WO2002013910A1 - Unit for on-site treatment of equipped persons having passed through a contaminated environment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an on-site treatment unit for an equipped (17) operator (16) having intervened in a contaminated environment. The invention is characterised in that it comprises at least a treatment station (10) comprising a treatment cabin (18) comprising a set (24) of static or dynamic heads (26) diffusing a treating liquid and means (54) for slowly rotating said operator.

Description

 ON-SITE TREATMENT UNIT OF EQUIPPED PERSONS AFTER PASSING INTO A CONTAMINATED ATMOSPHERE

The present invention relates to a treatment unit on site of operators equipped for example in a diving suit, after intervention in a contaminated environment, making it possible to alleviate the problems of dangerous pollution in industrial environments or after disasters. Many disasters in transport or in industry, maintenance operations or rescue operations require human intervention in contaminated environments, whether chemical, bacteriological or nuclear.

It is necessary after intervention of professionals on site, to ensure the decontamination of materials and other equipment such as diving suits or protective suits used by these professionals during the intervention.

However, when such fixed decontamination installations exist on sites, they are often reduced to corridors equipped with showers to remove the particles of solid or liquid products deposited, which is not satisfactory.

In addition, it must also be possible to treat the decontamination fluids so as not to pollute the rest of the network.

Another constraint is that of treating in situ when the disaster site is isolated from suitable fixed installations, in particular in the event of a road or rail accident. It would then be useful to provide for the possibility of making mobile units. The processing unit according to the present invention can be on-board and makes it possible to intervene as close as possible. This unit provides complete treatment with consideration of polluted discharges.

To this end, according to the invention, the on-site treatment unit of an operator equipped after intervention in a contaminated environment, is characterized in that it comprises at least one treatment station comprising a treatment cabin with a set of diffusion heads of a treatment liquid, static or dynamic as well as means of slow rotation of this operator. According to a preferred embodiment, these slow rotation means comprise a plate designed to receive the operator standing, said plate having a very flat cone shape to ensure a flow slope with free annular spaces and peripheral to this platinum, allowing the passage of the fluid towards an evacuation. There is also provided a footbath provided with washing means with treatment liquid and an evacuation of the dirty washing fluid.

In addition, to meet requirements, this unit includes a drying station with a drying cabin provided with ramps of hot air outlet openings arranged on either side of the operator's location in this cabin, static or dynamic.

This unit can be completed by a stripping station with a stripping cabin.

The present invention is now described in. detail with reference to the appended drawings in which the various figures represent a preferred but non-limiting embodiment:

FIG. 1, a schematic view of the various elements which make up a complete processing unit according to the present invention,

- Figure 2, a perspective view of a treatment cabin with its pre-treatment footbath, - Figure 3, a detailed view of the arrangement of this treatment cabin,

FIG. 4, a perspective view of a drying cabin, FIGS. 5A and 5B, two sectional and front views of the air vents for drying air,

FIG. 6, a view of the central unit of the battery for producing the drying air, FIG. 7, a view of the distribution of the flows, whether of air or of treatment fluid, and

- Figure 8, a view of an optional undressing cabin.

The functional diagram of such a unit is presented in Figure 1. Three posts are planned, the first two of which are important and the third of which is optional.

The first station is a station 1 0 for treating contamination, the second is a station 1 2 for drying and the third is a station 1 4 for stripping.

The processing station 10 is shown in a simplified manner in this figure but it is found in detailed form in FIG. 2. This processing station is designed to receive operational personnel 1 6 at the exit from intervention. The operator is always carrying his specialized equipment 1 7 such as a diving suit and possibly the associated respiratory apparatus. This treatment station includes a cabin 1 8 equipped with a footbath

22 and a set 24 of heads 26 for pressure diffusion of a cleaning liquid.

The footbath 26 comprises, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, a housing 28 adapted to receive the feet 30 of the operator with the corresponding part of his suit, namely protective boots 32. In fact, the feet are the most exposed to contamination and widespread discharge.

This housing is equipped with washing means 34 in the form of high pressure nozzles supplied with decontamination liquid and at the bottom of a discharge 36 which opens into a retentive tank 38. This tank is advantageously equipped with means 40 for filtering solid particles and an outlet 42 for filtered liquid. The retained particles are accumulated in the retention tank, the bottom of which is fitted with a drain 44.

Note that the shape of the housing is enveloping so as to limit projections during washing.

The operator to be treated accesses this footbath through a door 46 which can be glazed to allow monitoring of decontamination operations from the outside. A flap 48 controlled allows access to the cabin 1 8 overall processing proper. This cabin forms a closed enclosure with an exit door 52.

As indicated, it comprises a set 24 of heads 26 for diffusion under pressure of a cleaning liquid. These heads have a scattering spectrum which covers the entire body of the operator, in the height direction, as shown schematically in Figure 7. However, to cover the periphery of the body, it is necessary to provide means 54 for slow rotation of the operator. As it is inserted in its equipment and that the enclosure is necessarily cramped, it remains stationary and it is these means 54 which presents the operator equipped with the heads 26 for diffusion under pressure. These means 54 for rotating comprise a plate 56 on which the operator stands. This plate is in the form of a very flattened cone to ensure a flow slope.

A motor 58 integrated into the axis sets in motion. The plate rests on tracks 60 of balls. A seal 62 protects the motor and the central axis from any projections.

Free spaces 64, annular and peripheral to the plate, allow the passage of the liquid which flows through an outlet 66. It is in this outlet that the outlet 42 of filtered liquid opens to ensure a collection of the fluids of treatment. If we refer to Figure 1, we find there the diagram of the fluid circulations. In fact, the treatment fluids are advantageously placed in a tank 68. This tank comprises two compartments, one containing the clean treatment fluid and the other the soiled treatment fluid. The treatment fluid can simply be water but it can also be added with adjuvants as a base in the case of treatments of acid products or an acid in the case of treatments of basic products so as to neutralize the medium as soon as possible. treatment.

