EP2126929A1

EP2126929A1 - Device and method for treating a unit contaminated with radioactive emitting materials

Info

Publication number: EP2126929A1
Application number: EP08748689A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franz-Josef Salber
Original assignee: Isa-Engineering & Co KG GmbH
Current assignee: Isa-Engineering & Co KG GmbH
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2009-12-02
Also published as: DE112008001070A5; DE102007008972A1; DE202007018443U1; WO2008101489A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for treating a unit contaminated with radioactive emitting materials, in particular a storage and/or transport container for housing and/or transport of radioactive emitting materials, in particular in a sealed chamber, more particularly a vacuum chamber, wherein the device comprises a robot and/or a manipulator, in particular, a multi-axis robot, for treating the container with one or more types of treatment. The robot and/or the manipulator has one or more in particular exchangeable laser beam treatment devices, which may be operated in combination or alternately and each with given working values, in particular, laser power and/or laser wavelength, which are to be matched to the relevant type of processing.

Description

Apparatus and method for processing radioactive radiation

Materials loaded unit

The invention relates to a device for processing a loaded with radioactive materials unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container for receiving and / or transport of radioactive materials, in particular in a sealed chamber, in particular a vacuum chamber, a method of processing a loaded with radioactive materials, unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container for receiving and / or transporting radiolucent Materia- 'lien, in particular in a sealed chamber, in particular a vacuum chamber, and a use of a robot, in particular one multi-axis robot.

In reprocessing plants for radioactively contaminated materials, a unit loaded with radioactive materials, in particular storage and / or transport containers for receiving and / or transporting radioactive materials, is regularly cleaned by means of expensive wet processes using water or other liquids. However, as are exposed by the containers in particular in a glazing plant by filling the hot glassy radioactive waste in the containers very high temperatures, for example, surfaces of the containers strongly adhering and partially diffused into the material layers, for example, from Metallalloxiden, using the usual cleaning not always completely or can be removed only with great effort.

Another disadvantage is that large amounts of liquid waste arise, which in turn contains radioactive substances, so that additional waste is produced and this in turn must be disposed of in a complex reprocessing process. The object of the present invention is therefore to proceed in the processing of a loaded with radioactive materials, unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container for receiving and / or transport of radioactive materials so that a flexible processing with small amounts of waste possible becomes.

As a solution, a device for processing a loaded with radioactive materials, unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container for receiving and / or transport of radiolucent materials, in particular in a sealed chamber, in particular a vacuum chamber, said Device comprises a robot and / or a manipulator, in particular a multi-axis robot, for processing the container with one or more types of processing, wherein the robot and / or the manipulator one or more particular interchangeable processing devices, which are operable in combination or alternatively, in particular Laser beam processing devices, and with each predetermined work values, in particular laser power and / or laser wavelength, are adapted to the respective type of processing set up.

By this device, it is possible to ensure a nearly contactless and fast processing of the containers, with no waste liquids incurred. As a result of the contactless working, essentially no radioactive load is applied to the robot or the manipulator and the processing tools, so that a possible repair is simplified.

Moreover, the chamber in which the processing of the containers due to the radioactive load must be made smaller, which also decrease the areas to be decontaminated and reduce the environmental impact of a chamber cleaning or a chamber remodeling. In particular, the use of the device in a vitrification plant in a reprocessing plant is advantageous because, for example due to the high glass transition temperatures when it is filled into the containers, tarnishing of the surface and diffusion of radioactive substances can take place quickly and a low-waste and thorough cleaning and Editing is very important.

This is especially true when the container is a mold, in particular made of stainless steel, in the first glazing in the glazing plant hot glazed material, in particular comprising highly radioactive cleavage products to fill. On the stainless steel body, an oxide layer forms on the outer surface, which can be eliminated by the proposed device quickly, safely and low waste. In addition, can

The types of processing by the processing devices, which are set up in particular on the robot hand, in particular the laser processing devices, are exemplary:

- Welding, in particular TIG welding and / or laser welding with a predetermined laser power, in particular welding a container lid with a container body, and / or

- Cleaning or decontamination of a surface of the container with a laser beam and / or

- Marking the surface of the container with a laser beam.

