Patent Number: 052876764
Section: summary

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a Continuation of International Application Serial No. PCT/DE91/00347, filed Apr. 25, 1991. The invention relates to a device for handling liquid radioactive waste that is poured into a container and heated there for drying. Such a device is known from German Patent DE 32 00 331 C2, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,414, for example. However, those publications completely fail to address the way in which the electrical heating devices are constructed. Transportation of the containers is likewise not taken into account in the diagrammatic drawing seen therein. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device for handling radioactive waste, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which solves the problems of heating and transporting the container. Handling of the container should be especially simple in view of radiation exposure, without making the expenditure for the device overly high. With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for handling liquid radioactive waste, comprising a main heater for heating and drying liquid radioactive waste being poured into a container; a pallet, which is preferably formed of metal, for receiving the container; a ground vehicle for transporting the pallet; and a supplementary heater being part of the pallet. In particular, a shielded container or a final disposal container is used. Through the use of the invention, it is possible to dispense with one operation. At least the loading and unloading of a transport device at some point provided for heating is dispensed with. Moreover, the invention can be advantageously further developed in manifold ways, as will be described in detail below. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the ground vehicle is a hovercraft transporter, for example. As is well known, this is a vehicle that slides above the ground on a layer of air. The hovercraft transporter is driven over the ground with a compressed-air-actuated friction wheel and thus can be moved to all sides. This accordingly makes it possible to maneuver within minimal space. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the hovercraft is driven with externally generated compressed air. The compressed air is then delivered through a hose that is flexible enough not to impair mobility. In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the hovercraft has an operating panel so that it is simple to control on site. An electrical vehicle, such as a rail-driven vehicle, may also be used instead. In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the supplemental heater on the pallet is provided for the bottom of the container, while a standard heater can be applied, for instance with a movable heating mantle, on the side wall of the container. In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the heating mantle has two shells that are pivotable in a horizontal plane, because this makes it easy to apply the heating mantle. This is particularly true for the case where the shells are incorporated in a drying station in such a way that the pallet fits between the swiveled-open shells. They can then be taken directly to the correct location with the ground vehicle. A stationary installation makes the heater part of a drying station. In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, two drying stations are disposed next to one another with associated pallets in the drying stations and are served by the same ground vehicle. Major processing capacity is thus attained at little expense. In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the drying station has a filling adapter that can be inserted into the lid of the container, to save one further transport operation. In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the filling adapter includes an inlet tube, a fill level gauge, and a suction device for vapors, because this combines the essential functions necessary for a drying operation into one. The drying can be prepared for with a single connection procedure. In accordance with again another feature of the invention, there is provided a drive for transporting lids or parts of lids, and a motor-actuatable screwing apparatus associated with the drive, for sealing the shielded container. In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the drive and the screwing apparatus are actuatable with the same driving energy, preferably compressed air. In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the drive is an actuating drive. Another feature of the invention is that for sealing the container, an actuating drive is provided for transporting lids or lid parts, and that a motor-actuated screwing device is associated with the actuating drive. It is recommended that the actuating drive and the screwing device be actuated with the same driving energy, such as compressed air. Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a device for handling radioactive waste, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with accompanying drawing.