Patent GB-1276082-A (GB)
Title: An apparatus for the decontamination of gas
IPC: G21F9/02
Filed: 1966-01-07
Abstract: 1276082 Treating gases with liquids; centrifugal separation LICENTIA PATENT-VERWALTUNGS-GmbH and R NOSKE NASHJ 7 Jan 1966 [8 Jan 1965] 961/66 Headings B1R and B2P In an apparatus for the decontamination of a gas, such as air, by removal of suspended substances which are radioactive or toxic, or are carriers of radioactive or toxic matter, the gas flows through a Venturi tube 22 into a centrifugal separating device 24, atomised water being introduced into the tube 22 from a pipe 23 and the suspended substances becoming attached to the water droplets, and the water introduced and extracted may be caused to flow in either an open or a closed circuit in the apparatus. The separating device 24 comprises a centrifuge which works on the vacuum principle and the water droplets with the suspended substance pass from here through an outlet 25 into a reservoir 26 while the air thus purified emerges through a duct 27. The reduced pressure in the centrifuge is produced by a fan 28. Water is fed under pressure through an inlet 35 and passes through valves 36, 37 to a feed pump 38. From there it passes through a valve 39 and a heater 40 into the pipe 23. Downstream of the reservoir 26 is a discharge pump 42 leading to an outlet 45. The flow path of the water so far described forms an open circuit between the inlet 35 and the outlet 45. A pipe 50 which connects a point between the reservoir 26 and the discharge pump 42 with the feed pump 38 is controlled by valves 51 and 37. With this pipe in the circuit and the pump 42 stopped, the open circuit is converted into a closed circuit. A by-pass tank 53 is included in this circuit downstream. of the feed pump 38 when a valve 52 is opened and the valve 39 closed. A chemical preparation may be added to the water through a device 54 with a valve 55 opened and the valve 37 closed. There are three control stages for the operation of the apparatus, the first serving to prepare the apparatus for operation when the power supply is switched on. The feed pump 38 fills the by-pass tank 53 after the valve 52 has been opened and filling of the pipe 23 then takes place so that the water can not only enter the separating device 24 but also the reservoir 26 through valve 64 and pipe 65. The course stage of a heating device 57 in the tank 53 is switched on and the water heated to about 40‹C, being maintained at the prescribed value by the fine stage. Switching over to the second control stage is effected either manually or in response to a y-radiation detecting element 11 in the intake duct 10. The second stage opens a flap valve 13, switches on a heating device 20 and opens a valve 17 so that air present in the preliminary chamber 14 is enriched with moisture through a device 15 supplied by a pump 18. The feed pump 38 now forces water through the valve 39 into the pipe 23 and the separating device 24 commences operation. Switching over to the third control stage is effected either manually or in response to an element 12 in the duct 10 designed to detect certain toxic substances. The pipeline system is now changed over to a closed circuit, for which purpose closing of the valves 36, 39 and opening of the valves 51, 52 is necessary. The apparatus only operates in the second and third stages providing the resultant air supply is pure, i.e. providing detecting elements 33, 34 in the duct 27 sensitive to y-radiation and toxic substances, respectively, do not respond. If the detecting elements 11, 12 respond simultaneously, then the apparatus is operated as in the third control stage. The air from the fan 28 is fed through a flap valve 31 and a duct 32 back into the atmosphere until, when the air is pure, the flap valve 31 closes and a flap valve 30 opens, and the purified air is forced through a silencer 29 into a channel for its utilisation.