When welding by means of the laser, a high operating speed is achieved and the energy is strongly concentrated so that adjacent areas are thermally only slightly loaded.

The marking can be carried out without contact by means of the laser, is durable, abrasion-resistant and temperature-resistant, without any further radioactively activatable substances being applied. In addition, the method is to be used on a wide variety of surfaces. The cleaning by means of the laser has the great advantage that it produces no contaminated wastewater compared to conventional wet methods using brushing / ultrasound or rinsing. In addition, this secondary waste creates high energy consumption and high material usage. The laser cleaning removes the radioactive dirt and the oxide layer or the tarnishing colors. The abrupt evaporation causes the surface layer to burst off.

It is advantageous if material blown off by the laser machining is to be sucked off via a suction device, in particular in connection with the laser processing device, and in particular is to be fed to a filter, wherein the distance up to the container surface is particularly advantageously about 500 mm.

It is advantageous if the robot and / or the manipulator is equipped with a changing device for changing the processing devices and the exchanged processing devices, in particular laser processing devices, are advantageously to be provided on a particularly separate tray

It is advantageous if the robot is equipped with a hose package for in particular the laser light guide, inert gas conductor and / or compressed air conductor, wherein in particular the laser cables are held on a boom with a balancer.

It is advantageous if the laser beam sources are arranged outside the chamber, preferably in an intervention space and / or operating room, and the laser light guides are to be guided from there into the chamber by means of wall openings preferably sealed against a predetermined difference in air pressure and the control devices, switching devices and / or energy supply devices outside the chamber, preferably in the intervention space and / or operating room, are set up and the electric cables are to be guided over preferably sealed against a predetermined pressure difference wall bushings in the chamber. This makes a simple repair possible and the large devices are not contaminated. It is advantageous if the robot is movable on rails on a chassis and in particular in the respective working position can be locked and in particular in an adjacent intervention space and / or operating space along the rails can be transferred.

It is advantageous if the robot is mounted mounted on a tracked vehicle device. The tracked vehicle can also remotely reach remote areas.

It is advantageous if a turntable for rotating the container to be processed, which are in particular cylindrical, is provided for processing by the robot, wherein in particular a plurality of containers are to be positioned thereon in such a way that they move in succession by rotating the turntable into the processing position bring. The turntable for rotating the container can also be used independently of the robot, for example, in conjunction with a tool which can be moved down from the ceiling, in particular remotely controlled.

It is advantageous if the container is to be positioned on the turntable by means of a container gripper and removed therefrom.

It is advantageous if a magazine, in particular a shielded magazine, in particular a magazine, which is provided in a recess in a bottom of the chamber, is provided for shutdown and cooling of the processed containers in the chamber. The shielded magazine buried in the ground is also advantageous for use independently of the robot since it provides reliable shielding against the escape of hot substance or radiation, thus facilitating handling of the cooled container.

It is advantageous if a lid magazine is provided for providing the lid to be applied to the container body. The object is also achieved by a method for processing a loaded with radioactive materials, unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container for receiving and / or transport of radioactive materials, in particular in a sealed chamber, in particular a vacuum chamber, wherein for machining a robot and / or a manipulator is provided, in particular a multi-axis robot, with one or more laser processing modes that are used in combination or alternatively, and work with each predetermined work values, in particular laser power and / or laser wavelength to the respective processing, in particular with a device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 15.

