comprising an inner storage chamber (3, 22, 33, 62, 72) for storage of the detonation-dangerous object. A characteristic feature of the invention is that the inner storage chamber (3, 22, 33, 62, 72) is arranged movably in the outer chamber (2, 21, 32, 61, 71) between an open and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Dynasafe International AB
    Inventor: Johnny Ohlson
  • Publication number: 20140350320
    Abstract: A system and method for processing of carbon-based radioactive waste, comprise at least: a) soaking in an acid solution, and b) a heat treatment, of a thermal shock type, said acid solution recovering radioactive material resulting from said waste at least after the implementation of step b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Gerard Laurent
  • Publication number: 20140343342
    Abstract: To provide a method and an apparatus for removing radioactive cesium from waste containing radioactive cesium at low cost. A radioactive cesium removal apparatus 1 including: an incinerator 22 for burning an inflammable waste polluted with radioactive cesium; a suspension preheater 23 for, with the combustion exhaust gas G5 and a sensible heat of the incineration ash of a combustible C discharged from the incinerator, generating calcium oxide or/and magnesium oxide from a source of calcium oxide or/and a source of magnesium oxide, cyclones of the suspension preheater being arranged in multistages; a rotary kiln 21 for burning an inorganic substance S polluted with radioactive cesium together with the calcium oxide or/and the magnesium oxide and the incineration ash D3 including the radioactive cesium; and collectors 31, 32 for collecting cesium volatilized in the rotary kiln.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: TAIHEIYO CEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ogiri, Souichirou Okamura, Kenichi Honma
  • Patent number: 8695263
    Abstract: An explosive assembly adapted to destruction of artillery and other large ordnance shells; said explosive assembly comprising a pair of hollow half shells; each of said half shells formed with an internal cavity conforming to at least a portion of external surfaces of an ordnance shell to be destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Explosives Technology Pty Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Charles John Murray
  • Publication number: 20120227643
    Abstract: A recycling furnace is provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy. The furnace includes a switching facility for alternating operation of two burning-off chambers of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. A continuous conveyor for dosing of liquids or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion, preferably a temperature sensor. A single waste gas treatment facility is used for thermal post-combustion for the two furnace chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: HERAEUS PRECIOUS METALS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian NOWOTTNY, Horst MEYER, Matthias GREHL, Dieter SCHÄFER, Hans-Joachim ALT, Wilhelm GLAB
  • Patent number: 8263037
    Abstract: A method for producing carbon nanostructures according to the invention includes injecting acetylene gas into a reactant liquid. The injected acetylene molecules are then maintained in contact with the reactant liquid for a period of time sufficient to break the carbon-hydrogen bonds in at least some of the acetylene molecules, and place the liberated carbon ions in an excited state. The liberated carbon ions in the excited state then traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and enter a collection area where carbon ions combine to produce carbon nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Clean Technology International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8182754
    Abstract: The apparatus is proposed for termination of radioactive and other wastes particularly for physical processing of radioactive waste with simultaneous production of hydrogen, oxygen, and electric energy. It includes an ion divider, a plasma chamber communicated with the ion divider, a controllable hydrogen-oxygen dispenser introducing hydrogen and oxygen into the plasma chamber, transformer pipe coils, a transformer chamber surrounded by the transformer coils, the transformer chamber communicated with the plasma chamber, equipment for supplying water and steam into the transformer coils, cooling equipment for receiving ionized steam from the transformer coils and cooling the steam, a sprayer receiving the ionized steam from the cooling equipment and introducing the steam into the ion divider; and dispenser equipment for introducing radio-active wastes and/or worked-out rocket fuels into the transformer chamber, wherein the radio-active wastes and/or worked-out rocket fuels are terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Yuriy Yatsenko, Boris Avramchuk, Siarhei Zmitkovich, Roman Pankiv, Vadim Yatsenko
  • Patent number: 8178744
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the demilitarization of ammunition. The apparatus is comprised of an elongated tubular ammunition conveying chamber having a wall, an inlet opening, and a discharge opening; a heater in thermal communication with the elongated tubular chamber; and a first discharge barrier obstructing at least a first portion of the discharge opening of the elongated tubular chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: U.S. Demil LLC
    Inventors: David J. Kautz, Lawrence R. Culp, Mark B. Mitskovski
  • Patent number: 8088312
