DECONTAMINATION VEH FOR AFVS BASED ON HMV

INTRODUCTION
1.

An enemy may use its NBC capabilities in direct support of its

attack to cause max casualties. He may also attempt to contaminate grnd, pers and resources to inhibit their use and cause own tps to take precautions which may degrade their op performance. The defensive aspects of NBC Warfare constitute three distinct activities i.e. avoidance of contamination, Protection and Decontamination. In spite of taking measures for avoidance of contamination and protection it is likely that troops, terrain and equipment will get contaminated. It is, therefore, essential that decontamination be carried out at the earliest to restore the combat potential. AIM 2. To fabricate a decontamination veh for AFVs based on HMV. SCOPE 3. The scope of the project is as under:(a) Techniques of decontamination. (b) Various decontamination eqpt. (c) Decontamination veh based on HMV having all the facilities for decontaminating against all NBC agents.

TERMS OF REFERENCE 4. The terms of reference are as under:(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) The decontamination veh should be based on a HMV. The rig for decontamination should be hydraulically The rig should be able to accommodate one AFV at a The rig should be operable by HRV AV-15, ARV WZTPreparation of user hand book, operators manual and Draft UHB, PRS, Amdt to MS No 2, Servicing schedule,

collapsible and should be easily loaded in the HMV. time for decontamination. 3,ARV VT -72B. all related tech lit for the veh. SMTs , EMER and ISP should be prepared.

THEORY OF CONTAMINATION 5. Successful contamination requires that you understand contamination takes and what makes them

what forms of

dangerous. Contamination can take a solid, liquid or gaseous form and can be of a nuclear, biological or chemical origin. The different origins and forms of contamination create different dangers. (a) Solids. Chemical, biological and radiological

contamination can all take solid forms. In most cases these

appear

as

dust. The dust can be made of radioactive

dirt (fallout), a frozen mist, pollen coated with bio toxins, or bacterial spores. (b) Liquids Liquid contamination is generally

delivered in a fine mist that falls to the grnd. Liquid contamination can be made thick like a syrup or gelatine. This makes it thick to stick to the things it touches and evaporate slowly. This makes Decontamination process much more difficult. (c) Gases. Toxic chemical agents may be delivered

as a gas cloud either on the target or upwind where it can be carried to the target by wind currents. Generally, gases dissipate or evaporate quickly and Decontamination is not necessary.

Contamination Hazards 6. Understanding the hazards of contamination will help in

knowing why decontamination is important. (a) Transfer. Liquid and solid contamination creates

a tfr hazard. Anything that touches a surface contaminated in this way will tend to pick up the contamination. Then contamination will spread or tfr from one place to another. Our aim is to limit the spread of agent and keep

contamination from being transferred to clean / hygienic areas. (b) Vapour. The vapour hazard incls any

contamination you can breathe, no matter what form it takes dust in the air, atomised liquids, or true gases. Generally vapours dissipate rapidly so you need not attempt to decontaminate them. However, some agent vapours, such as blister, create a tfr hazard because they settle out of the air and coat the surfaces they touch. As long as a solid or liquid contamination remains on a surface it can continuously generate new vapours. Liquids will evaporate. Dust may be thrown into the air by wind or move. Generally, when a tfr hazard exists, a vapour (c) hazard Desorption. Liquid also chem exist. is

contamination

generally absorbed into most surfaces. Once absorbed, it begins to desorb, that is, low level of vapour pass out of the contaminated surface into the air or into any adjacent surface, incl the skin. Both, a vapour and a tfr hazard are present. (d) Radiation. The hazard from rad contamination