Method for processing a unit loaded with radioactive materials, in particular a storage and / or transport container for receiving and / or transporting radioactive materials, in particular in a closed chamber, in particular a vacuum chamber, wherein after a Einschleusungsvorgang of the container the container is placed for cooling in a shielded magazine in a bottom of the chamber and / or on a turntable for processing with a tool, in particular a welding tool and / or that the machining is performed with a robot and / or a manipulator, in particular a multi-axis Robot, with one or more laser processing modes, which are used in combination or alternatively, and each with predetermined working values, in particular laser power and / or laser wavelength, adapted to the respective processing work, in particular with a device na ch any of the preceding claims 1 to 15.

The object is likewise achieved by using a robot, in particular a multi-axis robot, and / or a manipulator for processing a unit charged with radioactive materials, in particular a storage and / or transport container for receiving and / or transporting radioactive radiation Materials, in particular in a closed chamber, in particular a vacuum chamber, in a glazing Processing plant, by means of a laser beam processing device, in particular for contactless decontamination, labeling and welding of the container, in particular according to a method according to claim 16 or 17 and in particular using a device according to one of claims 1 to 15.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description in which embodiments of the subject invention in conjunction with the drawings are explained in more detail.

Show it:

1a shows a sequence of schematic processing steps of a container,

1b shows a sequence of schematic processing steps of a container, FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a device for processing,

3 is a sectional view of a mold,

4 is a schematic plan view of a device in a chamber,

5 is a schematic side view of a device in a chamber,

6 shows a schematic side view of a device in a chamber, FIG. 7 shows a schematic side view of a device in a chamber,

8a is a longitudinal section through a chamber with a device,

Fig. 8b shows a cross section through a chamber with a device and

9 shows a device on a tracked vehicle device.

1a shows a sequence of schematic processing steps of a container 1. First, the still hot container 1 is deposited by means of a manipulator in the form of a container gripper 24 on a turntable 23. By means of a further manipulator 25, which may also be connected to a robot hand, not shown, a container lid 7 is placed on the still unclosed container body 8. The lid 7 is then by means of a MIG and / or TIG welding device and / or a laser processing device 4, the Welding is adapted to be welded to the container body 8. In this case, the container 1 can be rotated by means of the turntable 23 so that at any time an optimal angular position for processing between the welding device, in particular the laser processing device 4 and the container 1 is achieved.

Subsequently, by means of an exchanged laser processing device 26, a lettering and, with a further exchanged processing device, in particular a laser processing device 27, a cleaning of the surface 9 of the container 1 is carried out.

FIG. 1 b shows, in a sequence of schematic processing steps of a container 1, how this cleaning can also be carried out at the bottom of the container 1 by lifting by means of the container gripper 24. Subsequently, the degree of cleaning can be checked by means of a wiping test 29 by means of a manipulator and the finished container 1 can be removed.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a device for processing. In safety chamber 2 with vacuum devices there is a robot 3, which processes a container 1 by means of a laser processing device 4 on a robot hand 6. The robot 3 can be mounted on a chassis 22 for movement on rails. As exemplified, the laser beam can be supplied with laser light via a laser light guide 14, which is fastened to a boom 15. Via a wall duct 18, the laser conductor 14 is connected to a laser beam source 16 accommodated in an intervention space and / or operating space 17. In this intervention space and / or operating room 17 there is by way of example also a control device 19 or control cabinet for controlling and operating the robot 3 and the periphery.

3 shows a sectional view of a mold, a preferred container 1 for storing vitrified radioactive material, with a container lid 7 and a container body 8. The container body 8 is provided in such a way in its bottom portion 28 with a hollow that it has a lid portion of a another container 1 can accommodate space-saving stacking. Even such a complex design of the outer shape of the container can be safely and easily cleaned with the proposed method.

4 shows a schematic plan view of a device in a chamber 2. The robot 3 processes a container 1 by means of a laser processing device 4. The robot 3 is movably mounted on rails 21 by means of a chassis 22. By a suction device 10 on the robot hand 6 of the robot 3, the resulting dirt is sucked and fed to a filter. The laser processing devices can be stored in a tray 12.