    Abstract: Method for removing the epoxy and/or phenolic polymer encapsulating a nuclear fuel pellet comprising uranium dioxide UO2, the method comprising the following successive steps: a) the polymer is pyrolysed in a reducing atmosphere; and b) the carbon residues obtained after the pyrolysis step (a) are selectively oxidized, the oxidation being carried out at temperature above 1000° C. in an atmosphere comprising carbon dioxide CO2. Such a method makes it possible to remove the epoxy and/or phenolic polymer encapsulating the pellet while avoiding or limiting the risk of radiological contamination by the formation of U3O8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Eric Hanus, Olivier Fiquet, Nicolas Tarisien
  • Patent number: 8006600
    Abstract: A method of blasting hazardous substance or explosive in a pressure vessel is provided to improve efficiency while suppressing enlargement of the pressure vessel. To achieve it, the method includes an installing step of installing two or more articles to be treated at a certain spacing in the pressure vessel, an initial blasting step of blasting one of the articles to be treated, and a following blasting step of blasting the article to be treated next to the previously blasted article to be treated after a particular time from the instant of the previous blast. Each of the articles is blasted sequentially through the initial and following blasting steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Shuzo Fujiwara, Takehiro Matsunaga, Kiyoshi Asahina, Kenji Koide, Takashi Gotou, Hideaki Shimoda
  • Patent number: 8006631
    Abstract: Radioactive waste treatment method, includes: (a) loading waste into plasma shaft furnace by conveying waste by hermetic conveyor from automated storage into plasma shaft furnace, wherein conveying is loading is controlled; (b) pyrolizing waste; (c) oxidizing coke; (d) withdrawing pyrogas and slug from furnace; (e) afterburning pyrogas in combustion chamber at an afterburning temperature of 1200-1350° C.; (f) supplying air into combustion chamber at two levels during afterburning step: (1) prechamber pyrogas air supply level, and (2) an upper part of combustion chamber air supply level; and (g) quenching an off-gas to 200-250° C. with subsequent mechanical cleaning and absorption cleaning and further cooling. A radioactive waste treatment plant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Joint Stock Company “Alliance-Gamma”, State Unitary Enterprise Moscow Scientific & Industrial Assn.
    Inventors: Arthur Eduardovich Arustamov, Demetrius Rudolfovich Vasendin, Valeriy Alekseevich Gorbunov, Sergey Aleksandrovich Dmitriev, Fyodor Anatolevich Lifanov, Alexander Pavlovich Kobelev, Mikhail Anatolevich Polkanov
  • Patent number: 8003845
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process enabling the complete combustion and oxidation of the mineral fraction of combustible waste contained in an apparatus intended to treat waste by direct incineration-vitrification, said process comprising the following steps: a step to add said waste to the apparatus for its depositing on the surface of a molten glass bath contained in the apparatus, an incineration and oxidation step of the waste on the surface of the glass bath, an incorporation step to incorporate combustion products in the glass during which the glass bath, the combustion products and any vitrification additives added to the glass bath are heated until a paste-like, liquid mass is obtained, a step during which said mass is removed from the apparatus and left to cool to obtain finally what is called a confinement matrix, said process being characterized in that the complete combustion and oxidation of the waste is achieved partly during the waste adding step and partly during the waste incineration and ox
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Olivier Pinet, Christophe Girold
  • Patent number: 7922993
    Abstract: A method for producing carbon nanostructures according to the invention includes injecting acetylene gas into a reactant liquid. The injected acetylene molecules are then maintained in contact with the reactant liquid for a period of time sufficient to break the carbon-hydrogen bonds in at least some of the acetylene molecules, and place the liberated carbon ions in an excited state. This preferred method further includes enabling the liberated carbon ions in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and enter a collection area. Collection surfaces are provided in the collection area to collect carbon nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Clean Technology International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7901653
    Abstract: A method for producing carbon nanostructures according to the invention includes injecting acetylene gas into a reactant liquid. The injected acetylene molecules are then maintained in contact with the reactant liquid for a period of time sufficient to break the carbon-hydrogen bonds in at least some of the acetylene molecules, and place the liberated carbon ions in an excited state. This preferred method further includes enabling the liberated carbon ions in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and enter a collection area. Collection surfaces are provided in the collection area to collect carbon nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Clean Technology International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7866244