,i.e. radiation, does not fit directly into any of the above cat. Rad is given off by radioactive dust or dirt, most of which appears as fallout. For Decontamination purpose rad can be thought as a solid. If you remove the fallout from yourself and the eqpt and keep it off, the hazard will be

removed. Simply brushing radioactive dust off the clo and eqpt often will be sufficient. Persistency 7. The length of time a hazard remains depends on the

persistency of the contamination. The persistences of various hazards are as:(a) Radiological Contamination. Radiological contamination isnot affected by the variables that affect chem contamination. You can derive a general idea of the rad hazards by taking readings of rad dose rates. A very general rule of the thumb to estimate future rad levels is the 7-10 Rule i.e. every 7 multiple of time, rad intensity will decrease. (b) Bio Hazards. There are so many variables in predicting the persistency of bio hazard that each instance of contamination must be considered separately. Medical persons can make estimates only after contamination has been specifically identified. (c) Chemical Hazards. For plg purposes any contamination

(usually gases and also some liquids) which remain a hazard for less than 10 mins can be considered as non persistent. Non persistent contamination generally requires no Decontamination. Those contaminations remaining 10 mins and longer are persistent and these must be decontaminated. Factors affecting persistency are :(i) Type of contamination (ii) Conc and droplet size (iii) Temperature (iv) Wind Speed

(v) Composition of the Contaminated surface. Regardless of the persistency, any contamination found on skin must be decontaminated imdt.

THEORY OF DECONTAMINATION
8. different Decontamination is conducted in all environments, using equipment to clean or neutralize a wide variety of

potential agents or contaminants. The overall process used is applicable to all potential contaminants. In general, the process aims to do the following:-

(a)

Destroy or Remove the Liquid or Solid Hazard. Most

chemical agents and some biological agents are liquids, or are disseminated liquids. Nuclear contaminants are typically particles or radioactive dusts. The first step is to remove any solids and neutralize, with a decontaminant, any remaining liquid hazard. (b) Contain the Residual Vapour Hazard. The next step is to

contain the residual vapour hazard and remove the individual, or piece of equipment, from the vapour hazard area. This can be achieved by using the wind (working up wind) in field operations, or through mechanical air handling

facilities. (c) Remove any Remaining Particle Hazard. Even after

washing and the application of a decontaminant, there may be a residual particle hazard that has permeated IPE or adheres to equipment. Nuclear material is also often difficult to totally remove. Some biological contaminants, like anthrax spores, may remain on the skin or on equipment even after extensive decontamination efforts. The final phase is to shower personnel or wash equipment to remove this potential hazard.

LEVELS OF DECONTAMINATION
9. The three levels of decontamination operations are immediate,

operational, and thorough decontamination. (a) Immediate Decontamination. Skin decon is a soldiers

basic survival skill and shouldbe performed within 1 minute of being contaminated using the PDK. Personal wipe down should be performed within 15 minutes. This is done to remove contamination from individual equipment .Use detector paper or an ICAD to locate the agent. For radiological contamination, use a PDM or PDRM to locate it and then brush, wipe, or shake it off. Operators spray down should be done within 15 minutes. Operators use the on-board decon apparatus to decon surfaces that they must touch or contact to

operate the equipment. Radiological contamination in the form of dust particles may be wiped, scraped, or brushed off. (b) Operational Decontamination. A MOPP-gear

exchange should be performed within 6 hours of being contaminated when thorough decon cannot be done. Soldiers will continue to wear MOPP gear and the operating tempo will be reduced. Vehicle wash down should be performed within 6 hour of being contaminated when the mission does not permit a thorough decon. This process removes gross contamination and limits the spread of (c) Thorough decontamination. it. Detailed

decontamination should be done to restore full combat efficiency. These operations require support from a chemical decon unit. Detailed decon normally takes place in conjunction with equipment decontamination. The contaminated unit conducts this process and supports the decontamination operations.

TYPES OF DECONTAMINATION 10. type of Decontamination can be of different types depending on the contamination present. Decontamination can be of the

following types:(a) Chemical Decontamination.

(b) (c) (d)

Radiological Decontamination. Biological Decontamination. Casualty Decontamination CHEMICAL DECONTAMINATION

11.

