RADIOACTIVE SHIPPING CONTAINER WITH NEUTRON AND GAMMA ABSORBERS

• US 3,780,306 A
• Filed: 05/27/1971
• Issued: 12/18/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuclear Assurance Corp.
• Original Assignee: Clifford J. Anderson, Reuben W. Peterson
• Inventors: Anderson, Clifford J., Peterson, Reuben W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, James W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Harold A.
• Application Number:
  US05/147,519
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 250/89,84.5,108,18R
• US Class Current: 250/428
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/005 Containers for solid radioactive wastes, e.g. for ultimate disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/10 Heat-removal systems, e.g. using circulating fluid or cooling fins

Abstract

The shipping container includes inner and outer shell means having gamma radiation shielding means disposed between the shell means. Neutron radiation shielding means is disposed outwardly of the gamma radiation shielding means. Heat conducting means is disposed in engagement with the outer shell means and is interspaced with the neutron radiation shielding means to conduct heat therethrough.

Claims

1. A shipping container for radioactive material comprising body means including inner shell means and outer shell means disposed in spaced relationship to said inner shell means, gamma radiation shielding means formed of dense material and disposed between said inner and outer shell means, neutron radiation shielding means disposed outwardly of said gamma radiation shielding means and being formed of hydrogenous material, and heat conducting means formed of a material of high thermal conductivity and arranged in contact with said outer shell means, said heat conducting means being interspaced with said neutron radiation shielding means, said heat conducting means and said neutron radiation shielding means being characterized by a construction and arrangement designed to provide an indirect neutron path from said inner shell means to said outer shell means for preventing excessive neutron streaming, the heat conducting means and neutron radiation shielding means including portions disposed in an annular area co-extensive with said outer shell means.

2. A shipping container as defined in claim 1 wherein said hydrogenous material is a solid elastomeric substance.

3. A shipping container as defined in claim 1 wherein said neutron radiation shielding means is disposed outwardly of said outer shell means.

4. A shipping container as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat conducting means are constructed and arranged as a plurality of relatively thin fins disposed in closely spaced relationship to one another to provide said indirect neutron path, said fins being fixed to and extending outwardly from said outer shell means.

5. A shipping container as defined in claim 4 wherein said fins include integral spacer portions for providing thermal bonding or contact with the outer shell means for adequate heat transfer from the outer shell means to said fins.

6. A shipping container as defined in claim 1 including intermediate shell means disposed between said inner and outer shell means and spaced therefrom, heat conducting means between said intermediate and outer shell means and in contact therewith said hydrogenous material comprising a liquid and being disposed between said intermediate shell means and said outer shell means.

7. A shipping container as defined in claim 6 wherein said liquid is in contact with said gamma radiation shielding means.

8. A shipping container as defined in claim 6 including foraminous support means connected between said intermediate shell means and said outer shell means.

9. A shipping container as defined in claim 6 wherein said heat conducting means includes a plurality of elongated heat conductors connected between said intermediate shell means and said outer shell means, said heat conductors each including portions disposed at an angle to one another in the longitudinal direction to prevent neutron streaming therethrough.

10. A shipping container as defined in claim 6 wherein said intermediate shell means is defined by a portion of a plurality of heat conductors connected to the inner surface of the outer shell means, said liquid also being in contact with said gamma radiation sHielding means.

11. A shipping container as defined in claim 6 wherein said heat conducting means comprises a plurality of bar heat conductors constructed and arranged in staggered relationship to each other to prevent neutron streaming, said bar heat conductors connected between said intermediate shell means and said outer shell means.

12. A shipping container as defined in claim 6 wherein said heat conducting means are constructed and arranged as a plurality of strip heat conductors of generally arcuate configuration to prevent neutron streaming said strip heat conductors connected between said intermediate shell means and said outer shell means.

13. A shipping container as defined in claim 6 wherein said heat conducting means are constructed and arranged as a plurality of rod heat conductors of curved configuration to prevent neutron radiation said rod heat conductors connected between said intermediate shell means and said outer shell means.

14. A shipping container for radioactive material, comprising an elongate body including an outer shell having side wall regions defining the major outer surface area of said body, an inner shell nested within said outer shell and defining a cavity for radioactive material within said body, each said inner shell and said outer shell being formed of material having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity and each having side wall means defining a space circumscribing said inner shell;

heat transfer means for transferring heat by conduction uninterruptedly from said side wall means of said inner shell to said side wall means of said outer shell, said heat transfer means including, in combination, a collar of gamma radiation shielding material surrounding said side wall means of said inner shell and located within said space, and a series of spaced heat-conducting fins circumscribing the side wall means and projecting outwardly therefrom, and neutron radiation shielding means surrounding said gamma radiation shielding material said neutron radiation shielding means comprising a series of collars embracing said side wall means of the outer shell and filling the spaces between said fins.

15. A shipping container for radioactive material, comprising an elongate body including an outer shell having side wall regions defining the major outer surface area of said body, an inner shell nested within said outer shell and defining a cavity for radioactive material within said body, each said inner shell and said outer shell being formed of material having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity and each having side wall means defining a space circumscribing said inner shell;

heat transfer means for transferring heat by conduction uninterruptedly from said side wall means of said inner shell to said side wall means of said outer shell, said heat transfer means including, in combination, a collar of gamma radiation shielding material surrounding said side wall means of said inner shell and located within said space; and

a series of spaced members projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said side wall means of said outer shell, said spaced members comprising annular plates provided with laterally directed heat-conducting flanges along their inner edges arranged collectively to form an intermediate shell between said inner and outer shell means, and neutron radiation shielding means surrounding said gamma radiation shielding material, said neutron radiation shielding means comprising a liquid contained within said outer shell.