The space required for the entire device is only a fraction of the methods and apparatus required for the prior art methods.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view of a device in a chamber 2. The robot is located in a chamber 2, in which a hanging manipulator 25 for transporting the containers 1 is housed. The laser beam is supplied via a laser light guide 14 from a laser beam source 16 from an intervention space and / or operating room 17. However, the laser light guide and electric cable 20 can also be combined in a hose package 13. As a result, the wall bushing 18 is simplified.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of a device in a chamber 2. The laser beam processing device 4 can be stored for example in a tray 12 above the robot and replaced if necessary against another laser beam processing device on the robot hand.

Shown is also a possible attachment of a laser beam processing device 4 to a manipulator 25, which is inserted laterally into the chamber 2.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic side view of a device in a chamber 2. About a Behältniseinschleuse 31 by means of a crane 30, a container 1 in the Chamber 2 transported. The manipulator transports a laser beam processing device 4, for example, for replacement or repair. On the robot hand 6 there is a changing device 11 for changing laser processing devices 4.

Fig. 8a shows a longitudinal section through a chamber 2 with a device for processing and Fig. 8b shows a cross section. First, containers 1 are lifted into the chamber 2 with a container gripper 24 through a wall feedthrough 18. The containers 1 are then placed in a shielded magazine 33 in the bottom 28 of the chamber 2 to allow safe cooling. For this purpose, a cover 34 can be used on the magazine 33 for improved protection. Finally, the container 1 is placed on the turntable 23 and a container lid 7 is welded to the container body 8 of the container 1. This can, for example, be remotely controlled via a tool on the robot hand 6 of the robot 3, in particular in a TIG welding device with a feed or a laser welding device, in particular from the operating room 17. Finally, the decontamination takes place by means of the laser beam from a laser source 16 of the robot 3 and possibly a label of the container 1. Subsequently, the container is conveyed for example by a container lock 31, in particular a rotary lock, in a neighboring room and by a force manipulator in a Castorbehälter.

9 shows a robot 3 on a tracked vehicle device 32. The robot 3 may in turn comprise a tool changing device, in particular with a laser 27 for decontamination of in particular contaminated stationary devices and / or a separating device for separating parts. By the freely movable tracked vehicle device, the robot can be remotely brought very close to large equipment to be processed, without the staff is at risk. The device is in particular for the decontamination of a nuclear power plant to be dismantled to use. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 storage and / or transport container

2 chamber

3 robots

4 laser beam processing device

5 glazing plant

6 robot hand

7 container lid

8 container body

9 surface

10 suction device

11 changing device

12 storage

13 hose package

14 laser light guides

15 outriggers

16 laser beam source

17 Intervention room and / or operating room

18 wall ducts

19 control device

20 electric cables

21 rails

22 chassis

23 turntable

24 container gripper

25 manipulator

26 Laser processing device for labeling

27 Laser processing device for cleaning ground

Gooping

crane

Behältniseinschleuse

Chain-vehicle equipment

magazine

cover

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a loaded with radioactive materials, unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container (1) for receiving and / or transport of radioactive materials, in particular in a sealed chamber (2), in particular one Vacuum chamber, characterized in that the device comprises a robot (3) and / or a manipulator (25), in particular a multi-axis robot, for processing the unit, in particular of the container (1) with one or more types of processing, wherein the robot (3 ) and / or the manipulator (25) one or more particular interchangeable processing devices, which are operable in combination or alternatively, in particular laser beam processing devices (4), and set up with each predetermined work values, in particular laser power and / or laser wavelength, adapted to the respective processing are.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein it is to be used in a glazing plant (5) in a reprocessing plant.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container is a mold, in particular made of stainless steel, in the glazing plant

(5) initially hot vitrified material, in particular comprising highly radioactive cleavage products, is to be filled.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the types of processing by the processing devices, in particular on the Robot hand (6) are arranged, in particular the laser processing devices (4), are exemplary:

