Process for the excavation of buried waste
OwnerErnest E. Carter, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of excavating large quantities of non-homogenous radioactive contaminated waste, desirably without releasing radioactive contaminated dust or exposing personnel to its hazards. The excavation of buried waste is performed in the presence of a suppression fluid that coats the waste and captures and retains particles so that they do not become airborne. Use of this suppression fluid technique allows larger mechanized excavation equipment to be used to perform the work. This keeps workers away from the waste. The waste is excavated and placed inside large steel boxes, such as a roll-off box, by the excavator. The suppression fluid covers the waste in the boxes and prevents particulate emissions from the waste.
Claims28
A method of excavating waste from an area of land with an excavator comprising the steps of:
- heating the area of land containing the waste to be excavated;
- covering at least a portion of the heated area containing the waste to be excavated with a pool of suppression fluid comprising a thermoplastic material;
- extending the excavator through the suppression fluid and into the heated area;
- and
- removing the excavated waste.
A method of excavating waste buried in an area of land with an excavator comprising the steps of:
- heating the area of land containing the waste to be excavated;
- applying a suppression fluid comprising thermoplastic material subterraneanly to at least a portion of the heated area containing the waste;
- extending the excavator into the heated area;
- and
- removing the excavated waste.
A method comprising the steps of:
- heating an area of land containing waste to a temperature between 140 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit;
- covering at least a portion of the heated area containing the waste with a pool of suppression fluid comprising a thermoplastic material;
- and
- allowing the suppression fluid to subterraneanly permeate into the heated area.
A method comprising the steps of:
- heating an area of land containing waste to a temperature between 140 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit;
- applying a suppression fluid comprising thermoplastic material subterraneanly to at least a portion of the heated area containing the waste;
- allowing the suppression fluid to permeate into the heated area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.