The process of decontamination of surface and materials

contaminated with toxic chemical agents is more complex as compared to radioactive and biological contamination. This is because chemical agents react chemically with various surfaces and thus penetrate into them. In this case, the decontaminating solution must be able to, firstly, leech out the toxic chemical agent from the surface, subsequently, neutralize it by chemical reaction, and then finally, wash it off the surface to make it safe. . . 12. Chemical decontamination can be carried out by three types : (a) (b) (c) Physical/Natural Decontamination Mechanical Decontamination Use of chemicals. 13. Hydrolysis action of water. The atmospheric of methods as follows:

agents (temperature, Wind, hot air, rain) lengthen or shorten the life of the contaminants and also determine their effectiveness and concentration on surface. Heat (fire) will destroy or

evaporate aggressive agents. This type of reclamation, obviously, will damage, or destroy the material to be treated, thus the utmost precaution must be taken. Water by virtue of Its solubility and hydrolyzing properties, will attack the contaminant molecules and this cause the contaminants to lower their toxic characteristics. We shall now discuss the common or natural decontaminants. 14. Weather. Evaporating and decomposition of chemical decontamination. The time necessary for

agents are the principal means by which weather gradually accomplishes Decontamination by weathering is called the persistency of the chemical agent. The persistency of an agent depends on the climatic conditions. 15. Although weathering is the easiest method of

decontamination, the persistency of any agent, is difficult to predict. Therefore, lack of time, unfavourable weather conditions, or proximity of contamination to unprotect personnel may require the use of a faster method of decontamination. Contaminated surfaces that are not of vital importance are posted with standard chemical contamination markers for the duration of the persistency of the agent. 16 Other Factors that Affect Persistency of Chemical

Agents. The persistency of chemical agents under given climatic conditions cannot be accurately predicted. Other factors that must be considered are as follows:-

(a) of increase

Soil. The type of soil will affect the persistency and

the agent. Sandy soil will tend to absorb the agent

the persistency ; rocky soil will not absorb the agent

as readily and,thus does not increase the persistency . The lowest persistency on the ground is on non-porous, hard smooth surface such type of as paved roads.

(b) Vegetation. Not only the amount but also the vegetation will affect persistency of chemical agents.

Chemical agents tend to collect on vegetation, which greatly increase the liquid hazard Decontamination of vegetated areas is more difficult than of open areas (c)Earth. . Earth is used to seal in contamination and as an absorbent for liquid contamination. Covering an area with about 10 centimetres (4 inches) of earth gives protection as long as the earth is not disturbed and the chemical agent is not exposed. Such as area may be traversed safely, however, if the chemical agent is exposed, another layer, of earth must be added. Additional , protection may be obtained by mixing bleach with the earth. In the absence of better absorbents, earth may be used in removing liquid contamination from material. Earth so used becomes contaminated and must be treated (d) as contaminated waste.

Fire. Fire evaporates or burns liquid chemical

agents. Some chemical agents are combustible and upon burning are converted into relatively harmless products

agents. Some Fire is a

chemical agents are combustible and upon rapid, simple, and effective means of

decontaminating large quantities of chemical agents such as might be encountered in burning may be carried out disposal operations. Open pit during daylight hours. Burning

operations will cause a down wind hazard. The downwind vapour hazard calculator may be used to calculate the distance of the hazard. The ideal conditions for the use of fire are during periods of lapse temperature gradient with moderate wind speed in a direction away from friendly forces; for example a hot sunny day with moderate wind. Such conditions will produce the minimum downwind travel of tovapour When fire is being used sentries provided with the Protective mask or other respiratory protective device and protective clothing will be posted. to warn personnel out the area. Weather, concentration of chemical agent, and the amount of combustible mat to be burned are factors that determine the downwind hazard. Fire should not be used if would reveal the location of friendly forces to the enemy4 Permission to use fire is obtained from the NBCC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Centre )which controls the area, from the burning site to the maximum down w travel of the hazard. Adjacent troops are warned when the burning is to take place.

