Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

SUBMARINE AIR PURIFICATION AND MONITORING

Presented at

Southern Region Submarine Commanders Conference 03

By G. Ranieri Commander, Italian Navy A. Bettini FINCANTIERI C.N.I. Spa, Italy & A. Menghini D.A.TECH Srl, Italy

22 October 2003

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

CHALLENGE FOR AIR INDOOR QUALITY ON BOARD SUBMARINES

By Cdr. G. Ranieri, Italian Navy General Staff & Dr. Ing. A. Bettini, FINCANTIERI C.N.I., Italy & A. Menghini, D.A.TECH Srl SUMMARY
During the refitting of the Submarine Pelosi, performed by FINCANTIERI shipyard, the Italian Navy decided to improve the air quality management system installing and testing on board an air monitoring system and an air depuration system, respectively supplied by ESS Ltd (England) and by D.A.TECH Srl (Italy). The first one consists of a mass spectrometer that analyses gases and pollutants in real time. A personal computer elaborates the data, stores them into a database and displays them on a monitor in the control room, in order to verify current gas trends and to warn the crew of gas concentration exceeding upper or lower limits. This system is able to control the concentration of gases usually found in the submarine atmosphere (as CO, CO2, O2, halogen gases, etc). The KOALA SUB system, supplied by D.A.TECH Srl, has been installed onboard to remove dusts, aerosols and bacteriological pollutants. This is an active system, originally designed for the requirements of hospital operating theatres, and consists of an adequate number of purification devices, defined according to the air flow needing and installation constraints. Each device has a fan that forces the air to pass through the purification system. To remove bacteriological charge and dust particles, that are the main germs diffusion means, there is an advanced air treatment system based on five different steps: mechanical filtration, special activated carbon filtration, ionic filtration, germicide lamp and ionizator. At present time these systems are still at the experimental stage on board of the Italian submarine Pelosi. The ultimate evaluation of the performances and capabilities of the air monitoring and purification systems is expected at the end of the current year. The preliminary tests, performed by Policlinico S.Matteo of Pavia, are very satisfactory and show a good improvement of air quality, in terms of bacteriological, VOC and dust particle abatement.

AUTHORS BIOGRAPHIES
Cdr. Giampiero Ranieri is a Mechanical Engineer Officer working in the submarines design area of the Italian Navy Staff. Submariner since 1989, he is involved in the new generation Italian Submarines Program (U212A). Mr. Alessandro Bettini is Mechanical and Auxiliary plants group leader, Submarine Development Department, Fincantieri CNI Spa, Genova, Italy. Mr Bettini graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 2001 and joined Fincantieri after his service period as Technical Officers in the Italian Navy. In the Submarines field he has been involved in the Sauro Class refitting works and acceptance tests and, currently, is involved in the German-Italian Submarines program and in several research programs. Mr Antonio Menghini is Marketing Manager, DATECH Srl, Pesaro, Italy. Since 1990, Mr Menghini has been studying the problem of air pollution, developing a notable expertise in this subject. He frequently takes part in congresses and conferences and writes articles for specialised magazines and newspapers.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Indoor Air Quality problems can arise from many sources. In particular, pollution of the air assumes four different physical states [1]: GASEOUS PARTICULATE MICROBIOLOGIC ELECTRIC Furthermore, pollution can be present in the indoor air into additional two peculiar states: Electromagnetic waves Ionising radiation (natural and not) There always exists a synergy between these physical entities, to be considered when the salubrity of an indoor environment is analysed. For example, the air friction on a metallic isolated surface, when the speed exceeds 2 m/s, is sufficient to generate electrosmog (cationic charge tied to the Nitrogen atoms N+, about 80% in the air). That slows down the dust sedimentation, facilitating microbiologic and fungal transfer from the environment to the human body. The same kind of sub-micron dusts or liquids aerosol absorbs gasses, extending their toxic action against the human lungs.

