Modular Bio-Thermal Decontamination Enclosure for Transport Assets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional decontamination systems are unable to effectively decontaminate both the interior and exterior of transportation assets without personnel protective equipment and are not portable enough for use at remote locations, particularly in scenarios involving chemical or biological agents.
Innovation Solution
A portable bio-thermal decontamination system using a modular design with humidifying and dehumidifying modules, insulated panels, and a central controller to uniformly control temperature and humidity within a customizable enclosure for efficient decontamination of transportation assets, allowing for on-site use and transportability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional decontamination systems are used to decontaminate transportation assets, then decontamination of exterior surfaces is achieved, but interior decontamination is not effective and personnel protective equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes physical parameters by controlling temperature and humidity within the enclosure to achieve bio-thermal decontamination. Sensors monitor and control these parameters to maintain conditions that effectively neutralize biological agents on both interior and exterior surfaces without requiring protective equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The decontamination system is designed to simultaneously decontaminate both interior and exterior surfaces of transportation assets through a single integrated process. The enclosure can be configured to cover different portions of the asset, and the bio-thermal process works uniformly across all surfaces exposed to the controlled environment.
2Reliability
If conventional decontamination systems are used, then decontamination capability is provided, but portability is insufficient for remote locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate modular components including the enclosure, bio-thermal treatment system, control system with sensors, and support structures. These modules can be transported separately to remote locations and assembled on-site, making the overall system portable while maintaining full decontamination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure is designed to be configurable and adaptable to different transportation asset sizes and shapes. The modular structure allows the system to be adjusted and reconfigured for different decontamination scenarios, enhancing its portability and versatility across various operational contexts.
3Reliability
If bio-thermal decontamination is applied, then biological agents are neutralized, but uniform temperature and humidity control over interior and exterior is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor temperature and humidity conditions within the enclosure. This feedback is used by the control system to adjust heating and humidification processes, ensuring uniform distribution of thermal and moisture conditions across both interior and exterior surfaces throughout the decontamination cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different treatment conditions to different zones within the enclosure based on local requirements. The configurable enclosure design allows for optimized positioning of heating and humidification elements to ensure appropriate temperature and humidity levels are achieved in both interior and exterior areas simultaneously.
4Adaptability or versatility
If decontamination systems are made portable for remote use, then on-site decontamination is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system's modular architecture allows each component to be independently transported and assembled. The standardized interfaces between modules simplify on-site assembly, reducing the operational complexity despite the system's enhanced portability and adaptability for remote deployments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables effective decontamination of both interior and exterior surfaces of transportation assets, ensuring safety without protective equipment and facilitating remote decontamination by maintaining precise temperature and humidity levels for extended durations, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
raising a temperature and/or a humidity level in the chamber to threshold levels for set periods of time
Implementation Method 2
raising a temperature and/or a humidity level in the chamber to threshold levels for set periods of time
Implementation Method 3
lowering the temperature and the humidity from the predetermined temperature level and the predetermined humidity level to ambient levels
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of insulated panels detachably secured together to form an enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A reusable portable decontamination system is provided for a transportation asset. The decontamination system includes a plurality of insulated panels detachably secured together to form an enclosure for the transportation asset and other equipment. The decontamination system also includes a humidifying module in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure to raise a temperature and a humidity of the interior of the enclosure to a predetermined temperature level and a predetermined humidity level for a timed duration. Additionally, the decontamination system includes a dehumidifying module in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure to lower the temperature and the humidity of the interior of the enclosure from the predetermined temperature level and the predetermined humidity level to ambient levels. A storage and decontamination module is also presented, to decontaminate one or more components of a transportation asset.