Measuring and testing – Sampler – sample handling – etc. – Capture device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-07-03
Raevis, Robert (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Sampler, sample handling, etc.
Capture device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253629
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sampling method and facility for the heterogeneous solid materials and, more particularly, to an automatic sampling method and the necessary facility for sequential sampling of the heterogeneous solid materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In early days, a large quantity of wet Ammonium Uranyl Tricarbonate (AUT) slurry was produced from the phosphoric acid plant in the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER), Taiwan. Initially, the AUT slurry was packed in PVC tanks.
After storage for a long time, the aged PVC tanks were likely to deteriorate and break and any leakage of AUT would result in an environmental contamination. Hence, the AUT slurry was subjected to a batchwise calcination treatment and packed in new containers. The dried AUT powder or agglomerate owns diverse particle size and shape as well as the uranium content and in both physical property and chemical composition AUT are heterogeneous. The 55-gallon drum is the new container and after AUT packing, the weight of each drum is several hundred kilograms.
According to the agreements between Taiwan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the category and account of nuclear materials owned by a state must be well established. It is necessary to determine the exact quantity of uranium in AUT stock by sampling and reliable analytical method. However, a representative sample is not easily obtained due to the heterogeneous property of AUT unless a facility for AUT homogenization treatment by milling and blending is established. Furthermore, operation cost and facility investment are high for such an AUT homogenization system. In order to obtain an AUT sample well recognized by INER and IAEA, an invention of sampling method and facility with limited investment is developed. The uranium content of AUT is determined and the analytical results are well accepted by both organizations.
In addition to AUT, this technology can also provide an effective method for sampling of the heterogeneous solid materials, either powder or agglomerate, used in agricultural and industrial areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and effective sampling method for heterogeneous solid materials. Multiple samples are obtained from a closed container filled with powder or agglomerate of a heterogeneous solid material. The sampling points are predetermined and well distributed on the container. The sampling position and depth in the container are selected by a special controller of the sampling system. The obtained samples are collected and blended in a mixer for homogenization treatment to produce a final specimen for analytical measurement. The homogeneous specimen is well accepted for its representative character.
A further object of this invention is to provide a set of facility for sampling of heterogeneous solid materials, comprising the elements: (a) a set of closed hood with glove, ventilation, and off-gas treatment system for sampling-machine accommodation, (b) a screw-drill sampling machine with an automatic control system for selection of the sampling depth and position, and (c) a support abutment of machine for positioning the container of the heterogeneous solid material. Multiple samples can be directly obtained from the closed container of the heterogeneous solid material either by manual or automatic operations of the sampling machine. The sampling number, depth, and position are predetermined and set by an automatic control system of the sampling machine.
Another object of this invention is to provide one set of portable screw-drill sampling machine using manual operation to obtain multiple samples following the procedure described above.
A further object of this invention is to provide a set of sampling method and facility for the heterogeneous solid materials. The system owns functions to prevent the radioactive powder from leakage whereby the regulations of radiation protection, environmental safety, and industrial safety are fully fulfilled.
Another object of this invention is to provide a set of sampling method and facility for the heterogeneous solid materials. The system can be operated at an open space for non-radioactive materials and the obtained sample owns representative character and is well recognized and accepted from the statistical point of view.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3206981 (1965-09-01), Jameson
patent: 4345484 (1982-08-01), Gould et al.
patent: 5211062 (1993-05-01), Moser
patent: 1375976 (1988-02-01), None
Chen Yuen-Liang
Hwang Fun-Yeuan
Lee Maw-Chwain
Yang Yu-Tang
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
Raevis Robert
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