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

Gaseous State Pollutants in their gaseous state are toxic gasses mainly produced by fuels combustion for locomotion, cooking and heating: CO NOx SO2 V.O.C. (Volatile Organic Compounds) O3 Added to these there are other emissions from corroded materials and human activity, like formaldehyde, radon, chlorine, benzene, pentachloroethylene, pentachlorophenol. Particulate State The pollutants, when in the state of particulate, are divided in two categories: dusts with dimension greater than 2 microns particles with dimension less than 2 microns After extensive research of indoor environments, it has been found [2] that dusts constitute about 3% of the solid material suspended, and the particles are about 97%. Wind action, engine exhaust and dressing materials corrosion are the main sources of these kinds of pollutants in the external air. Microbiologic State The microbiologic pollutants are divided into: bacteria viruses moulds funguses fungal spores The human body is considered one of the causes of this environmental contamination, added to animals and mechanical ventilation systems. Electric State The electric pollution of the air (defined electro-smog), is the electrostatic charge from the cations positive ions, normal tied to the Nitrogen atom in the air. Outside traffic produces high quantity of these ions, the same happens in an indoor environment caused by air conditioners, heating, TV screens, computers or people stepping on the carpets. Electromagnetic The electromagnetic wave pollution is caused by the electric current running through high voltage external lines and it is very dangerous for anybody who stands for long times near these electrodes. The same risk is present inside the environments closed to: electric installations lighting systems electronic apparatus Even radio transmission systems, radar or simply cell phones generate electromagnetic fields; obviously proportionally to the intensity of the current used. Several research centres are trying to evaluate dangers for humans. The worst effects seem to be in the blood cells and in the nervous tissues, but for certain it is known the potential risk as a synergy element added to the other pollutants. Ionising Radiation Air pollution is produced by ionising radiations from radioactive substances, mainly natural ones for the Radon. Artificial transmission is caused by all fuels for locomotion.

In burning they produce a high percentage of Polonium 210. It is especially dangerous for those who travel by means of locomotion. Other means of ionising contamination are radiologic apparatuses for hospital and ambulatory and the ones for nuclear medicine, responsible of the Iodine 131 pollution. Air pollution operates on the human body through its vital aspects: physical; mental; At the physical level it generates a debilitating situation, reducing the defensive abilities. Furthermore, in men, air pollution reduces potency, advances the andropause and increases the sterility in newlyweds [4]. At the mental level it reduces the performance of intellectual activities or the ability to concentrate and increases stress [3].

2.0 INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN A SUBMARINE

Keeping air quality and atmosphere composition into appropriate ranges is one of the most critical problems of a submarine. Oxygen consumption and Carbon Dioxide generation represent the main threats that all subs in the world have to manage and monitor carefully; there are several systems able to perform this kind of monitoring and some different regeneration systems able to keep O2 and CO2 at required levels. This kind of problems, already managed by snorkel subs, becomes more critical with the nuclear boats and, in the last years, with the new Air Independent Propulsion (conventional) Submarines, due to the increase of the fully submerged activity periods. But submarines air quality is not just relevant to O2 and CO2 percentages; there are a lot of other minor pollutants, that have been erroneously ignored, or not considered carefully, for several years, and that could be also dangerous for human health, especially in case of long time exposition. Based on that, Italian Navy has started a special program of studies and researches in the INDOOR POLLUTION field, looking towards its renewed Sauro class boats and, specially, for the new A.I.P. submarines of the Salvatore Todaro class (U212A). Pollutants in the confined environment of a submarine are especially dangerous because only initially the human sense of smell can note an increased level of them, but the men become accustomed after some minutes. Furthermore it is necessary to consider other pollutants sources, usually harmless whenever suitable air volume changes are guaranteed. Metabolic aerodispersed products are mainly characterized by: exhaled air; human skin scales; perspiration and intestinal gases. Every day the human body loses from 15 to 30 millions of scales of 0.3 micron, each one carries statistically 4 or more bacteria. Its contribution to the daily dust generation in the environment is about 3 g/day for each man. Total bacterial charge loss by a human body in one day was calculated to be about 160 mg. Such bio-effluence forms a significant part of solid particles suspension, measured in a closed environment in 0.4 mg/m3,

