An apparatus for protecting personnel and the environment from harmful emissions of radiation from a source thereof includes a plurality of shielding parts so located as to be in the path of the radioactive emissions and to absorb them (one such part being located farther away from the source of emissions than the other) so that an electrical potential difference between the shielding parts is established, due to different absorptions of radiation by them, means for consuming electrical power at a location remote from the radioactive source, and electrical conductors communicating the consuming means (or load) with such shielding parts. Although the invention is primarily intended for protecting personnel and the environment against emissions from radiation sources, such as radioactive wastes, it is also useful for shielding other sources of harmful radiated emissions. Also within the invention are processes for protecting personnel and the environment against radiation hazards.
Protecting Personnel And The Environment From Radioactive Emissions By Controlling Such Emissions And Safely Disposing Of Their Energy
An apparatus for protecting personnel and the environment from harmful emissions of radiation from a source thereof includes a plurality of shielding parts so located as to be in the path of the radioactive emissions and to absorb them (one such part being located farther away from the source of emissions than the other) so that an electrical potential difference between the shielding parts is established, due to different absorptions of radiation by them, means for consuming electrical power at a location remote from the radioactive source, and electrical conductors communicating the consuming means (or load) with such shielding parts. Although the invention is primarily intended for protecting personnel and the environment against emissions from radiation sources, such as radioactive wastes, it is also useful for shielding other sources of harmful radiated emissions. Also within the invention are processes for protecting personnel and the environment against radiation hazards.
Protecting Organisms And The Environment From Harmful Radiation By Controlling Such Radiation And Safely Disposing Of Its Energy
A radiation gradient is utilized to transform harmful radiant energy into safer, more useful forms, thus collecting, controlling and consuming the energies of radiant emissions and protecting the environment and living organisms from them. More specifically, there is disclosed a new process for shielding emitters of harmful radiation by establishing an electrical circuit, which process includes shielding the source of radiation while collecting the energy of relatively more radiation on an electrically conductive material and collecting the energy of relatively less radiation on other electrically conductive material, which may include a ground or external sink, thus establishing a difference in electrical potential, and transferring this potential difference, along with any potential difference from auxiliary devices, outside the shielded area, to resistors and/or variable other loads, which consume the voltage as it is created. In this way emissions of radiation are converted to electrical energy and are controlled and the source of radiation is better shielded because the described process prevents build-up of energy within the shielded area and prevents consequent deterioration of the shielding material, thus preventing flash-overs, accidents, breaks and leaks in the shielding and providing greater protection of living organisms.
Protecting Personnel And The Environment From Radioactive Emissions By Controlling Such Emissions And Safely Disposing Of Their Energy
Virginia Russell - Buffalo NY James W. Russell - Newport News VA
International Classification:
G21D 700
US Classification:
2505151
Abstract:
An apparatus for protecting personnel and the environment from harmful emissions of radiation from a source thereof includes a plurality of shielding parts so located as to be in the path of the radioactive emissions and to absorb them so that an electrical potential difference between the shielding parts is established, due to different absorptions of radiation by them, a variable electrical load for consuming electrical power at a location remote from the radioactive source, and electrical conductors communicating the variable electrical load with such shielding parts. Although the invention is primarily intended for protecting personnel and the environment against emissions from radiation sources, such as radioactive wastes, it is also useful for shielding other sources of harmful radiated emissions. Also within the invention are processes for protecting personnel and the environment against radiation hazards.