17. .. Water.

(a)

Water flushes chemical agents from surfaces.

Water hydrolyzes some chemical agents. Hot water is a much more effective decontaminant than cold w and the addition of soap or detergent produces an even more effective decontaminant Soap or detergent improves the wetting effect of water. Although water alone hydrolyzes lewisite, a toxic, blistering residue is formed. Scrubbing with hot water will physically remove this residue; alkaline solutions will neutralize the vesicant properties. Therefore, water alone should not be used to decontaminate objects contaminated with lewisite, when it is practicable to use DS2, STB, DANC solution, or a caustic solution. (b) Flushing. Flushing a container or any surface

with an excess of water washes away the chemical agents. High pressure application produces a better cleaning action than low pressure. If the surface has absorbed (or adsorbed) the agent, flushing. Will remove the surface contamination but will not affect the, agent that (c) is absorbed or adsorbed:

Soaking. Soaking contaminated items in boiling

water is an excellent method of decontamination. Soaking in Warm or cold water may reduce the contamination slightly; however, the hazard may not be reduced sufficiently even after prolonged soaking Therefore, if hot water is not available or it might cause damage to the item other methods of decontamination should be considered.

(d) Disposal .

Water

used

in

decontamination

operations is contaminated and must not be disposed of in areas where it might flow or be washed into streams or other bodies of water or into areas where it might contaminate ground water used as a water supply. The disposal area should be selected with consideration being given to its hazard to troops and civilian populations. markers. Disposal areas should either be decontaminated or marked with standard contamination

OPTIONS 18. Option 1: Decontamination plant with dry removal method. (a) Brushing. The removal of dry loosely held

radiological contamination may be accomplished by brushing. Brushing operations involves a large area. This may be accomplished with motorized attachment More effective means are required for the complete removal of contamination. Although this is the most cost effective method of removing radiological dust but it is the most time consuming and has inherent limitations due to the risk of recontamination and difficulty in reaching all parts of an AFV.

(b)

Sand Blasting. Sand blasting is a technique of abrasive

decontamination. Fine particles of sand are shot against the contaminated surface by air pressure. Sand and loosened surface particles fall to the ground. The contamination is trapped under control and ready for disposal. The procedure is not recommended due to the following:(i) Contaminated sand particle flies all over and can be a new source of contamination. (ii) Availability of fine sand is restricted. (iii) It requires a dedicated sys which consumes avail space. (iv) It cannot be used to cover the entire surface area. (v) Due to its abrasive nature it may cause damage to the surface. 19. Option 2: Decontamination plant with Gas Turbine . It

employs a small gas turbine to spray decontaminating agents over the vehs and eqpts. the gas turbine is mounted on the rear of the veh and the rest of the veh is taken up with tanks for the decontaminating agents and fuel for the gas turbine. The gas turbine is so mounted that it can be traversed through 120 deg, elevated by 30 deg and depressed by 20 deg. Sys can dispense liquids at the rate of about 900 litres/hr.

20.

Option 3.

Wet Removal Method. Wet method involves

removal of contaminants depending upon the removal of the contaminants in either of the two ways; physically, in the same physical and chemical state, as that in which they exist as a contaminant, making use of the erosive action of water, or chemically, in a physical or chemical state that is different from that in which they exist as a contaminant, making use of a chemical reaction between the contaminant and decontaminant. (a) Water. Water is a fundamental decontaminant which is convenient, because it is abundant and part of standard chemical decontamination equipment. Wet procedures often readily remove contaminant absorbed on a surface. These procedures employ the physical movement of contamination by the force of the water and also the movement of the soluble isotopes in solution. The presence of water may cause, or facilitate the movement of the contaminant into the surface pores, where it becomes fixed by chemical or physical processes. The technique of washing with water is the same, whether or not detergent is used. Since the waste from these procedures is contaminated, complete control of it must be ensured. The only drawback of using water is its optimum management in all situations. (b) hot Steam. The action of steam is similar to that of water. Steam is faster acting than water,