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

about twice that one can observe in a city atmosphere in a foggy day [2]. Another aspect to take into consideration is the strong perception of cutaneous secretions. Normally the perception level is at 1012 molecules/millilitre. Reference [2] reports that in case of indoor space of 28 m3 per person, to avoid the smelling perception 2.4 litres/sec of fresh airflow are necessary. This figure, in a space comparable to a submarine (i.e. 11 m3 per person) rises significantly up to 19.2 litres/sec. The most part of the particulate (97%) in one environment has a corpuscular measure under 2 microns, and it can penetrate through the respiratory tract, reaching the alveolar membrane [5]. Such a group of dusts is commonly named RSP (Respirable Suspended Particles). The human lungs effective filtration is about 50%. With respect to their biological, physical and chemical rating, RSP may be dissolved in the blood circulation, or be expelled through the mucus or be captured by lymphatic ganglii of the lungs. Another pollutant, more dangerous because insidious for man, is Carbon Monoxide. It may be concentrated in a short time and exceed the TWA limit (Time Weighted Average) of 10 ppm for 8 hours of exposure set by EPA (Environmental Pollution Agency), also in presence of little combustions like cigarettes [2]. Equally complex till today, is the recovery from microbiologic pollution in environments with high density of occupants. Another aspect to consider is the abundant number of positive ions in the air as opposed to the scarce number of negative ones. Normally there is a constant proportion of negative to positive ions, three to two [6]. Winds are a natural cause of positive ions increase. So in the confined environment of the submarine the air circulation in the air conditioning ducts is the main cause for the positive ions increase. A high concentration of positive ions brings headaches, nausea, eyesting, easiness of loosing concentration with drowsiness and, in some subject, cardiac, respiratory or circulatory disease.

3.1 Why the Air Quality Management System

Taking a look to the previous paragraphs we perceive the reason why, with Fincantieri shipyard support, the Italian Navy resolved to find a way to reduce the health risk due to the atmosphere pollution and to improve performances of the submarines crews. The Air Management System consists of three subsystems: Air Regeneration System; Air Monitoring System; Air Depollution System. Depollution means the action to remove the pollutants in their physical states, with particular reference to: toxic gasses; particulate (particles under 2 microns); micro-organisms; electric charge balance; and is very different from the concept of depuration, that means the action to remove only the dusts of dimension over 2 microns. In the following a description is given on how on board the depuration concept is replaced by the depollution one. 3.1.1 Air Regeneration System All conventional submarines have an Air Regeneration System, only reliable to restore an adequate oxygen percentage in the vessel confined atmosphere. This system has no depollution action. 3.1.2 Air Monitoring System The First action to be performed in a depollution perspective is to know the chemical composition of the indoor atmosphere, to check and control the first physical state of the pollutants that is toxic gases. Consciousness of the air chemical composition gives the ability to identify in real time damages or leakages of the on board plants or structures (such as gasoline plant or tanks, air conditioning system, etc.) and to timely react to get rid of the pollution source. This aim is achieved by the Submarine Air Monitoring System (SAMS), permitting an adequate control of the most frequent and/or dangerous gases in the submarine atmosphere. A detailed description of the SAMS installed on the SSKs S.Pelosi and G.Prini is provided in Appendix A. The SAMS consists of a mass spectrometer located in the Torpedo room (fore of the ship). This system (see. Appendix A) analyses the air samples drawn from nine suction points located in several rooms of the submarine, comparing them with a gas mixture, filled in two cylinders, that is used to calibrate the mass spectrometer. A laptop computer, located in the Torpedo room and connected to the spectrometer, elaborates the data and stores them on its hard disk. An additional monitor in the control room repeats the signal from the laptop monitor allowing the crew to have the gases trend under control. The system can be operated both in automatic or in manual mode. The first one is most suitable during normal operation conditions. In fact the monitoring software activates a suction point at a time, within a time interval defined by the system user. So the monitoring, for each suction point, is cyclical. In order to warn the crew against the gas threshold outruns, the system is programmed to show a warning window on the monitor, reporting where the alarm has been observed. That window disappear only by crew action, in order to verify the possible causes of the increased gas level. In case an alarm is shown, switching the system operating mode to the manual one is a most suitable running way, because it allows to select the suction point to be kept under control. Data stored in the personal computer