- Welding, in particular TIG welding and / or laser welding with a predetermined laser power, in particular welding a container lid (7) with a container body (8), and / or - cleaning or decontamination of a surface (9) of the container (1) with a Laser beam and / or

- Marking the surface (9) of the container (1) with a laser beam.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that by the laser machining blasted material via a suction device (10), in particular in connection with the laser processing device (4), is to be sucked off and in particular a filter is to be supplied, wherein the distance to to the container surface (9) is particularly advantageous about 500 mm.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the robot (3) and / or the manipulator (25) is equipped with a changing device (11) for changing the processing devices and the exchanged processing devices, in particular laser processing devices (4). advantageous vorzuhalten on a particular separate tray (12).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the robot (3) is equipped with a hose package (13) for in particular the laser light guide (14), inert gas conductor and / or compressed air conductor, in particular the laser conductor (14) a boom (15) are held with a balancer.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the laser beam sources (16) outside the chamber (2), preferably in an intervention space and / or operating room (17) are arranged, and the laser light guide (14) from there by means preferably against a predetermined difference in air pressure sealed wall bushings (18) are to be led into the chamber (2).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control devices (19), switching devices and / or power supply devices outside the chamber (2), preferably in the intervention space and / or operating room (17) are to be set up and the electric cables (20) are to be guided over preferably sealed against a predetermined air pressure difference wall bushings in the chamber (2).

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the robot (3) on rails (21) on a chassis (22) is movable and in particular in the respective working position can be locked and in particular in a NEN adjacent intervention space and / or operating space (17) along the rails (21) can be transferred.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the robot (3) mounted on a tracked vehicle device (32) is movable.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a turntable (23) for rotation of the container to be processed (1), which are in particular cylindrical, for processing by a machining tool, in particular the robot (3) is, in particular, several containers (1) are to be positioned on it so that they are successively to bring by turning the turntable (23) in the processing position.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the container (1) by means of a container gripper (24) to be positioned thereon and to remove it.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a magazine in particular a shielded magazine, in particular a magazine, which is provided in a recess in a bottom of the chamber (2), for Shutdown and cooling of the processed containers (1) in the chamber (2) is provided.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a lid magazine for providing the on the container body (8) aufzu-bringing cover (7) is provided.

16. A method for processing a loaded with radioactive materials, unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container (1) for the reception and / or transport of radioactive materials, in particular in a sealed chamber (2), in particular a Vacuum chamber, characterized in that for processing a robot (3) and / or a manipulator (25) is provided, in particular a multi-axis robot (3), with one or more laser processing modes, which are used in combination or alternatively, and each with predetermined Working values, in particular laser power and / or laser wavelength, to work on the respective processing, in particular with a device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 15.

17. A method for processing a loaded with radioactive materials unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container (1) for receiving and / or transporting radioactive materials, in particular in a sealed chamber (2), in particular a vacuum chamber, wherein, after an introduction process of the container (1), the container (1) is set for cooling in a shielded magazine in a bottom of the chamber (2) and / or on a turntable (23) for processing with a tool, in particular a welding tool and / or that the processing is carried out with a robot (3) and / or a manipulator (25), in particular a multi-axis robot (3), with one or more laser processing modes that are used in combination or alternatively, and with each predetermined work values, in particular laser power and / or laser wavelength, adapted to the respective processing ar work, in particular with a device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 15.

18. Use of a robot (3), in particular a multi-axis robot (3), and / or a manipulator (25) for processing a loaded with radioactive materials unit, in particular a storage and / or transport container (1) for the Receiving and / or transporting radioactively radiating materials, in particular in a closed chamber (2), in particular a vacuum chamber, in a glazing plant (5) of a reprocessing plant, by means of a laser beam processing device (4), in particular for contactless decontamination, labeling and welding of the container ( 1), in particular by a method according to claim 16 or 17 and in particular using a device according to one of claims 1 to 15.