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a blasting treatment apparatus which can prevent dispersion of a hazardous substance or the like to the exterior with a simple structure. To achieve this object, a blasting treatment apparatus (1) comprises a pressure container (10) including an outer vessel (31) and an inner vessel (32) and a suction device. The outer vessel (32) has a first sucking part (17) and a second sucking part (18) for interconnecting the interior and the exterior of the outer vessel (31) at an end thereof opposite to a pressure-resistant lid (11) and in an upper wall. The inner vessel (32) has an interconnect hole (16) for interconnecting the interior and the exterior of the inner vessel (32) at a location thereof corresponding to the first sucking part (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Asahina, Ryusuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7815885
    Abstract: A method includes liberating carbon atoms from hydrocarbon molecules by reaction with or in a reactant liquid and maintaining the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state. The chemically excited liberated carbon atoms are then enabled to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and are directed across a collection surface. The collection surface and the conditions at and around the collection surface are maintained so that the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state phase change to a ground state by carbon nanostructure self-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Clean Technology International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7815886
    Abstract: A method includes isolating carbon atoms as conditioned carbide anions below a surface of a reactant liquid. The conditioned carbide anions are then enabled to escape from the reactant liquid to a collection area where carbon nanostructures may form. A carbon structure produced in this fashion includes at least one layer made up of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms. Each carbon atom has three covalent bonds to adjoining carbon atoms and one unbound pi electron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Clean Technology International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7814846
    Abstract: A method includes producing deposition conditions in a collection area above a reactant liquid containing one or more catalyst metals. The reactant liquid is maintained under conditions in which atoms of the catalyst metal may escape from the reactant liquid into the collection area. A suitable carrier gas is directed to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a collection path that passes over a collection surface in the collection area. This flow of carrier gas is maintained so that escaped atoms of catalyst metal are entrained in the gas traversing the surface of the reactant liquid and are deposited on the collection surface prior to or concurrently with nanocarbon structure formation at the collection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Clean Technology International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7731912
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is provided an evaporator/calciner in which hazardous materials, such as radioactive liquids, are converted into chemically stable, solid forms by evaporating, drying and calcination within a single vessel, that can then be sealed and used for long term storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth James Franklin, Andrew Donald Kettner, Bruce Wayne Hildebrandt, Howard Charles Jessup, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7700047
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating hazardous materials are disclosed. One exemplary implementation provides a system for rendering chemical weapons materiel less hazardous. This system includes a detonation chamber, an expansion chamber, and an emission treater adapted to treat gas from detonation of the chemical weapons materiel. The emission treater yields a substantially dry residual waste stream and a treated gas suitable for venting to atmosphere. The emission treater may treat the gas with an alkaline powder that interacts with the gas, producing the residual waste stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: CH2M Hill Constructors, Inc., CH2M Demilitarization, Inc., CH2M Hill Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay M. Quimby, Richard A. Johnson, Alan T. Edwards, John L. Donovan, McRea B. Willmert
  • Patent number: 7563426
    Abstract: A method includes producing deposition conditions in a collection area above a reactant liquid containing one or more catalyst metals. The reactant liquid is maintained under conditions in which atoms of the catalyst metal may escape from the reactant liquid into the collection area. A suitable carrier gas is directed to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a collection path that passes over a collection surface in the collection area. This flow of carrier gas is maintained so that escaped atoms of catalyst metal are entrained in the gas traversing the surface of the reactant liquid and are deposited on the collection surface prior to or concurrently with nanocarbon structure formation at the collection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Clean Technologies International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20090158977
    Abstract: Disclosed is a blast containment vessel. A body has an opening. An external door is configured to form a seal surrounding the opening when the external door is in a closed position. A yoke is configured to retain the door in the closed position. A first automatic system is configured to automatically move the external door into and out of the closed position. A second automatic system is configured to automatically move the yoke when the external door is in the closed position. During and after a blast event, the body and the external door contain products of the blast event and the seal remains intact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: NABCO, INC.
