The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 27, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2002
Christopher John Wood, Mountain View, CA (US);
David Bradbury, Glos, GB;
George Richard Elder, Glos, GB;
Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A system for decontamination of radioactive components includes an acidic decontamination solution which is exposed to radioactive components to remove a layer of contaminated material and an ion exchange cell which removes the radioactive contamination from the decontamination solution. The ion exchange cell has cathode, anode and central compartments. The decontamination solution flows into the central compartment and the radioactive cations in the solution are drawn towards the cathode. The acidity in the cathode chamber is controlled so that small radioactive metal particles are deposited on the cathode. A cathode solution flows over the cathode which removes the deposited radioactive particles. The cathode solution and small particles flow into a waste collection container where the metal particles settle to the bottom of the container where they are easily separated from the solution. The only waste product produced by the system are the small radioactive metal particles which are easily disposed of. All liquids used in the decontamination process may be recycled.