in dissolving materials, liquefying grease and cleaning by erosive action. As the steam jet loosens dirt and

grease films, some of the steam condenses and dissolves them. Much of the steam passes into the air. Usually the water formed by condensation is not sufficient to wash away the contaminant. This problem is overcome by hosing or flushing the object with hot water and detergent after the steam treatment. Detergent and hot water not only speed the cleaning action, but also reduce the amount of time consumed in the decontamination operation. A small amount of steam along with a small amount of hot water and detergent may be more effective than a large amount of either independently. Several alternate applications of steam and water may be necessary. However the problems faced in generation of steam as follows:(i) It requires separate boiler which again consumes space. (ii) Requirement of large quantity of fuel for converting water into steam. (iii) Complex sys for steam generation and delivery.

Recommended options
20. The recommended options is option no 3 using water as it offers

more advantages than other options. The major components of this mobile decontamination sys are listed below:-

(a)

45 KVA Gen Set.

01x 45 KVA 415 V (0.8 PF) air cooled

is reqd as permanent power source to operate various subsystem independently. An additional option of using 3 phase main supply may also be incorporated. (b) 3000 ltr water tk 01x 3000 ltr stainless steel water tank

which can be filled with inbuilt self priming centrifugal pump in 10-12 minutes. The water tank will also be reqd to have an additional features of automatic water level control. (c ) Pre-wash sub system. An reciprocating pump capable of

delivering a working pressure of 45-50 bars with an accumulator ,gauges and delivery apparatus. (d) Chemical treatment sub sys (i) Chemical mixing plant This sub sys incorporates It involves two chemical two plants. hoopers which have screw feeder driven by hydraulic motor which delivers measured quantity of chemicals which is mixed with water through a venture. The chemicals in the mixer will be a combination of Tetrachloroethylene and Sodium laurale Sulphate. (ii) Automatic Emulsion Plant. This involves two chamber

for the production of an emulsion between Sodium laurale Sulphate, water and mahua oil. In the upper chamber all three components are put and a mechanical is used to produce the emulsion which is passed to the lower chamber after filtration to be further mixed with the chemical mix from the

mixing plant and sprayed on to the surface of the veh. The water flow rate should be 900-1000 lbs/hr, emulsion flow rate should be 300-320 ltrs/hr and chemical feed rate of about 90 kg/hr to be able to treat 12-14 A veh in one hr. (e) Post Wash Sub Sys. This involves a reciprocating pump

capable of deliver a working pressure of 60-70 bar. The water is reqd to be preheated to a temp 80-90 degree using a diesel fuel heater. The water flow rate should be about 1400-1500 lph. The capacity of sub sys is 6-8 A veh per hour. 21. Principal Of operation: In the proposed sys the various actions that will take place are as follows:-

(a)

Spray cold water at high pressure of 40 50 bar on the

entire AFV surface, including the undercarriage. Although the under surfaces are difficult to reach but this can be achieved by using 90 deg nozzle and effort should be made to remove all dirt. Most of the contaminants will be removed with the dirt. (b) The chemical decontamination solution is applied evenly

to the surface of the equipment incl under carriage in two coats. (c) The AFV is kept aside for the reaction time of about

thirty minutes for the emulsion to act on the contaminants. Waiting longer will not gain much and would be detrimental. The emulsion is caustic and may cause damage to materials, if left on for more than 30 minutes.This time allows the chemical to permeate into the surface of the veh.

(d)

The post wash procedure involves rinsing

off the

emulsion from the vehicle using hot water under pressure of about 60-70 bar. Due care and attention must be given to the drainage from these processes and their disposal.

CONCLUSION

24. The syndicate has been tasked to design and fabricate a decontamination veh for AFVs based on a HMV. Considering the terms of reference given, the project will be feasible with the allocation of fund required immediately and all the necessary assistance provided to the syndicate.