    Inventor: Kim W. King
  • Patent number: 7550128
    Abstract: A method includes liberating carbon atoms from hydrocarbon molecules by reaction with or in a reactant liquid and maintaining the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state. The chemically excited liberated carbon atoms are then enabled to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and are directed across a collection surface. The collection surface and the conditions at and around the collection surface are maintained so that the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state phase change to a ground state by carbon nanostructure self-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Clean Technologies International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7449156
    Abstract: A molten metal reactor (10) quickly entrains a feed material in the molten reactant metal (16) and provides the necessary contact between the molten reactant metal and the feed material to effect the desired chemical reduction of the feed material. The reactor (10) includes a unique feed structure (24) adapted to quickly entrain the feed material into the molten reactant metal (16) and then transfer the molten reactant metal, feed material, and initial reaction products into a treatment chamber (12). A majority of the desired reactions occur in the treatment chamber (12). Reaction products and unspent reactant metal are directed from the treatment chamber (12) to an output chamber (14) where reaction products are removed from the reactor. Unspent reactant metal (16) is then transferred to a heating chamber (15) where it is reheated for recycling through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Clean Technologies International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20080257235
    Abstract: Radioactive waste treatment method, includes: (a) loading waste into plasma shaft furnace by conveying waste by hermetic conveyor from automated storage into plasma shaft furnace, wherein conveying is loading is controlled; (b) pyrolizing waste; (c) oxidizing coke; (d) withdrawing pyrogas and slug from furnace; (e) afterburning pyrogas in combustion chamber at an afterburning temperature of 1200-1350° C.; (f) supplying air into combustion chamber at two levels during afterburning step: (1) prechamber pyrogas air supply level, and (2) an upper part of combustion chamber air supply level; and (g) quenching an off-gas to 200-250° C. with subsequent mechanical cleaning and absorption cleaning and further cooling. A radioactive waste treatment plant is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: JOINT STOCK COMPANY "ALLIANCE-GAMMA"
    Inventors: Arthur Eduardovich Arustamov, Demetrius Rudolfovich Vasendin, Valeriy Alekseevich Gorbunov, Sergey Aleksandrovich Dmitriev, Fyodor Anatolevich Lifanov, Alexander Pavlovich Kobelev, Mikhail Anatolevich Polkanov
  • Patent number: 7431686
    Abstract: A portable vapor containment structure has a support frame, at least three wheels to roll the support frame about the ground and wheel retractors for retracting each of the wheels so as to allow the frame to be lowered to the ground. Typically, the apparatus further includes an enclosed vapor containment compartment mounted upon the support frame attached to the support frame. The vapor containment compartment has a bottom opening located within the perimeter of the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Parsons Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Cudney, Jeffrey Hillson
  • Publication number: 20080214886
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is provided an evaporator/calciner in which hazardous materials, such as radioactive liquids, are converted into chemically stable, solid forms by evaporating, drying and calcination within a single vessel, that can then be sealed and used for long term storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenneth James FRANKLIN, Andrew Donald KETTNER, Bruce Wayne Hildebrandt, Howard Charles Jessup
  • Patent number: 6878352
    Abstract: Recovery of air bag inflator metal cases. An inflator processing apparatus configured to process a gas-generating chemical-containing inflator for automobile air bags, by heating the inflator to a temperature not lower than an operating temperature of the chemical to facilitate recovery of the metal inflator case. In the apparatus, a protective metal partition wall is provided between an inner surface of a wall of an inflator-processing furnace and the chemical-containing inflator. This prevents damage to the refractory furnace wall, and also prevents melting of the metal inflator case, which could otherwise be occasioned by the chemical during thermal processing of the inflator containing the gas-generating chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Fukabori, Nobuo Nakabayashi, Kanshi Sakai, Yasumitsu Suzuki, Norio Yoshitake, Masato Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6834597
    Abstract: This relates to a furnace that is useful in safely detonating or demilitarizing munitions or explosives, particularly small caliber munitions. The preferred variation includes a series of chambers having a set of runners or tracks passing amongst the various chambers to allow movement of the munitions from chamber to chamber in trays. The first chamber is heated in such a way so that a tray of munitions placed on the runners in this chamber are baked and detonated. After the detonation is generally complete, the tray containing the then-detonated munition fragments is slid through an opening at the end of that heated detonation chamber into a first cooling chamber. Generally, this movement takes place by addition of another tray containing non-detonated munitions into the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Terry Northcutt
