Device for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials and for the controlled release of oxygen in an enclosed housing

#The present invention relates generally to the field of securing a closed enclosure defined in a device for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials.

#In such closed enclosures containing radioactive materials, in the presence of water or solid or liquid hydrogenated compounds, the radiations emitted by the radioactive materials induce, by means of radiolysis, a conversion of some of said water into various gases including hydrogen and oxygen.

#Since the presence of hydrogen in the enclosure clearly impairs the safety of the entire transport and/or storage device, due to high risks of flammability, explosiveness and pressure rises generated, it is usually sought to remove this hydrogen.

#This description will be made with reference to the appended figures wherein;

#FIG. 1 represents a schematic longitudinal section view of a device for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 represents a view of the means for releasing oxygen fitted in the transport and/or storage device shown in FIG. 1;

#Firstly, with reference to FIG. 1, a device 1 for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, also referred to as a container, can be seen, in the form of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#Overall, the device 1 comprises a lateral body 2, a base 4 optionally integral with the body 2, and a cover 6 mounted in a fixed manner thereon. These members jointly form a closed enclosure 8, wherein the radioactive materials 10, such as waste containers, are housed.

#The device 1 comprises a system for securing the closed enclosure 8, this system firstly comprising active means, including a plurality of catalysts 12 for recombining oxygen and hydrogen into water, and a desiccant agent (not shown). As represented in FIG. 1, the catalysts 12 are preferably distributed in the enclosure 8, so as to avoid local hydrogen concentrations.