DASCEM Halon & CFC Services

Halon Decanting

Recovery

The recovery process can be defined as the removal of halon in both the liquid and vapour phases from pressurised cylinders. The nitrogen used to pressurise the cylinders is also removed during this process.

The two methods of halon recovery used at the Australian National Halon Bank are defender units and cylinder piercing.

Computer controlled Cylinder Piercing Technology (CPT) is used to recover halon from portable fire extinguishers and fixed-system cylinders. Individual cylinders are securely clamped into a horizontal position and pierced through the side wall. The halon flows through the centre of the piercing device and into the CPT unit, which is fully sealed to avoid atmospheric exposure.

Defender units are selectively used to recover halon from cylinders with head valve actuation if the cylinder is required for reuse. Quick fit couplings are used to connect halon cylinders to defender units which act as pumping stations recovering the contents of the cylinder through the head valve.

The recovery system has the capability of a minimum recovery rate of 95% from halon cylinders.