  • Publication number: 20040182292
    Abstract: A process for incinerating combustible materials including the steps of: delivering combustible material and inlet gases to a primary combustion chamber, the inlet gases having an oxygen content of at least 50 vol %; burning the combustible material with the oxygen of the inlet gases in the primary combustion chamber producing flue gases and solid particulates as thermal decomposition products of the burnt combustible material; passing the flue gases and particulates to a secondary combustion chamber where further combustion occurs; cooling the flue gases exiting the secondary combustion chamber; returning a portion of the cooled flue gases to at least one of the combustion chambers where the cooled gases moderate the temperature in the at least one chamber; and passing the remaining portion of cooled flue gases on to a flue gas purification system where pollutants in the flue gases and particulates are substantially converted to benign compounds or removed entirely before the flue gases are emitted into the
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Yoram Shimrony, Zachary Bachmutzky
  • Patent number: 6758151
    Abstract: An incinerator, capable of withstanding internal shocks from projectiles resulting from the combustion of energetic materials, is made of a primary combustion chamber where the material is burned, and a secondary chamber to reburn at a higher temperature the gases emanating from the primary chamber. The incinerator has a heating or separation plate, having a flowing-material funnel facilitating the removal of waste solids, to provide heat exchange between the primary combustion chamber and a heating chamber, to protect the heating elements against projectiles, and to restrain any projectiles from exiting the unit. To increase the level of safety of operation, this incinerator is remotely controlled, has a sequence of ignition and has overpressure apertures over the primary chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    Inventors: Tom W. Braithwaite, Derick R. Ivany
  • Patent number: 6658757
    Abstract: A system for separating hydrocarbons from a material which includes a process chamber, a process pan operatively connected to the process chamber and removable therefrom, a blower operatively connected to the process chamber and to a heat source, the blower adapted to force heated air into the process chamber through the material disposed on the process pan, the forced heated air adapted to vaporize hydrocarbons and other contaminants disposed on the material, and at least one condenser operatively connected to the process chamber and adapted to condense the vaporized hydrocarbons and other contaminants is disclosed. Further, a method for separating hydrocarbons from a material which includes passing a stream of heated air over the material to volatilize the hydrocarbons, passing the stream of heated air containing the hydrocarbons through at least one condenser to form liquid hydrocarbons, collecting the liquid hydrocarbons, and recirculating the heated air is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gary E. Fout, Jerry T. Connaughton
  • Patent number: 6613291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses for processing homogeneous/heterogeneous radioactive wastes comprising ion-exchange reisns. A cooled discharge unit comprises a discharge pipe, a cooling jacket having a U-shaped form in cross section, a collector for feeding a coolant into the jacket, a discharge gate comprising a pipe, on one end of which a cone-shaped tip is positioned, on the other end a lid with an aperture. A cooled induction melter comprises a housing, side walls and bottom of which are made of metal pipes disposed with a gap therebetween and combined by a collector for supplying and discharging the coolant, an inductor positioned adaptable for displacement along the longitudinal axis of the melter and concentrically encompassing the side walls of the housing, the gaps between the pipes of which ensure transparency of the housing for an electromagnetic field of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Moskovskoe Gosudarstvennoe Predpriyatie-Obiedinenny Ekologo-Technologichesky I Nauchno-Issledovatelsky Tsentr Po Obezvrezhiv Aniju Rao I Okhrane Okruzhajuschei Sredy (Mosnpo “Radon”)
    Inventors: Igor Andreevich Sobolev, Sergei Alexandrovich Dmitriev, Fedor Anatolievich Lifanov, Alexandr Pavlovich Kobelev, Alexandr Evgenievich Savkin, Vladimir Nikolaevich Zakharenko, Vladimir Ivanovich Korney, Oleg Anatolievich Knvazey
  • Patent number: 6598547
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for disposing of hazardous or high-energy materials, in which the latter are caused to undergo a reaction in a pressure-proof housing under controlled conditions, the end products of which reaction are non-hazardous, as well as an apparatus for disposing of hazardous or high-energy materials with a pressure-proof housing in which the materials may be caused to undergo a reaction under controlled conditions, the end products of which reaction are non-hazardous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Freimut Marold, Friedrich Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20030051648
