Container for radioactive waste

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10811154-B2
Application number	US-201816029786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2018
Priority date	Aug 12, 2010
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A method of forming a sealed canister and a method of storing radioactive materials is provided. The method of forming includes placing a top plate on a top opening of a side wall, a bottom of the side wall being sealed to a base plate. The top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with a channel set in from the top edge. Finally, a weld is formed between the beveled top edge and the top opening of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a sealed canister, the method comprising
placing a top plate on a top opening of a side wall, a bottom of the side wall being sealed to a base plate, wherein the top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with a channel set in from the top edge;
forming a weld between the beveled top edge and the top opening of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall;
placing a first probe in the channel and a second probe opposite the first probe and adjacent the side wall, such that the weld is disposed between the two probes;
activating the first and second probes to determine an integrity of a volume of the weld between the probes; and
moving the first and second probes synchronously around the top plate to determine the integrity of an entire volume of the weld.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base plate, side wall, and top plate form a hermetically sealed vessel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel is approximately as deep as the bevel extends below the top surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel is deeper than the bevel extends below the top surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bevel is formed as one of a J-cut or a half V-cut.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second probes comprise ultrasound probes.

7. A method of storing radioactive materials, the method comprising:
placing radioactive materials in a cavity formed by a side wall having a bottom sealed to a base plate;
placing a top plate on a top opening of the side wall, the top plate including a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with a channel set in from the top edge;
forming a weld between the beveled top edge and the top opening of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall, so that the cavity is sealed;
placing a first probe in the channel and a second probe opposite the first probe and adjacent the side wall, such that the weld is disposed between the two probes;
activating the first and second probes to determine an integrity of a volume of the weld between the probes; and
moving the first and second probes synchronously around the top plate to determine the integrity of an entire volume of the weld.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the channel is approximately as deep as the bevel extends below the top surface.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the channel is deeper than the bevel extends below the top surface.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bevel is formed as one of a J-cut or a half V-cut.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cavity is hermetically by the formed weld.

Assignees

• Holtec International

Inventors

• Singh Krishna P
• Griffiths John D
• Meckley Joseph A
• Agace Stephen J

Classifications

• G21F5/005 Primary

  Containers for solid radioactive wastes, e.g. for ultimate disposal · CPC title

• B23K2101/12

  Vessels · CPC title

• G21F5/12

  Closures for containers; Sealing arrangements · CPC title

• G21F9/34

  Disposal of solid waste · CPC title

• B23K2101/125

  Cans · CPC title