DC EQUIPMENT MUSEUM

Ventilation Equipment

Hazardous atmospheres exist or develop every day onboard U.S. Navy vessels. Through the use of fixed and portable ventilation machinery, we have been able to create a safe area in which to work.

After fires, smoke had to be removed from affected areas. Natural ventilation, which used open doors and hatches with the prevailing winds, wasn’t always the most effective way to clear smoke. While turning on the installed ventilation was sometimes the best way to desmoke, the possibility of the presence of explosive gases always made it dangerous to do so. The engineer officer could authorize the use of installed ventilation to desmoke. Portable ventilation equipment was more commonly used for such operations.

The proper placement of portable blowers greatly influenced the quantity of air and smoke that can be moved. Total flow may range from much less than the blower-rated capacity to more than twice the rated capacity.