    Abstract: An incinerator, capable of withstanding internal shocks from projectiles resulting from the combustion of energetic materials, is made of a primary combustion chamber where the material is burned, and a secondary chamber to reburn at a higher temperature the gases emanating from the primary chamber. The incinerator has a heating or separation plate, having a flowing-material funnel facilitating the removal of waste solids, to provide heat exchange between the primary combustion chamber and a heating chamber, to protect the heating elements against projectiles, and to restrain any projectiles from exiting the unit. To increase the level of safety of operation, this incinerator is remotely controlled, has a sequence of ignition and has overpressure apertures over the primary chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Tom W. Braithwaite, Derick R. Ivany
  • Publication number: 20030024853
    Abstract: A process of oxidizing an ash and sulfur containing fuel such as coal in order to power gas turbines using a material such as the oxides of iron which in an oxidized state can be readily reduced and which in a reduced state is readily oxidized. Preferably, the oxides of iron are circulated between two fluid bed reactors and reduced by the ash and sulfur containing fuel in the first said fluid bed reactor and oxidized by air in the second said fluid bed reactor, with ash and SO2 in the gases leaving chiefly from the first said fluid bed reactor. The temperature is controlled within the second said fluid bed reactor by use of a clean fuel and the rate of addition of the ash and sulfur containing fuel to the second fluid bed is controlled so as to limit the amount of SO2 in the gases leaving the second said fluid bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Richard K. Lyon
  • Patent number: 6502520
    Abstract: An incineration and melting furnace has a furnace main body that is filled with a conductive heat generation body (for example, graphite). Radioactive combustible materials in contact with the conductive heat generation body are burnt and the radiaoactive incombustible materials are melted. The resultant exhaust gases and the molten products flow downwardly in the conductive heat generation body filled region and flow out of a molten product discharging port. Noxious gases such as dioxins contained in the exhaust gases are thermally decomposed into a non-toxic state in a high temperature portion of the conductive heat generation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nishi, Hideo Hashida, Toshiaki Matsuo, Takeyuki Kondo, Masami Matsuda, Kiyotaka Ueda
  • Patent number: 6431094
    Abstract: The reactive waste deactivation facility includes a plurality of deactivation bays each being adapted to accommodate a different type or reactive waste which is to be deactivated therein. The deactivation bays are all enclosed within a common expansion chamber that is designed to collect waste gasses and other wastes resulting from the deactivations that take place in the plurality of bays. In addition, an air pollution control system is provided for cooling and treating the waste gasses before they are vented to the atmosphere. The facility may also include a remotely operable waste feeding system for enabling an operator to safely feed or charge each of the bays. A waste collection and removal system is also provided, which includes an individual, remotely operable, releaseable floor connected to each of the bays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Gregg
  • Patent number: 6360678
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for crushing waste gas cans between a pair of rotating rollers installed in a treatment chamber and removing the residual gas and residual liquid from the waste gas cans. The atmosphere in each of a waste gas can loading chamber, which is adjacent to the treatment chamber, the treatment chamber and a discharge chamber is replaced with an inert gas, thereby maintaining the oxygen concentration in the treatment chamber within a low range in which the residual gas will not burn explosively. Crushing of the waste gas cans is carried out while the oxygen concentration in the treatment chamber is within the low range. The pair of rotating rollers have two rotating shafts disposed approximately parallel to each other and sprocket wheels disposed on each rotating shaft at regular spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignees: Fuji Car Mfg. Co., Ltd., Iwatani International Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuo Komatsu, Tatsuhiko Hashimoto, Yuji Komori, Junji Saida, Yasumasa Idei
  • Patent number: 6354181
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the destruction of terrorist weapons, including explosives chemical and biological agents, by detonation in an enclosed double-walled steel explosion chamber having its walls, access door and floor filled with granular shock damping material. The chamber is vented through orifices into vent pipes which converge in a manifold which exhausts into an expansion tank or scrubber for cooling, testing, and environmental treatment of the explosion products. A weapon to be destroyed is placed into the chamber with a donor explosive charge and held in place by a disintegratable string hammock, along with one or more plastic polymer film bags containing water. After closing the access door, the donor charge is detonated by an electrical detonation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: John L. Donovan