In the case of simply using mains water, it suffices to connect the tank directly to a terminal such as a fire hydrant 70 when possible.

Clean and soiled treatment fluids are then or simultaneously brought in and collected by mobile means when the installation is put into service on site for a long period. This is how a tank 72 is represented in FIG. 1. For all these transfers, it is necessary to provide pumps 74 adapted to the fluids to be transferred, symbolized in this FIG. 1 also.

In certain specific cases, this cabin 1 8 can be equipped with control means, not shown, such as a Geiger counter in the case of contamination with radioactive particles and dust or pH sensors to determine the neutrality of the flow liquid after cleaning.

In Figure 4, there is shown a cabin 76 of the drying station.

This cabin also includes an access door 78 and an exit door 80. Ramps 82 of vents 84 for hot air outlet are provided on either side of the operator's location after it has passed through the treatment station. These mouths are distributed over the entire height in the same way as the heads 26 for diffusing the liquid under pressure. This distribution is symbolized as has already been indicated in FIG. 7. The advantage with the flow of hot air dispensed is its ability to envelop the operator without requiring the operator to slowly rotate. In addition, there is no need for mechanical action of the air as was the case. case with washing fluids. For the drying action, the flow of hot air alone ensures evaporation of the liquids.

In order to be able to ensure drying in a closed circuit, the air is drained by a suction 86 at a central point. This suction can be fitted with filters.

Preferably and in certain very restrictive applications, the aspirated air is led to a condensation tank 88 with heat recovery by a suitable exchanger, not shown, or by total or partial recirculation depending on the case. The condensed liquids are led directly to the tank 68 and / or the tank 72.

An example of a mouth is shown in Figures 5A and 5B. such outlets must generate a flow as laminar as possible so as to form strata which initially cover well the entire height of the operator. The means 90 for producing hot air also offer special features and are shown in exploded view in FIG. 6.

A fan 92 is provided which draws air through the conduit 94 which is put under overpressure, which then passes through a hot battery 96, in this case, a layer of electrical resistances and which is propelled through a distributor. 98.

This distributor 98 includes a fixed warhead 100 with fins in order to divide the flow into as many parts as there are conduits 102 and therefore mouths. Indeed, schematically and for reasons of clarity, the hot air pipes have been represented by a single pipe but it is advantageous to provide as many pipes as there are outlets for individual supplies.

These embodiments are simple so as to clearly show the arrangements and the functions, but it is possible to produce more sophisticated variants. Thus the heads for diffusion of the pressurized fluid or the drying outlets can be mounted on mobile supports on rails or on tables with crossed movements or at the end of the arms. articulated allowing movements in three dimensions. In this case, the static heads are carried by dynamic supports.

It is also necessary to provide a control / command station 104 which is connected to the various action and / or control bodies for example by a bus 1 06. This station makes it possible to manage all of the functional bodies and to modify programs as needed.

Thus, depending on the type of contamination, it is necessary to vary the flow rates, the pressure, the type of liquid, the orientation, the drying temperature, the durations, etc.

This is managed centrally in relation to pre-established procedures.

In Figure 8, there is shown a cabin 1 08 station 1 4 undressing. This cabin is simply naturally ventilated and possibly heated if the installation is arranged outside.

The different stations are presented separately but they can advantageously be grouped and juxtaposed on a mobile support such as a vehicle so as to produce a movable in situ treatment unit. This unit is then installed as close as possible to the intervention site, which is particularly useful when it is desired to reduce the distance from the intervention site and the treatment site in order to restore the operator to civilian life without distributing contamination through the movements of said operator in a too wide area. The cabins of the various stations are equipped with means .1 1 0 for gripping to allow easy loading / unloading, or even a helicopter hoisting, which allows installation on site, modularity and layout variants.

Claims

1. On-site treatment unit of an operator (1 6) equipped (1 7) after intervention in a contaminated environment, characterized in that it comprises at least one treatment station (10) comprising a treatment cabin (1 8) with a set (24) of heads (26) diffusion of a treatment liquid, static or dynamic as well as means (54) of slow rotation of this operator.

2. On-site processing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (54) for slow rotation comprise a plate (56) designed to receive the operator standing, said plate having a very flat cone shape for ensure a flow slope with free spaces (64) annular and peripheral to this plate, allowing the passage of the fluid towards a discharge (66).

3. On-site treatment unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the treatment station comprises a footbath (22) provided with means (34) for washing with treatment liquid and an evacuation of the soiled washing fluid.

4. On-site treatment unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the footbath (22) comprises means (38.40) for filtering the contaminated fluid, interposed on the outlet (42) of the washing fluid.

5. On-site treatment unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (68,72) for storage and supply of clean treatment fluid as well as an evacuation and storage of the contaminated fluid.

6. On-site treatment unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a drying station (1 2) with a drying cabin (76) provided with ramps (82) of vents (84) hot air outlet arranged on either side of the operator's location in this cabin, static or dynamic.

7. On-site treatment unit according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means (90) for producing hot air comprising a fan (92) connected to a suction duct (94), a hot battery (96), and a distributor (98).

8. On-site processing unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the distributor (98) comprises an ogive (100) fixed with fins in order to divide the flow into as many parts as there are conduits (102) connected at the mouths (84).

9. Processing unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a station (1 4) for undressing with a cabin (1 08) for undressing.

1 0. Processing unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cabins of the various stations (1 0, 1 2, 1 4) are arranged on a mobile support to make them movable.