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Recirculation, vapor and humidity control in a sealable enclosure

  • US 5,173,258 A
  • Filed: 10/11/1989
  • Issued: 12/22/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of conditioning and decontaminating the interior of a sealable enclosure and the contents thereof comprising:

  • providing a sealable enclosure and processing means associated therewith;

    sealing said enclosure from fluid communication with unfiltered atmospheric air;

    filtering a gas and establishing a continuous recirculating flow of said filtered gas through said enclosure and through a means for processing said flow of filtered as fluidly connected to said enclosure and selectively sealed from fluid communication with unfiltered atmospheric air, wherein said processing means comprises a means for drying said flow of filtered gas, a means for heating said flow or filtered gas and conduit means fluidly connecting said drying means to said heating means;

    reducing the relative humidity of said filtered gas to a predetermined level within said recirculating flow of filtered gas by directing said flow and filtered gas through said drying means;

    selectively introducing a vapor decontamination at a predetermined concentration into said flow of recirculating filtered gas after said flow of filtered gas exists said drying means and before said flow of filtered gas enters said enclosure so that said flow of recirculating filtered gas carries said vapor decontaminant into and through said enclosure wherein said vapor is a multicompound vapor and one component is water vapor;

    maintaining said continuous recirculating flow of filtered gas and vapor decontaminant through said enclosure for a first predetermined period of time sufficient for decontaminating said enclosure and any contents therein;

    continuously reducing the relative humidity of said recirculating flow of filtered gas to maintain the relative humidity at about said predetermined level for at least during said first period of time; and

    following said first period of time, discontinuing introduction of vapor decontaminant and continuing said flow of filtered gas into and through said enclosure for a second period of time sufficient for removing residual vapor decontaminant from said enclosure.

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