US-12623261-B2 - Apparatus for contained decontamination

Abstract

A decontamination apparatus for decontaminating an external surface is provided. The decontamination apparatus has a moveable platform and a containment structure mounted on the moveable platform. The containment structure has at least one aperture and a respective contact surface arranged around the perimeter of the aperture. The contact surface is arranged to make contact with the external surface to define a working volume, when the containment structure is positioned proximal to the external surface. The decontamination apparatus includes a decontamination device arranged to decontaminate the external surface. The decontamination device is arranged within the working volume and arranged to access the external surface through the at least one aperture. There is also a vacuum system for generating a partial vacuum in the containment structure to apply a suction force to the external surface.

Inventors

• Adrian Davis-Johnston

Assignees

• SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET S.A.S.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220201

Priority Date

20210204

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A decontamination apparatus for decontaminating an external surface comprising: a moveable platform; a containment structure mounted on the moveable platform; wherein the containment structure comprises: at least one aperture; and a respective contact surface arranged around the perimeter of the at least one aperture; wherein the contact surface is arranged to make contact with the external surface to define a working volume, when the containment structure is positioned proximal to an external surface; and wherein the contact surface comprises one or more hinges; and a decontamination device arranged to decontaminate the external surface, wherein the decontamination device is arranged within the working volume and arranged to access the external surface through the at least one aperture; and a vacuum system for generating a partial vacuum in the containment structure arranged to apply a suction force to the external surface.
2. 2 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is substantially continuous around the aperture.
3. 3 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is flexible.
4. 4 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the containment structure comprises a hood that extends towards the contact surface; and wherein the hood comprises one or more walls having a concertina shape.
5. 5 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the hood is arranged to rotate the contact surface between a first plane and a second plane, wherein the first plane is not parallel to the second plane.
6. 6 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vacuum system provides a suction barrier and/or a draw for the waste produced by the decontamination of the external surface.
7. 7 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact surface comprises one or more friction pads; and wherein the contact surface is arranged to hold the containment structure to the external surface via the one or more friction pads.
8. 8 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the moveable platform comprises a floating device.
9. 9 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the containment structure comprises a hatch or door to allow access to waste produced by the decontamination of the external surface.
10. 10 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the containment structure comprises a main body connected to the contact surface; and wherein the main body of the containment structure comprises a module for occupation by a human operator comprising shielding.
11. 11 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decontamination device comprises a decontamination tool comprising one or more of: an ultra-high pressure hydro-demolition tool, a mechanical scabbling tool, a dry ice blasting tool, a grit blasting tool, a lasering tool, a nitro-jetting tool, a chemical removal tool and a high pressure water jetting tool.
12. 12 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decontamination device is moveable relative to the containment structure.
13. 13 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decontamination apparatus comprises a frame on which the decontamination device is mounted.
14. 14 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decontamination device is arranged to excavate or remove a layer of the external surface to at least a threshold depth into the external surface.
15. 15 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decontamination apparatus comprises a plurality of contact surfaces and a plurality of hoods comprising the plurality of contact surfaces respectively, wherein each hood extends between a main body of the containment structure and the respective contact surface.
16. 16 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decontamination apparatus comprises at least one sensor and/or detector for sensing and/or detecting a physical or chemical property associated with a contaminant in or on the external surface; and wherein the decontamination apparatus comprises a sensor and/or detector feedback system.
17. 17 . The decontamination apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decontamination apparatus comprises or is in communication with a control room for controlling operation of the decontamination device in the containment structure; and wherein the control room comprises control apparatus for controlling the components of the containment structure.
18. 18 . A decontamination apparatus for decontaminating an external surface comprising: a moveable platform; a containment structure mounted on the moveable platform; wherein the containment structure comprises: at least one aperture; and a respective contact surface arranged around the perimeter of the at least one aperture, wherein the contact surface is arranged to form a barrier with the external surface to define a working volume, when the containment structure is positioned proximal to an external surface; and wherein the contact surface comprises one or more hinges; and a decontamination device arranged to decontaminate the external surface, wherein the decontamination device is arranged within the working volume and arranged to access the external surface through the at least one aperture.
