System for and method of filling a container with hazardous waste
View Patent ↗A method for filling a container with hazardous waste includes moving the container to a first location where a filling head adds the hazardous waste to the container, vents air from the container, and mixes the hazardous waste in the container. A lid is coupled to the container while it is at the first location.
1. A method of filling a container with hazardous waste comprising:
moving the container to a position where a filling head adds the hazardous waste to the container, vents air from the container, and mixes the hazardous waste in the container;
coupling a lid to the container to close the container while the container is at the position; and
moving the closed container away from the position.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising removing the lid from the container at the position.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the interior of the container is open to a primary confinement chamber at the position.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the exterior of the container is positioned in a secondary confinement chamber.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the hazardous waste includes radioactive waste.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the container includes a solidifying material, and wherein the filling head mixes the hazardous waste and the solidifying material in the container.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the solidifying material includes a cementitious material.
8. A method of filling a container with hazardous waste comprising:
moving the container to a position where a filling head adds the hazardous waste to the container, the container being pre-filled with a solidifying material;
coupling a lid to the container to close the container while the container is at the position; and
moving the closed container away from the position.
9. The method of claim 8 comprising removing the lid from the container at the position.
10. The method of claim 8 comprising mixing the hazardous waste and the solidifying material in the container.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the filling head mixes the hazardous waste and the solidifying material in the container.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the hazardous waste includes radioactive waste.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the interior of the container is open to a primary confinement chamber at the position.
14. A method of filling a container with hazardous waste comprising:
aerating dry cementitious material in a container;
adding the hazardous waste to the container; and
mixing the cementitious material with the hazardous waste.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the interior of the container is open to a primary confinement chamber and the exterior of the container is in a secondary confinement chamber when the container is at the position.
16. The method of claim 8 wherein the interior of the container is open to a primary confinement chamber and the exterior of the container is in a secondary confinement chamber when the container is at the position.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the hazardous waste is added at a position where the interior of the container is open to a primary confinement chamber and the exterior of the container is in a secondary confinement chamber.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein the hazardous waste includes radioactive waste.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein the hazardous waste is added to the container with a filling head that also vents air from the container and mixes the cementitious material and the hazardous waste.
20. The method of claim 14 comprising removing from and replacing the lid on the container without exposing the exterior of the container to the contents of the container.
21. A method of filling a container with hazardous waste comprising:
(a) moving the container to a processing station;
(b) filling the container with hazardous waste at the station;
(c) moving the container away from the station;
wherein the exterior of the container is located in a separate confinement chamber than the hazardous waste during steps (a)-(c).
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the container is closed when it is moved to the station.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the container is closed when it is moved away from the station.
24. The method of claim 21 comprising opening the container at the station before filling it with hazardous waste and closing the container at the station after filling it with hazardous waste.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein opening the container includes removing a lid from the container, and wherein the exterior of the lid is located in a separate confinement chamber than the hazardous waste.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein closing the container includes coupling a lid to the container, and wherein the exterior of the lid is located in a separate confinement chamber than the hazardous waste.
27. The method of claim 21 wherein filling the container includes exposing the interior of the container to a primary confinement chamber that includes the hazardous waste and exposing the exterior of the container to a secondary confinement chamber that does not include any hazardous waste.
28. The method of claim 21 wherein filling the container includes adding hazardous waste to the container with a filling head that also vents displaced air from the container.
29. The method of claim 21 wherein filling the container includes adding hazardous waste to the container with a filling head and mixing the hazardous waste with the filling head.
30. The method of claim 21 wherein filling the container includes venting air from the container without exposing the exterior of the container to the vented air.
31. The method of claim 21 wherein the hazardous waste includes radioactive waste.
32. The method of claim 21 wherein the container is pre-filled with a solidifying material.