Movable hardened air form dome-shaped structure for containing hazardous, toxic, or radioactive airborne releases

Abstract

The present invention provides a means for secondary containment of airbo releases from underground storage tanks, trenches, cribs, and vaults. Airborne releases of nuclear waste from previously operated nuclear weapons plants is a particular problem which this invention addresses. The dome structure is fabricated by large inflatable fabric forms that are insulated and hardened by specialized shotcrete processes for either spherical or elliptical type dome structure. This dome structure is designed to be reused and thus made mobile by having at least three large capacity crawler/transporters or a crane link-up and lift the dome structure for transport to a desired HTRW location. The dome structure is made of layered materials comprising a thin flexible membrane of urethane foam and conventional shotcrete placed on steel reinforcing bars. Another novel feature is a post-tensioned reinforced concrete ring beam serves as a foundation footing that includes steel-insert lifting points for load transfer to the crawler/transporters or crane. In addition to the basic dome structure, utilities are included comprising an airlock unit for segregated access into the dome structure interior and portable trailer utilities for heating, ventilating, air conditioning and decontamination.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.