Pressurized radioactive gas treatment system

摘要

A system for collecting, transferring and storing radioactive gas released from other radioactive materials. In the described process, gas pump (24) removes gas from a headspace volume within an unvented radioactive material storage vessel (8). The gas is cooled in an aftercooler (28) and discharged into a receiver (32). As pressure in receiver (32) increases, compressed gas is transferred to a selected pressurized decay vessel (44 or 50), in which the radioactive gas remains for a predetermined decay period. After expiration of decay period, decayed gas is either recycled back to the radioactive material storage vessel (8) via recycled gas recirculation line (52) and pressure reducing valve (54), or is discharged to atmosphere through an activated carbon and high-efficiency particulate filters (48), removing remaining undecayed radioactive gas and particulate daughter products. Headspace pressure within unvented material storage vessel (8) is maintained by means of pressure controlled recirculation of gas from receiver (32) through recirculation line (36) and pressure control valve (38).