SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A CONTAINER LOADED WITH WET RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS FOR DRY STORAGE

摘要

A system and method for preparing a container holding high level radioactive waste for dry storage. In one aspect, the invention is a method of preparing a canister having a cavity loaded with wet radioactive elements for dry storage, the method comprising: (a) providing a gas circulation system comprising a condensing module, a desiccant module, a gas circulator module; (b) connecting the gas circulation system to the canister so as to form a hermetically sealed closed-loop path that includes the cavity; (c) filling the hermetically sealed closed-loop path with a non-reactive gas; (d) circulating the non-reactive gas through the hermetically sealed closed-loop path until the condensing module is no longer removing substantial amounts of water from the circulating non-reactive gas, wherein the desiccant module is sealed off from the hermetically sealed closed-loop path during step (d); and (e) adding the desiccant module to the hermetically sealed closed-loop path and continuing to circulate the non-reactive gas through the hermetically sealed closed-loop path, the desiccant module dehumidifying the circulating the non-reactive gas. In another aspect, a system and method is disclosed wherein the second phase of drying is performed by a vacuum module rather than the desiccant module to achieve the desired dryness level, the vacuum module being switched into the closed loop after the first phase of drying is completed.