subject: About Airlock Systems [print this page] About Airlock Systems About Airlock Systems
Anairlockis a mechanism that is used as a passage for people or objects to move through between two different environments.Airlock systemslook like chambers with two separate airtight doors that can't open simultaneously. They can be used as passages between environments of different pressures, gasses or even moisture.
The purpose of using anairlock systemis to prevent gasses, pressures or liquids in the different environments from mixing. Floodableairlocksor underwater airlocksserve as passages between air environments and water environments, in which case the chambers can contain either water or air. These are often used to prevent water from entering some submersible or underwater environments or vessels.
Many ordinary access chambers are built in anairlockfashion with two doors that cannot open simultaneously, but these chambers are generally not airtight. These are commonly found at entrances of buildings that have some form of climate control, because the double doors minimize the loss of air from the building. Even though these chambers look like the traditionalairlock access chamber, they aren't capable of fulfilling the same purpose.
Airlocksare commonly used in the aviation and aquatic industries for obvious reasons, such as keeping water and air from the transport vessels. These systems are also commonly used in laboratories, cleanrooms and hazardous or protected environments to prevent toxic gasses, unwanted particles and other contaminants from entering or leaving the specific environment. This is done by keeping theaccess chamberat a higher pressure than the surroundings in order to keep particles out and at a lower pressure if they are to be kept inside.
Airlock chambersare often used in mines as an attachment to arefuge chamberto ensure that the main entrance to therefuge chamberremains free from toxic gas or other contaminants that might be introduced when survivors enter therefuge chamber. Arefuge chamberis a steel constructed chamber with air, water and power supply that is kept in mines for miners to retreat to in the case of an emergenc y until rescuers arrive. Hence, it serves as a 'safe' environment in the midst of harsh surroundings and it is necessary to prevent elements from its surroundings from entering to keep it as such - and anairlock access chambermakes this possible.
Brokrewsupplies SurvivAir-technology products that offer a range of refuge andairlock access chambersthat have won acclaim locally and abroad.