3.0 THE SSK PELOSI EXPERIENCE

EXPERIMENTAL

During the refitting and midlife upgrading works on the Italian SSK S.Pelosi, the first of Batch III Sauro Class Submarines, the Navy decided to install and test onboard an advanced Air Quality Management System. It was a challenge to apply the most innovative solutions available in this field and the most suitable for installation on board with the smaller impact on the existing layout. Fincantieri shipyard was involved in that activity choosing suppliers in the design phase and integrating new systems on board in the production phase, taking into account all constraints and limits due to the previous room arrangements. That meant to study and implement the best solutions to guarantee as much as possible the properly running to the new apparatuses, also complying with the on board security standards, i.e. waterproof and electrical requirements, since several pipes and cables of the Air Monitoring System penetrate the watertight bulkhead.

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

can be recalled to have either the graphical representation of the gas trend for each suction point or the data worksheets from the system start time. 3.1.3 Air Depollution System Even though the monitoring and prevention action is the basis to avoid atmosphere pollution, the main source of it cant be removed, since pollutants are basically produced by the human presence and activities on board (see paragraph 1.0 and 2.0). Before the midlife upgrading works on the SSK S.Pelosi, there was no way to prevent the dusts and particles diffusion into the submarine, except for the mechanical filters before the air conditioning fans and the electrostatic filter in the kitchen cowl. These are the conventional means for the air filtering and depuration, but electrostatic filters (and/or ionizators) have limits in efficacy, maintenance, and safety of the aeraulic system applied. The electrostatic filters are characterised by a minimal action threshold such as to exclude, as a matter of fact, the smallest particles (all gasses, spores, and viruses normally carried by host-particles). Maintenance is very difficult and not very practical. Safety is limited because it does not avoid bacterial reproduction in indoor environments and dangerous diseases can develop fast (pneumonia, mycosis, etc.). Electrostatic filters normally present the possibility of a standard of filtration down to one tenth of a micron (<0,1 microns), but it changes quickly to 5 microns because of the oxidation of the plates for the dust capture. All that brought the Navy to the removal of the kitchen electrostatic filter above mentioned. Certainly, there are plants with absolute filters HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate) that, in industrial environments of microelectronics and pharmaceuticals, guarantee a cleaning class in the limit of 0,3 microns, but they need a control system and maintenance that makes their use particularly complex and expensive. Besides their use is always related to a restricted area, where people allowed access have to be isolated from the air by masks and appropriate garments. HEPA-filter is only a little absolute since its initial efficacy is referred to particles of about 5 microns. Subsequent filtered material raise HEPA efficacy to particles having dimensions lower than one micron. But, being made up in a thin tissue it could be subjected to dangerous vibrations that cause frequent losses of filtered materials. Furthermore, the above filters dont have any sterilisation or electric charge recovery action and the humidity percentage in the air influences their efficacy. It is self-evident that both electrostatic and HEPA-filters are not able to guarantee a continuous and constant filtration degree, and they cant be suitably installed on board submarines. Then the KOALA technology, by D.A.TECH Srl has been chosen to have on board a real source of clean air. A KOALA is a small device (see Appendix B for details) reliable for depollution of dusts, gases, sub-micron particles and sterilisation of bacterial, viral and fungal charge. In order to satisfy the clean air request on board (according to the paragraph 2.0, air flow need for a confined environments) 19 KOALA devices were installed in 11 different submarine rooms, to have a clean air homogeneous distribution on board.

