Atmosphere control/gas free engineering Flashcards
Purpose of the Submarine atmosphere control program
Close as practicable to a normal atmosphere
Accomplished by:
proper atmosphere monitoring
proper equipment operating procedures
control of materials introduced into the submarine
Common terms
gas
toxic
asphyxiant
Gas: Material whose boiling point is below room temp. Take shape of their enclosure
Toxic: gas which is poisonous to human body
Asphyxiant: affects the absorption of O2 by hemoglobin in the blood stream thereby causing o2 starvation
terms
Aerosols
particulates
Aerosols and particulates: small finely divided solid or liquid particles:
Dust
Fumes
Smoke
Mists
either remain suspended or settle to surface
substantial amount from cooking and lube oil
terms
volatile material
Hydrocarbons
Aliphatics
Aromatics
Volatile material- evaporates or vaporizes quickly
Hydrocarbons- Compounds containing carbon and hydrogen combined by a carbon-hydrogen compound
Aliphatics: Hydrocarbon with single carbon-carbon bonds
Aromatics: Compounds containing a bezene ring which is more toxic and more difficult to burn than aliphatics
Units of measurement
Partial Pressure
Each gas in a mixture of gases makes its own contribution to the total pressure of the mixture, each separately is partial pressure, total is the totl pressure
Dalton’s Law
PT= pp1 + pp2 + pp(n)
PP/PT x 100 volume concentration
TORR
unit of pressure equaling the weight of a column of mercury having the height of 1mm (760 TORR = 1 ATM)
Conversion for Volume % and TORR
TORR= (PT/100) x volume
Volume %= (TORR/PT) x 100
Atmosphere control system
Maintain air in the submerged submarine as close as practicable to the composition of clean air found in the earth’s atmosphere
reports to CO
Instrumental methods of analysis
Infrared spectrophotometry
mass spectrometry
colorimetric detection (detector tubes)
photoionization
Atmosphere monitoring equipment
CAMS
Trace Gas Analyzer (TGA)
Portable Oxygen Analyzer
Colorimetric Detector Tubes (Draegers)
CAMS-
Central Atmosphere monitoring system
primary
routine monitoring schedule- 3 spaces
Always fan room must be one
Reactor Compartment sampled prior to entry
Hourly underway
Daily in port
Characteristics of gases found in submarine atmosphere
Greater Variability in O2
Wide Range of organic and inorganic contaminants aerosols gases, and vapors
Inherent toxicity of various substances
composition of clean dry air
Nitrogen 78.09 TORR 593
O2 20.95 TORR 159
Argon 0.93 TORR 7
CO2 0.03 TORR 1
Factors determining effects of toxic substances on human body
Length of exposure
Concentration
Chemical Considerations such as solubility in body fluids and tissue proliferation
type of gas or toxic medium
Corrective measures for abnormal atmosphere conditions
Exposure limits: tables 3-5 and 3-6 of the ATM manual. based on 90 day exposure
Established for healthy adult personnel population under medical surveillance
90 day exposure limit
Represents an average value for continuous exposure which may be temporarily exceeded
24 hr exposure limits
represent values used in the event of the release of a large amount of a single contaminant such as from a spill
1 hr exposure limit
Applied to possible accidental situation which are rare single events in the lifetime of an individual, and are not to be exceeded.
