Components contaminated with hazardous reactive material e.g. metal dust loaded filter elements, undergo controlled decontamination in an air purged booth by recirculated spraying with water or dilute acid /alkali

摘要

Components (18) contaminated with hazardous reactive material are decontaminated within an enclosed booth (1) by recirculated spraying with water or dilute acid /alkaline solutions. Operation is monitored for temperature and hydrogen concentration by a control unit (21) which can initiate indirect cooling via a coil (13), and increase dilution air via a fan (11) to keep liberated gas concentrations, particularly hydrogen, below the lower explosive limit. An independent claim is included for a decontamination wash-booth system provided with gas concentration monitoring, temperature and ventilation control; a recombination catalyst unit may be installed in the gas discharge outlet to reduce hydrogen emission to atmosphere.