The KOALA system can be operated both in a continuos or in a discontinuous way, taking into account its low electrical absorption and that it doesnt release materials at the restarting time. On board SSK Pelosi the KOALA devices are usually always on. The 5 devices installed in the fore of the submarine (within the watertight bulkhead) are connected to the 115 V subdistribution board in the Torpedo room, the others are connected to the one located in the control room. A switch on each device allows the crew to shut down it, in case of failure or maintenance needs. The capital benefit of this technology is that its based on the concentration of pollutants instead of their dilution. That means, for example, that a KOALA device is equivalent to 21 external ventilation rates per hour, referring to the VOC pollutant, in an environment of 60 m3. Maintenance is another remarkable characteristic of the KOALA system, since no more than five minute a month for each device are necessary to change the carbon filter and to clean the ionic filter with a simple duster.

4.0 TEST AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

4.1 Submarine Air Monitoring System

SAMS system was calibrated using the sample gases cylinders filled on purpose for the SSK S.Pelosi. The system running didnt show any problem and it has been successfully tested and integrated in the Submarine equipment.

4.2

Air Depollution System

In order to verify the Air Depollution System performance, a staff from the Policlinico S.Matteo of Pavia Hospital (Italy) was onboard, on March 10th 2003, to carry out the bacteriological, particulate and gas trend measurement [7]. Analysis were performed from 11.15 a.m. to 17.30 p.m., following the Protocollo di monitoraggio Microbiologico degli ambienti confinati (Rules for the Confined Environments Microbiological Monitoring) in force in the S.Matteo Hospital. These rules refer to the Federal Standard 209E, EN1632 and F.U. X edition. Before going into the data analysis, it must be underlined that pollutant reduction isnt an absolute value, but it is a function of the equilibrium between the contamination process and the KOALA decontamination action. In fact, KOALA action has to be considered constant, while contamination process is very variable, depending on several parameters that are very hard to measure (like room dimensions and structural characteristics, number of people, intensity of human activity, etc.). The results obtained on the monitored pollution trend are shown more in details hereinafter. 4.2.1 Bacteriological analysis The KOALA System antibacterial action is due both to direct filtration and to particulate removal. The instrument used was an Air Sampler Aquaria-Microflow, following the UE Requirements CENT/TC243/WG2, in combination with agar PCA filled Petri dishes type Merck Rodac GKZ 5.5 cm and H+S 5.5 cm.

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

The KOALA System showed a constant 99.9% reduction of the bacteriological charge in the outlet airflow. The mean bacteriological charge reduction in the confined environment of the submarine was about 55.9%. 4.2.2 Particulate analysis Particulate trends have been monitored using a laser particle counter Bio-Test Diagnostic APC1000, following Federal Standard 209E requirements. Sample data were acquired continuously for 200 minutes to include all relevant navigation phases: immersion with no KOALA running, immersion with devices turned on and snorkelling (see figure below).

CO The CO trend was increasing monotonously till the KOALA start up. After, it can be seen that the CO concentration is about constant till the Diesel engine start, when the CO from combustion went inside the submarine through the snorkel. After the snorkelling period the CO rising gradient was reduced, with respect to the previous immersion, by the action of KOALA. The effective air changes obtained with KOALA System for the CO was about 1.21 change/hr (see figure below).

The KOALA System showed a constant 99% reduction of particulate with dimensions down to 0.1 micron in the outlet airflow. The mean particle reduction in the confined environment of the submarine was about 56 %. The graph shows the particulate trend, in different fractions, as monitored in the Torpedo room (fore of the submarine). The KOALA action is especially evident on the 0.3, 0.5, 1.0 microns particulate, because of the better performance of the ionic filter on the smallest particles. However this is the best operating way for a depollution system as KOALA, since the human lungs can filter the 5.0 um particulate, while the particles down to 2.0 um are the most dangerous for human health. 4.2.3 Gases analysis Gases trends have been monitored using infrared analysers Bruel Kjaer 1302, permitting a continuos way monitoring. Some gas trend samples are reported below, to show the KOALA efficiency on the VOC, NOx, SOx and CO. Further chemical analyses have been scheduled and will be carried out within the end of the current year. VOC The total VOC concentration represents an index of the contamination from organic pollutants. The effective air changes obtained with KOALA System for the VOC was about 1.44 change/hr (see figure below).

