Nuclear waste solidification

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The drawing illustrates apparatus that may be used in practicing this invention.
The calciner vessel 10 includes a lower reaction section 12 and an upper recovery of disengaging section 14 which is of greater cross-sectional area than the lower reaction portion 12 to permit disengaging of particles from the gas, as is generally known in the art.
Beneath the lower reaction section 12 is a gas inlet section 16 which receives a fluidizing gas 18 such as air from a suitable source 20.
The gas is uniformly distributed throughout the cross-section of the reaction section 12 by gas distribution plate 22 in order to uniformly disperse and fluidize the bed material 24 and effect the desired reaction.
The fluidizing gas and elutriated particles then pass into disengaging section 14 and subsequently exit section 14 through port 29 via conduit 30 interconnecting an upper portion 28 of section 14 with a solids/gas separator means 31 such as a cyclone in combination with appropriate filters medium as sintered metal filters or the like.
The elutriated solids are separated from the gas in separator means 31 and pass through conduit 32 and collected or otherwise treated in collecting means or receptacle 34.
Arrow 33 indicates the removal of gases from the solids separator means.
Conduit 36 interconnects bed support wall or gas distribution plate 22 with a bottom wall 38 of calciner vessel 10 and provides a passageway for removal of particulate material from the lower reaction section 12 to receptacle 34, as indicated by arrow 37.
A valve 40 is likewise provided to control removal of the particulate material.
Conduit 36 and valve 40 may be used, for example, when it is desired to completely remove the bed from section 12 at the end of a run, or in other like circumstances.
Normally the valve is closed during continuous high level radioactive liquid waste solidification processing.
Appropriate heating means, such as an electrical resistance heater, may be used to heat the fluidized bed 24 within the calciner vessel