Replenish O2
Ventilation- at least one hour weekly
Electrolytic O2 generator (EOG)
Stored in air banks
Oxygen Candles (Chlorate Candles)
produce chlorine, carbon monoxide and water vapor
Lithium Hydroxide Canisters
Removes CO2
Backup to scrubbers
Removing gases while submerged
Ventilation system: recirculation and surface ventilation
Red-Devil Blower
scrubbers and burners:
CO2 - Scrubber
CO-H2 burner
atmosphere monitoring requirements during evolution and casualties
Fire
High CAMS readings
Refrigerant handling
Requirements for monitoring atmosphere when fixed monitors are out of commission
Draeger tubes
Supplement atmosphere oxygen
decrease carbon dioxide release
Carbon Monoxide
Lighter than air
Asphyxiate - affinity to hemoglobin is 210 x of O2
Effects:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Collapse
Death
Hydrogen Sulfide
Heavier than Air
- <200ppm rotten eggs
>200ppm no smell
Toxic level is 300ppm
Effects:
Nausea
Dizziness
Belching
Slight Gastric Distress
Hydrogen
Colorless, odorless gas which is essentially nontoxic
highly flammable, explosive
Generated onboard ship when battery is charging
Ships with electrolytic generator may have 1% hydrogen in atmosphere
Trace Contaminants
Brought onboard
Heath effects vary:
Trace contaminant survey- completed 24 hours of sealing ship
then every 7 days
weekly spot checks in risk areas
or at CO/XO request
Refrigerants
Halocarbons
R-12 and R-114 (Predominant on Subs)
Heavier than Air
- Concentrate in bilges
Health Effects:
Asphyxiation
Heartbeat irregularities
Arrythmia
Different trace contaminants
Hydrogen chloride
hydrogen fluoride
benzene
chlorine
Hydrogen chloride-<air/irritant/toxic
Lung and skin
Pulmanary edema
Hydrogen Fluoride <air/irritant/toxic
corrosive to skin
congestion of lungs, circulatory collapse
Benzene <air
Colorless, aromatic added to fuels
targets blood forming organs
Chlorine <air
used water purification
irritant to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes
reacts violently with hydrogen
Trace contaminants continued
Freon
Diesel Fuel
Methane
Sulfur Dioxide
Freons <Air/Asphyxiate
Diesel Fuel <Air/toxic
toxic to blood forming organs, skin irritant
methane >air
sanitary tanks
Sulfur Dioxide <air/toxic
respiratory tract causing edema
Hydrocyanic acid >air/asphyxiate
bitter almonds
explosive
Hydrocarbons
two groups
Aromatics- acute and chronic toxicity after initial exposure
Aliphatic: Otto fuel II
Painting
Per NAVSHIPS technical Manual
No painting while submerge
Organic solvent paint 5 days before underway one quart
Paint permitted after last dive
Use water-based paint when large areas
OZONE
Emanates from electrical equipment
sulfur like smell at 1.0 ppm
can cause bronchial spasms
Otto Fuel spills
Lethal quantities of CO, CO2, NO2, and HCN in seconds
Explosive quantities of hydrogen and carbon monoxide
Otto fuel health effects
Headache, throbbing headache
yellowish discoloration of skin, eye irritation w/o conjunctivitis
Ingestion of Otto Fuel II, n/v/d tachycardia, death
Otto Fuel Medical Treatment
Decon- shower
Fresh air
Coffee and Tylenol
Material Management control program
CO appoints commissioned officer as HM/HW
XO- grants permission to use or bring on board prohibited items
Written permission to use prohibited items underway
Storage
review material control log prior to each underway
HM/HW Coordinator
Maintain log
Ensure all HM brought on board are listed in appendix A and affix an atmosphere contaminate
Investigate all items suspected of being atmosphere contamination
Consumables and repair parts received are inspected for presence of toxic materials
Report item found to be prohibited restricted and limited
In port material are removed prior to underway
Proper stowage
Atmosphere contaminant log
HM coordinator maintains
report in SHIMS
3 sections
Prohibited
restricted
limited
Responsibility to review
DCA- in port weekly, monthly underway
Engineer officer or dept head, Monthly
XO: Prior to each underway
Sign, date, title, and date
Inventory
Every 6 months or prior to change of command
Reviewed by IDC, Safety Officer, DCA, and XO
Retainment of log
Printed log sheets retained current plus previous twelve months
Contaminant Tag
Used to identify atmosphere contaminants assigned a restricted
information on each item:
identity
assigned usage category
proper stowage
Tags= SHIMS
Codes
Prohibited (X)
Restricted (R)
Limited (L)
Permitted (N)