NOx The NOx trend is similar to the VOC one. The effective air changes obtained with KOALA System for the NOx was about 1.8 change/hr (see figure below).

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

constraints. This reduction didnt prevent the system from showing a remarkable performance, as described in the previous paragraph. So, we can expect that an Air Purification system especially designed for KOALA devices integration could really show good performance, with relative low costs.

5.0 CONCLUSIONS
Although the Air Management System installed onboard Pelosi Submarine is an experimental one, it proved to be reliable and effective. Further investigations on the KOALA system, especially on the KOALA devices, shall be carried out during normal Sub operation, in order to gain confidence and optimise the system performance and looking for the possible extension of this system for all Italian Navy Submarines. SOx The SOx trend is similar to the CO one. The effective air change obtained with KOALA System for the SOx was about 1.6 change/hr (see figure below). Italian Navy, looking towards its renewed Sauro class boats and to the new generation Todaro class (U212A) A.I.P. Submarines, is paying a great attention on the air quality of its submarines. And the reason is not only related to pure health matters, but it comes into a general humanfactor related policy and searching for appropriate and pleasant quality of submariners working place. In this respect, the improvement of new Air Quality Management System is a first step just performed, studies and researches are going on also with the support and effort of Fincantieri shipyard, and the experimental phase of KOALA depollution system is followed with interest and trust.

6.0 AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank the SSK S.Pelosi crew for their active co-operation during the experimental investigation on board.

4.2.4 Remarks and future actions The results obtained until now are to be considered preliminary, since carried out during a sea trial session. In order to complete the submarine environmental analysis it is essential to know all the pollutants being on board and to evaluate the action of KOALA system not only against the monitored ones. So, during further navigations is expected that the crew keep several atmosphere samples before the KOALA System start up and after a two hours system running. The Direzione Sanitaria of the S.Matteo of Pavia Hospital will carry out qualitative analysis on them to complete the tests on the KOALA System effectiveness within the end of the current year. However it must be considered that SSK S.Pelosi was not originally designed to have the KOALA System installed on board, so several devices dont respect the optimum installation rules, because of previous internal arrangements constraint. Especially the distance of the outlet air grid from the nearest obstruction (30 cm recommended) was not always satisfied. The correlated efficiency loss is about 13%, with respect to the complete set of 19 devices correctly installed. Furthermore, the original system design required 24 devices on board, subsequently reduced to 19 to fit the internal

7.0 REFERENCES
1. VANELLA S., MENGHINI A., TUFANO A.: Indoor Air Quality Koala System for aerosol removal, Warship 96 International Symposium on NAVAL SUBMARINES 5, The total weapon system, London UK. MEYER, B: Indoor air quality, pp. 98/104 1983 Ed. Addison-Wesley, Massachusetts, USA. ANDERSON, L: A review of blood lead results from NHANES III, pp. 7/8, American Ind. Assoc., N56, 1995. SHARPE, M., SHAKKEBAEK, Niels: Mimic extrogen and abnormal sperm, Lancet, May, 1993. RIZZETTO, R., CRIMI, P. et al: Total bacterial charge and suspended granulometry in indoor environments of Regional Hospital S. Martino, Genova, pp.337/342 Indoor Air Quality and Health Symposium, 1991, Perugia, Italy. HEDGE, A. et Al: Do negative air ions affect human and performance?, Annals of occupational Hygiene, Vol.31, N3, 1987.

2. 3.

4. 5.

6.

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

7.

LODOLA L.: Relazione tecnica preliminare sul sistema di trattamento aria KOALA-SUB, document n 12406/01 by the Direzione Sanitaria Policlinico S.Matteo di Pavia.

