System for preventing inflation of radioactive bitumen coatings in containers uses material that is porous to gases but impermeable to bitumen

摘要

The system, used in the storage of low and medium-level radioactive waste mixed with a molten bitumen coating and poured into metal drum containers, comprises a material that is porous to gases but impermeable to liquid or solidified bitumen. The porous material traps the gases and allows them to be collected by a tube in the middle of the container and evacuated at the top. The plates are separated by radial spacers. The system, used in the storage of low and medium-level radioactive waste mixed with a molten bitumen coating and poured into metal drum containers (1) normally of 220 liters capacity, comprises a material (3) that is porous to gases but impermeable to liquid or solidified bitumen. The porous material, e.g. cellular concrete plates, traps the gases and allows them to be collected by a tube (4) in the middle of the container and evacuated at the top. The plates are separated by radial spacers (5) above and below them in the container.