19. 19 . A decontamination apparatus for decontaminating an external surface comprising: a containment structure, the containment structure comprising: at least one outer aperture; and a respective outer contact surface arranged around the perimeter of the at least one outer aperture; wherein the outer contact surface is arranged to form an outer barrier with the external surface to define a working volume, when the containment structure is positioned proximal to an external surface; and wherein the outer contact surface comprises one or more hinges; and a decontamination device arranged to decontaminate the external surface, wherein the decontamination device is arranged within the working volume and arranged to access the external surface through the outer aperture, wherein the decontamination device comprises an inner aperture and an inner contact surface arranged around the perimeter of the inner aperture, wherein the inner contact surface is arranged to form an inner barrier between the external surface and the decontamination device, wherein the decontamination device comprises a decontamination tool, and wherein the decontamination tool is arranged to access the external surface through the inner aperture.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an apparatus for the contained removal of contaminated material from a surface of a structure. BACKGROUND Contamination of materials occurs because of the physical or chemical transfer of materials (contaminants) onto surfaces where it is unwanted. Some contamination may be strongly adhered to the surface and thus difficult to remove, through being absorbed by the porous structure of the material or by chemically reacting with the material, e.g. corrosion. The removal of such “fixed contamination” by intensive decontamination operations may result in contaminants becoming air-borne, either as particulate, gas or aerosol. The decontamination of structures by removing contaminated material from a surface, e.g. walls, floors or ceilings in buildings, is a frequent task in remediation scenarios, particularly when decommissioning nuclear installations. The presence of contaminating (e.g. radioactive) materials can result in complications with the remediation or demolition of a structure and the disposal of the resulting waste. Many industries need to contain or control the release of toxic or hazardous materials during industrial decontamination processes, such as those involving radioactive materials, toxic chemicals, asbestos, biologically active materials and hazardous waste. This is particularly so during more intensive decontamination operations, such as high pressure water jetting or scabbling, which may cause hazardous aerosol production (e.g. in the form of dust or droplets). The nature of current decontamination operations, could result in (re-)contamination of the surrounding environment and, particularly when they involve toxic or hazardous materials, may mean that it is dangerous for human operators to be present. SUMMARY It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for such removal of contaminants and/or material comprising contaminants from surfaces comprising physical, chemical or biological contaminants. From a first aspect, the invention provides a decontamination apparatus for decontaminating an external surface comprising: a moveable platform;a containment structure mounted on the moveable platform; wherein the containment structure comprises: at least one aperture; anda respective contact surface arranged around the perimeter of the at least one aperture, wherein the contact surface is arranged to form a barrier with the external surface to define a working volume, when the containment structure is positioned proximal to an external surface; and a decontamination device arranged to decontaminate the external surface, wherein the decontamination device is arranged within the working volume and arranged to access the external surface through the at least one aperture. The present invention provides a decontamination apparatus for decontaminating an external surface. The apparatus has a containment structure mounted on a moveable platform. The containment structure has one or more apertures (e.g. defined therein) and each aperture has a respective contact surface around the aperture. The external surface is so-called because it is a surface (to be decontaminated) external to the containment structure—e.g. a wall or floor or ceiling of a contaminated structure or building. When the contact surface is positioned next to the external surface, it can be put in contact with the external surface to form a barrier (e.g. a seal) between the external surface and the containment structure. This has the effect of forming a (e.g. sealed) working volume, defined by the portion of the external surface within the aperture defined by the contact surface and the containment structure. The decontamination device works within the (e.g. sealed) working volume to decontaminate the external surface. Typically, decontamination involves removing contaminants or material comprising contaminants from the external surface. It will be appreciated that the containment structure provides containment (i.e. inside the containment structure) for any waste (including, e.g., aerosols) that results from the decontamination process. Thus it will be seen that, in accordance with at least preferred embodiments of the invention, by decontaminating the external surface within the (e.g. sealed) working volume, a large proportion (and preferably substantially all) of the waste generated by the decontamination process (e.g. contaminants or contaminated material removed from the external surface) may be contained within the containment structure. This helps to achieve safe decontamination of an external surface within a (e.g. sealed) volume without releasing contaminated material or contaminants into the surrounding environment, where they may contaminate the environment. Furthermore, by containing the toxic or hazardous contaminated material within the containment structure, any humans who m