8.0 CONTACT Ing. Alessandro BETTINI FINCANTIERI CNI Spa Via Cipro, 11 16129 Genova ITALY Phone: +39 0105995746 Fax: +39 0105995379 e-mail: alessandro.bettini@fincantieri.it

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

APPENDIX A: ESS MASS SPECTROMETER

A.1 System overview The Submarine Atmosphere Monitoring System (SAMS) is a rugged gas analysis system developed in collaboration between ESS and British Navy. It comprises a highly sensitive mass spectrometer analyser, vacuum system, multiple-inlet and autocalibration system, computer control system and alarm interface. The system is mounted in a robust 19 rack cabinet which is 945 mm high. Samples are continuously drawn from points around the boat to the SAMS inlet by a circulating pump. Automatic three-way valves are then used to divert the live sample stream to the analyser for analysis. A standard system has 9 sample points and 1 calibration connection on the manifold. The power supply is at 115 V 60 Hz. The vacuum system comprises an oil free backing pump and high vacuum Ion pump. The Ion pump is particularly suitable for the high acceleration applications since it has no moving parts. Similarly the Quadrupole analyser and Electronics dont contain any moving parts. The vacuum system is voyage sealed this means that the vacuum should not be broken for maintenance during a tour of duty. If essential maintenance is necessary an emergency pump down kit is supplied to allow vacuum recovery. Vacuum recovery after power failure is fully automatic. Full operation ability is maintained for 15 minutes during power failure via the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). Power failure recovery is also fully automatic. The inlet system comprises a heated monoblock three-way valve manifold and circulating pumps. To reduce dead time in sample point pipe work, samples are continuously drawn at 250 ml/min to a common waste vent on the base unit. When a sample is selected for monitoring it is diverted to the SAMS inlet by one of the three-way valves. The control software package provided gives full user control over system operation via simple user interface panels. The software is designed to run a user defined automatic sequence which, once set, will run continuously. User control of the following features is available via simple interactive screen editing: number of sample points active; order of sample analysis; analysis time on each active point; alarm activation on each active point; alarm level on each active point. Once set the system will run continuously without any further user intervention. The system features preprogrammed auto calibration intervals, self test and full power failure recovery. A continuous plot of sample points is made for the principal display and shows the trend with time, instantaneous digital reading for all sample points. Data may be automatically stored on per sample point per 24 hours basis for historical records. The system allows the choice of the gases to be monitored: it is sufficient to fill the autocalibration cylinders with the desired substances. The monitored gases concentrations on board SSK S.Pelosi are the following: Acrolein: VOC from human activity, tobacco smoke and fossil fuels combustion;

Benzene: VOC from the Diesel engine fuel and human activity; Chlorine: gas from the HAMANN plant and human activity; CO2: breathable gas; CO: from exhaust gases and combustion; Ethylene: VOC from human activity and from diesel engine running; Halon 1301: gas used as extinguishing agent for the Diesel Engines room; Hexane: VOC from human activity and from diesel engine running; Nitrogen: breathable gas; Oxygen: breathable gas; Xylene: VOC from the diesel engine fuel; R 134 A: gas used as coolant for the air conditioning plant; Toluene: VOC from human activity and from diesel engine fuel; H2: gas generated during the main battery charging and discharging cycles.

APPENDIX B: TECHOLOGY

D.A.TECH

DEPOLLUTION

B.1 System overview A KOALA device as installed on the SSK S.Pelosi is showed in the picture below.

The device overall dimensions and characteristics are listed below. Length: Height: Width: Weight: Power supply: Working temperature: Relative humidity: Air flow: Total power absorption: 390 mm 157 mm 610 mm 18 kg 115 V / 60 Hz from 0C up to 50C up to 95% without loosing performances 10-30-60 m3/h, depending upon the selected fan speed. 40-60 W

KOALA System born with the aim of furnishing a clean air source to the operation theatre in the hospitals. Due to the particular confined environment, the system has been experimentally chosen to improve the air quality onboard submarines.

Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

The KOALA System working can be summarised as follow: indoor air is sucked in through a grid back positioned thank to the actions of a special vacuum fan inside KOALA. The air flows through the different filtration step mounted in series inside the device in the same air direction course. Air transit speed has been selected to follow the requirements listed below: an appropriate contact time of the air with the special activated carbon; no subjective sensation of ventilation from people present inside the environment being treated, especially avoiding discomfort; air flow predicted course, inside the treated volume, has to provoke recycling and iterations of the indoor atmosphere through the depollution device. The heart of the environmental improvements apparatus is represented by a particular multiple filtering system (parts of which are D.A.TECH. Srl exclusive patent), which is divided into the following components: 1- mechanical filter 2- special activated carbon filter 3- ionic filter 4- germicide lamp 5- ionizator All that is piloted by an electronic control board.

exposed to it. The carried out tests confirm the filter efficiency, blocking impurities to a size of a thousandth of a micron (as measured at the Kuopio University, Department of Environmental Sciences). KOALA system heart works as an electro-filtration method (patented) particularly developed to allow the removal of the breathable particulate fraction composed by particles under two microns, not disposable with traditional filtering systems. These particles are also the most harmful vehicle of the microbiological air charge. Therefore the ionic filter holds back the majority of viruses, associated with organic substances, bacteria and allergenic factors and fibres (both manmade and natural), spores, fungi and moulds in the environments. We must notice that KOALA device, intended as antipollution unit, continuously recycles the volume of air subject to treatment. Such a mechanism undoubtedly has a maximum capture effect. The germicide lamp is positioned to impress with UV rays the whole collecting plate of the ionic filter, destroying DNA of bacteria and other micro-organisms and viruses that are associated with aerosol and particulate captured by the collecting plate itself, through a constant action. The lamp emits UV radiations, with a rigorously fixed wavelength, in the spectrum critical point where there is a maximum germicide action and non-attendance of ozone production (ozone free system). The ionizator has a double ionizing point, positioned in correspondence with the air downstream, to associate to this a significant quantity of negative ions and to establish the proportion of negative to positive ions near to the natural one (three to two). B.2 System advantages The use of KOALA System brings considerable advantages in comparison with HEPA, traditional electrostatic filter and air ionisation systems. The HEPA filters are not suitable for use on submarines because of the limits yet underlined and because of the weakness of materials used to make the filtration elements. In comparison with electrostatic filters, KOALA System is most desirable on board because: it does not need pre-polarization of the dusts for their capture; it does not use high tensions on the air and therefore it does not create Ozone; it does not use interception plates laid one upon the other and therefore it does not need controls and maintenance to avoid electrical discharges from short circuits due to the accumulation of stopped material; also without maintenance it does not emit dusts and bacterial charge, even if it is used in a discontinuous way; air ionisation happens in a clean way, avoiding dust precipitation onto the environment surfaces; it can be used in the presence of other systems of thermal and/or climatic adjustment of the environment, because, for its kind of flow and air launching speed, it does not create interferences, or turbulence. In the case of absence of such apparatuses, anyway it respects the convective movement of the environment not mixing the air close to the ceiling with that close to the floor. It is of basic importance in order to avoid the resuspension in the air of the particulate and bacterial charge;

Description of the Filtration steps The mechanical filter is a fabric net filter capable of trapping particles up to 200 microns. The special activated carbon filter is made from 800 grams of a special mix of activated carbons, deliberately enriched to increase its adsorbent properties in a selective way towards the indoor pollution toxic gases. It is likewise efficient against external pollutants (for example the snorkel inlet gases) as well as internal ones. The ionic filter is a very particular filter, based on the principle of electronic bombing of the air and the consequent modification of the electric characteristics of the molecules

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Challenge for Air Indoor Quality on board Submarines

it avoids the relapse on the surface of dusts and bacterial charge or fungal associated one and allows the best working of scientific instruments and related control panel (usually invaded by bacteria and moulds in environments without change of outdoor air); the possibility to change the Kit-Filter quickly and without maintenance, allows recovery from gases even for particular working requirements, using Special Kit-Filters, aimed at particular polluting gases; it allows the control and the healing also from radioactive gases and dust in a continuous way, as already demonstrated on Radon and Iodine 131, either in civil environment than in those sanitary ones.

It may seem excessive to define KOALA System as the new frontier in air filtration for closed environments, but that is really appropriate. In fact no filtering system can guarantee in a continuous way a standard of filtration at a level of granulometry less than 0.3 microns.

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