Decontamination System for Exposed Military Garments

Project No 2114

The Challenge

A major government contractor was seeking a solution to thermally decontaminate Demilitarization Protective Ensemble (DPE) suits that have been exposed to HD. The DPE suits were developed to protect the wearer against liquid and vapor environments of chemical agents such as GB, VX and HD, and consisted of disposable 20 or 30 mill DPE outer garments made of chlorinated polyethylene. Each suit weighted 15lbs and had an optical polyvinyl chloride visor and flat dimensions of 3 ft wide x 7 ft tall.

The Solution

EPCON developed a high air velocity custom decontamination system to achieve this objective of thermally decontaminating the DPE suits at the temperature range of 190-400°F.  The system is capable of reaching the desired temperature at 15-20 minutes using electric heating elements.

In the decontamination unit the high velocity hot air is used to vaporize and subsequently burn present gases on the DPE suits.  The high velocity/high pressure recirculation of air is designed to produce uniform heating and DPE suits movement to ensure complete decontamination and prevent the surfaces of the suits from sticking together. 

The Results

EPCON developed a high air velocity custom decontamination system to achieve this objective of thermally decontaminating the DPE suits at the temperature range of 190-400°F.  The system is capable of reaching the desired temperature at 15-20 minutes using electric heating elements.

In the decontamination unit the high velocity hot air is used to vaporize and subsequently burn present gases on the DPE suits.  The high velocity/high pressure recirculation of air is designed to produce uniform heating and DPE suits movement to ensure complete decontamination and prevent the surfaces of the suits from sticking together.