IN TOTAL COMMAND!

When DMKL of the Dutch Army required to conserve weapon systems of Anti-aircraft artillery in an environmentally unconditioned warehouse, Delair supplied the dehumidifying system. The system supplied dry air directly to the tanks through flexible ducting and kept the internals flushed, thus preserving them from corrosion and rust. The American military and NATO requirements for military preservation have also been met by Bry-Air dehumidifying systems.

Well beyond human comfort and well-being, the need for a perfect environment extends to man-made machines, products and processes. Corroded steel parts, rusted bolts, decayed parchments, rotten seeds, moldy clothes, disintegrated tablets, coagulated powders, sparking contacts, unclear communications are all evidence of the adverse effects of high humidity in the environment.

Low humidity conditions and clean air are the main elements for safe preservation as is evident from the well-preserved relics and mummies enshrined in the pyramids for over thousand years. Moisture control is of utmost importance for the safe preservation of materials during storage, manufacturing and processing.

Dehumidification is being widely used by the defence in the preservation of equipment in storage of active status material. Though modern armoured vehicles are designed and built to operate in tough operational conditions, they cannot withstand harsh climatic conditions when not in operation. As weapons get smarter and equipment need to protect and preserve them, both in transit and in storage, becomes ever more challenging.

The Dry Storage System

Bry-Air, using the concept of dehumidification, has been able to come up with the perfect solution of the outdoor storage problems, where permanent storage structure is not available and indoor storage problem, where the structure or warehousing is available.

The Bry-Air Flexible Dry Storage System provides a proven solution to storing all types of mobile ground and airborne equipment, allowing storage in any outdoor area and assuring flexibility and movability in the choice of storage site. Depending on the requirement, the dehumidification can be connected inside the shroud. It can be kept in a weather proof trolley serving 2 to 4 shrouds at the same time. Bry-Air offers both cluster and individual installation options.

Advantages of the system

The system protects military equipment from corrosion. It forms a barrier against humidity, salt, sand, dust, insects and the sun's ultra violet rays which are so damaging to rubber, paintwork and canvas. Microbiological attack is inhibited and optics and other fittings stay free of fungus. The usage of the FDS system results in increased meantime between failures, reduced maintenance cost and greater time availability for training.

Equipment stored in dry storage is always battle ready and can be made operational in a very short time.

Indoor storage

In indoor storage conditions, the dehumidifier is connected to the inside of the tank or aircraft through flexible ducting to keep the insides flushed with dry air. Environmental protection for storage of static materials like optics, rubber parachutes, rations, records, microfilms and medicines can be provided by dehumidifying the entire storage space. Smaller components can be stored in glove boxes.

The Bry-Air experience

The Bry-Air experience with several military equipment applications over the years shows that dehumidification basically is a function of:

A.    The type of preservation the equipment has already received.
B.    The stage of readiness for which the equipment has been scheduled.
C.    The type of equipment.

Typically, standard equipment such as trucks, tanks, guns usually fall into 35% RH area and max. of 80°F, considering the volatility of raw material an atmosphere of 10-50% RH and 35-75°F would be required.

There is no singular system to cover the entire field of applications. This is where the Bry-Air experience comes in to design a special system to meet the required needs.

Complete capability

Bry-Air had been manufacturing dehumidifiers for over three decades, but its strength lies in providing total solutions. Bry-Air engineering research and development provides it with the ability to seek and develop new concepts, to apply established practices to new requirements, to co-ordinate from draft specifications through design and prototype stages into production and through into service.

This capability places it in 'Total Command' to provide the most effective solutions for protection and preservation in civil and military operations.

(Reproduced from Bry-World - Bry-Air International Newsletter, Issue 4)