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(11) | EP 0 168 219 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Nuclear waste packaging modules |
| (57) A ground-disposable module for encapsulating radioactive waste contained within shipping
containers is disclosed herein. Generally, the modules comprise a rigid outer container
for providing a first radiation and water barrier for the waste, an inner container
formed from the shipping container for providing a second radiation and water barrier,
and a central layer of group which forms still another radiation and water barrier
and which provides the rigid outer container with a substantially solid interior which
reinforces the compressive strength of the module. The rigid outer container may hold
a plurality of shipping containers which have been compacted. Such compaction maximizes
the number of containers which may be encapsulated into a particular module, and increases
the overall compressive strength of the module by increasing the integrity and strength
of the shipping containers and wastes grouted therein. In order to facilitate handling,
the outer containers of the modules includes a pattern of grooves at its bottom portion
for receiving the forks of a forklift, and a plurality of 1-bott anchors at its top
portion which are detachably connectable to the hooks of a hoist. The outer containers
of the modules are preferably hexagonally shaped, right-angled prisms. The hexagonal
prism shape of the outer container of the module allows the modules to form subsidence-free,
solid arrays which have sufficient compressive strength to support an earthen-type
trench cover, yet are flexibly conformable to changes in the shape of the trench which
might occur from a seismic disturbance. |