Decontamination Furnace

TM 9-1300-277

greatly reduced by the Quench Spray Action. Inlet

toward the burner end. The furnace also can be capable

of liquid material injection for first stage incineration of i

temperature is typically 600 . Outlet temperature is

controlled to 225 .

small quantities of hazardous liquids. Typical operating

conditions are 400 inlet temperature, 1200 burner

(5) Electrostatic

precipitator.

The

end gas temperature, 600 flue temperature. The

Electrostatic Precipitator (EP) is a dry type electrostatic

furnace is used for first stage incineration and

dust collector manufactured by Precipitator Pollution

volatilization of materials contained in bottles, vials, and

Control Systems. This unit has five cells arranged in

wooden or cardboard boxes.

series. The purpose of the unit is the removal of gas

(2) Decontamination

furnace.

The

borne metal oxide particles such as tin, zinc, arsenic,

and lead from the furnace gases and dust generation.

Decontamination Furnace is a one-of-a kind masonry

These particles are removed down to the sub-tenth

lined, oil fired furnace. It has two heating zones: Zone

microm size range which is a significant achievement.

1 is used for heat treating metals, burning of

Additionally, the soot and fly ash generated by

combustible packing materials or contaminated refuse

incineration of wood, plastics, and other organic

and melting of low melt point inert parts; and Zone 2 is

materials is removed.

used as a secondary flue gas incineration chamber.

The Decontamination Furnace is fed by means of the

(6) Packed tower scrubbers

The final

decontamination module.

Metal parts are either

polishing step for environmental control of furnace

deposited directly on refractory pedestals or fed in

gases and ventilation air is the use of Packed Tower

stainless steel trays. Combustible materials and parts to

Scrubbers. These units, too, operate in parallel on the

be melted are also fed via these large stainless steel

split waste gas stream. They are conventional counter

trays which resemble troughs. The Decontamination

current packed section towers utilizing polypropylene

Furnace exhaust has the capability of being ducted into

pall rings, random dumped, as a packing medium and

the afterburner.

sodium carbonate brine as the scrubbing medium. Their

(3) Afterburner. The Afterburner is an oil

purpose is to remove any resident acid gases which

survive the Quench Spray Chamber. They serve as an

fired horizontal cylindrical furnace which accomplishes

environmental safety measure in the event of an

second stage incineration of gas phase materials exiting

upstream

system

malfunction.

The

plant

the Deactivation Furnace. The Afterburner is equipped

microprocessor will automatically boost the scrubber

with a replaceable refractory lining which is currently

alkalinity with caustic soda solution to remove pollutants

rated for 2600 service.

Higher temperature

generated by the upstream condition.

refractories are available. Typical operating parameters

are: inlet end temperature 2500 2600 , pre-discharge

(7) Discharge stack. All gaseous effluent is

temperature 1700 1750 , gas residence time greater

discharged to the atmosphere via two driving fans

than two seconds (controllable).

feeding a single stack.

(4) Quench chamber. The Quench Chamber

(8) Ventilation system. The facility utilizes a

is a steel vessel which accepts the Deactivation and

sophisticated negative pressure ventilation system to

Decontamination furnace discharge gases and cools

control air flow direction and volumes. Major process

them by means of spray humidification. Additionally, a

areas and individual operations are maintained under

large part of the particulate loading in the flue gas

capture velocities and air change requirements which

streams is removed by the alkaline brine spray medium.

are in strict compliance with Army and NIOSH/ OSHA

Acid gases in the flue gases are also

regulations and standards.

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