Melting apparatus for melt decontamination of radioactive metal waste

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9253825-B2
Application number	US-201313871051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2013
Priority date	May 3, 2012
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A melting apparatus for melt-decontaminating radioactive metal waste includes a melting furnace, a high frequency generator, a ladle, a bogie, a cooling unit and a dust collector. In detail, the melting furnace includes a crucible into which the metal waste is input, and an induction coil which is wound around the crucible to melt the metal waste. The induction coil has a hollow hole in which cooling fluid flows. The high frequency generator applies high-frequency current to the induction coil. The ladle supplies molten metal, from which slag has been removed in the crucible, into molds. The bogie is disposed adjacent to the ladle and is provided with the molds, each of which forms an ingot using the molten metal supplied thereinto. The cooling unit cools the cooling fluid and circulates it along the induction coil. The dust collector filters out dust and purifies gas.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A melting apparatus for melt-decontaminating radioactive metal waste, the melting apparatus comprising:
a melting furnace comprising
a crucible into which a metal waste is input, and
an induction coil wound around the crucible and having a hollow hole in a center therealong, wherein a high-frequency current flows through the induction coil to melt the metal waste in the melting furnace and a cooling fluid flows through the hollow hole to reduce heat generated in the induction coil;

a high frequency generator applying the high-frequency current to the induction coil;
a ladle of which a lower portion is firmly fixed in a position adjacent to the melting furnace such that a molten metal is directly supplied from the crucible to the ladle, the ladle supplying the molten metal, from the crucible, into molds while the lower portion is fixed in the position;
a bogie disposed adjacent to the ladle so as to be movable in a horizontal direction, the bogie being provided with the molds, each of which forms an ingot using the molten metal supplied thereinto by the ladle;
a cooling unit cooling the cooling fluid and circulating the cooling fluid along the hollow hole of the induction coil; and
a dust collector provided in the melting furnace, the dust collector filtering out dust and purifying gas generated while melting the metal waste, before discharging the gas,
wherein the molds are provided on the bogie such that each of the molds is able to be turned upside down and includes a rotational shaft on which the each of the molds rotates, a lever protruding from a side surface of the each of the molds, a fixing bracket for coupling to an adjacent mold.

2. The melting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bogie is provided on a guide rail so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, the bogie being operated by a motor.

3. The melting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the melting furnace comprises:
a first support member rotatably supporting a first rotational shaft provided on the melting furnace; and
a rotation drive unit rotating the melting furnace around the first rotational shaft.

4. The melting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the ladle comprises:
a second support member disposed in the lower portion of the ladle and rotatably supporting a second rotational shaft provided on the ladle; and
a second rotation drive unit rotating the ladle around the second rotational shaft.

Assignees

• Kepco Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cho Suk Ju
• Lee Young Bae
• Seol Jeung Gun
• Kim Yong Jae
• Han Wook Jin
• Ryu Jae Bong
• Kang Hyun Gyu

Classifications

• B22D15/00 Primary

  Casting using a mould or core of which a part significant to the process is of high thermal conductivity, e.g. chill casting; Moulds or accessories specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• F27D25/00

  Devices {or methods} for removing incrustations {, e.g. slag, metal deposits, dust; Devices or methods for preventing the adherence of slag} · CPC title

• G21F9/308

  by melting the waste (G21F9/305, G21F9/32 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05B6/28 Primary

  Protective systems · CPC title

• G21F9/34 Primary

  Disposal of solid waste · CPC title