Primary Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
Contributing Inventor(s): Stephen J. Agace
Date of Patent Issuance: November 29, 2011
Status: Granted
Jurisdiction: US
Assignee: Holtec International, Inc.
Equipment Type: HI-TRAC, Transfer Cask, Water Jacket
Docket Number: HOL-016
Application Number: 11/871,090
Patent Number(s): US 8,067,659 B2
Prior Publication Data: US 2009/0069621 A1 (Mar. 12, 2009)
Related US Application Data: Provisional application No. 60/850,733, filed on Oct. 11, 2006.
Abstract: A system, apparatus and method of processing and/or removing radioactive materials from a body of water that utilizes the buoyancy of the water itself to minimize the load experienced by a crane and/or other lifting equipment. In one aspect, the invention is a method comprising: a) submerging a container having a top, a bottom, and a cavity in a body of water having a surface level, the cavity filling with water; b) positioning radioactive material within the cavity of the submerged container; c) raising the submerged container until the top of the containment apparatus is above the surface level of the body of water while a major portion of the container remains below the surface level of the body of water; and d) removing bulk water from the cavity while the top of the container remains above the surface level of the body of water and a portion of the container remains submerged. The bulk water can be added back into the cavity to add neutron shielding after the container is…