Patent Number: 042773610
Section: claims

1. In a reprocessing plant for depleted fuel rods, the combination of: a plurality of quasi-hermetically sealed compartments in which appropriate steps of the reprocessing are conducted;  an air processing facility for each said quasi-hermetically sealed compartment;  at least one means for introducing air into the combination of said quasi-hermetically sealed compartment and its air processing facility;  an exhaust manifold system for withdrawing stale air from each of a plurality of said quasi-hermetically sealed compartments and directing such stale air to a central air cleaner;  a central air cleaner for the stale air collected by said exhaust manifold system;  turnover rate control means for each said quasi-hermetically sealed compartment maintaining the air inventory turnover rate in said combination of quasi-hermetically sealed compartment and its air processing facility at one turnover in a time interval greater than one day but less than one year, such turnover rate defining the quasi-hermetic sealing of the compartment; and  filtering means and cooling means in each said air processing facility adapted uniquely to deal with the air characteristics recirculated to its corresponding quasi-hermetically sealed compartment. 2. The reprocessing plant of claim 1 in which at least one specialized air processing facility includes means for filtering iodine vapor whereby the air entering the exhaust manifold system contains significantly less radioactive iodine than if such localized filter were not used. 3. The reprocessing plant of claim 1 in which at least one specialized air processing facility includes means for filtering krypton, whereby the air entering the exhaust manifold system contains significantly less radioactive krypton than if such localized filter were not used. 4. The reprocessing plant of claim 1 in which at least one specialized air processing facility includes means for filtering tritium, whereby the air entering the exhaust manifold system contains significantly less tritium than if such localized filter were not used. 5. The reprocessing plant of claim 1 in which at least one specialized air processing facility includes means for filtering compounds containing carbon, whereby the air entering the exhaust manifold system contains significantly less carbon-14 than if such localized filter were not used.