  • Patent number: 6352040
    Abstract: A mobile armored incinerator apparatus on a trailer which can be driven to a site to burn explosive materials safely to eliminate noxious particulates and liquids. A primary combustion chamber has a rectangular shape with an internal telescoping loading cart. A secondary combustion chamber having a cylindrical shape is connected to the primary combustion chamber by a dust and as ash separator unit or duct which has baffles and air jets for separating ash particles from the exhaust exiting from the first chamber. The secondary combustion chamber then completes the combustion of the exhaust gases. The hot parts of the apparatus are made touchable with an aluminum sheeting shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventors: Randall P. Voorhees, Joseph E. Voorhees
  • Patent number: 6195382
    Abstract: A molten metal reactor (10) includes a reactor vessel having a heating section (11) formed from a dielectric material. The reactor vessel also includes a reaction section (12) connected to heating section (11). An induction heating coil (18) is associated with the reactor vessel heating section (11) and produces an electromagnetic field within a field area (19). A portion of the field extends through the heating section (11) for inductively heating a reactant metal (14) contained in the heating section, while a dielectric spacing material (25) positioned around induction heating coil (18) isolates electrically conductive materials from the induction heating field (19). A circulating arrangement (20) circulates molten reactant metal between the heating section (11) and reaction section (12) to react waste material introduced into the reactor in the reaction section, outside of the induction heating field (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Clean Technologies International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6173662
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus, and method of operation, for controlling and suppressing the explosive destruction of munitions by detonation in an explosion chamber. The apparatus comprises a double-walled steel explosion chamber which is moved by wheeled carriage means to a desired location. Granular shock-damping silica sand is introduced into fillable cavities within the chamber walls, ceiling and floor prior to use. After use, the sand is removed to lighten the chamber prior to transport. The floor of the chamber is covered with granular shock-damping pea gravel which may be added before use and removed before further transport. A munition to be destroyed is placed within an open-topped steel fragmentation containment unit. Vaporizable plastic bags of energy-absorbing water are disposed about the munition in a spaced array. An array of vent pipes vents the chamber into manifolds leading to an expansion tank or scrubber for further cooling and environmental treatment of the explosion products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventor: John L. Donovan
  • Patent number: 6101957
    Abstract: An apparatus for the disposal of solid rocket motors which produce exhaust ases containing flammable and/or explosive products. The solid rocket motor to be burned is first detachably connected to and inserted in one end of an elongated mixing chamber which has, at an opposite end, a multi-step expansion nozzle. The rocket motor is then ignited and the exhaust gas is passed into the mixing chamber, which is sufficiently large to reduce the velocity of exhaust gases from supersonic to subsonic. Air is injected into the mixing chamber to react with flammable and/or explosive products in the exhaust gases and the resultant mixture is then discharged from the mixing chamber through a multi-step expansion nozzle to expand the gaseous mixture and, at the same time, produce substantial turbulence within the gas mixture which is about six times higher than the turbulence levels produced by a constant area circular nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Wilson, Eric D. Erickson, Klaus C. Schadow
  • Patent number: RE36912
    Abstract: .[.A method and apparatus for enclosing, controlling and suppressing the detonation of explosives in an explosion chamber is disclosed. The device comprises an elongate double-walled steel explosion chamber anchored to a concrete foundation, and having a double-walled access door for charging new workpieces, and a double-walled vent door for discharging the products of the explosion. The double walls of the chamber, access door and vent door are filled with granular shock damping material such as silica sand, and the floor of the chamber is covered with granular shock-damping bed such as pea gravel. Along the outside of the chamber are steel manifolds from which a linear array of vent pipes penetrates the double walls of the chamber, with each pipe terminating in a hardened steel orifice through which the explosion combustion products pass. Within the chamber, plastic polymer film bags containing water are suspended from steel wires over the explosive material, and at each end of the chamber..]. .Iadd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: ABC-Naco Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Donovan