CA1251005A - Process and system for removing asbestos from structures - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A system and process for removing asbestos from structures includes all components necessary for safe removal of the material in a van body that can be moved easily from one site to another. The system includes mechanism for sealing of selected areas, with tubing connecting the selected sealed areas to a separator chamber in the van body. Air pressure is lowered within the sealed enclosed area and airflow is maintained through the tube to the separator chamber. Water jets are also directed within the tube toward the separator chamber. Asbestos can be removed from the structure within the enclosure and deposited into the tube where it flows in an air and water stream to the separator chamber.
There the larger asbestos particles are allowed to drop into a collection tank. Remaining fibers are filtered by a series of air filters until the air is safe to be discharged into the atmosphere. Airflow and pressure differential is produced by one or more of a series of valved fan units near a discharge end of the chamber. An auxiliary airflow tube and return air (make-up air) tube can also be connected between the chamber and enclosure.

Description

lA85~1 The present invention relates to safe removal of asbestos and like dangerous fibrous materials from structures.
Existing methods -for removing ha~ardous asbestos from structures involves very tedious and expensive procedures. Typically, a room containing asbestos must be first sealecl off. Workers wearing protective clothing then remove the materials within the sealed room, placillg it within plastic bags. The bags are then moved to a disposal site.
This process is very slow and not without hazards. Even double lining for the bag containers will not prevent accidental breakage at which l O time the flyable asbestos materials included therein may be released to the atmosphere. Furthermore, the room must be opened then resealed as workers enter and leave the area. Careful cleaning procedures must also be followed after the asbestos has been removed.
The need for removal of asbestos from structures is often foregone because the resources necessary to fund the appropriate conventional removal procedures are lacking. Many structures therefore remain with the asbestos problem or must be abandoned until sufficient funding and competent removal contractors can be obtained to correct the difficulty.
An urgent need therefore remains for removal equipment that will

2 0 facilitate safe and complete removal of asbestos from existing structures .Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating placement of the present system in use;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a sealed chamber used in the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a sectioned elevation view of the elements shown in Fig. 2;

lA~541 S~ 5 Fig. 4 is a detailed view of an enclosure tha-t may be used with the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a sectioned view of a grinder mechanism;
Fig. 6 is a sectioned view through a portion of interconnected tubes of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a sectionesl view taken substantially along line 7-7 in Fig.
6;
Fig. 8 is a fragmented detail view taken substantially along line 8-8 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 9 is a view taken substantially along line 9-9 in Fig. 2.
The process and system described herein is intended for the removal of asbestos or like hazardous fibers generally indicated graphically at 10 in Fig. 1 from an existing structure 11. Asbestos requiring removal is typically found in structures where pipes, ducting, or ceiling insulation, etc. has been accomplished using material including asbestos fibers.
Removal of the loose particulate material becomes necessary to avoid serious potential health haæards. The present system affords economical and relatively quick removal of the dangerous substance in a safe and effective manner.
Asbestos removed from the structure 11 is delivered by a sealed system to a collection tank 12 within a portable wheel-supported van body 13. The body 13 can be selectively moved by truck or other towing vehicle from one site to another and to appropriate authori2ed disposal sites where the sealed collector tank 12 can be emptied.
2 5 An important aspect of the present system is an enclosure means shown generally in Fig. 1 and in more detail in Fig. 4. The enclosure means 15 is securable to the structure 11 for enclosing and sealing an area about the asbestos 10 to be removed. The form of the enclosure means 15 '' .:

: .

~2S~ 5; lA85~1 shown in Figs. 1 and ~ may vary according to need. For example, the enclosure means may take the form of the room or structure shown in Figs. 1 and 4. ~lternatively, it may simply be an appropriate sealing arrangement (not shown) for a door or window as in the situation where asbestos is to be removed from a small room within a structure.
The enclosure means 15 shown in Figs. 1 and ~ is defined by five flexible sides that may be foldable. One open side 17 is preferably open and securable to the structure. The top side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is provided with a seal 18 for sealing the enclosure about the con-fined l O area . The open end 17 could also be situated along one of the remaining sides depending upon the location of the material being removed.
A bottom 19 of the enclosure may be provided with an appropriate grate or flooring to support workers therein. The side walls 17 are preferably formed of a flexible material that may be transparent or translucent and supported on an expandable frame 20. The entire enclosure can be supported on a standard scaffold or lift mechanism 22.
The enclosure shown may be effectively used to seal an area for removal of asbestos from overhead areas such as, but not limited to, overhead piping, air conditioning ducts, ceiling tiles and boiler lines~
Provision is made for receiving water from an outside supply 21 through one of the flexible walls of the enclosure means. The outside water source may be used in the enclosure to wet the asbestos material along with a saturant sprayed onto the material before removal. The wetted asbestos may then be removed from the structure within the 2 5 perimeter of the enclosure .

Danger of flyable asbestos fibers escaping the enclosure is minimized by maintaining a negative pressure within the enclosure means. That is to say, the air pressure within the enclosure will be maintained lower than

3~2Si~ 05 lA85~1 the ambient pressure surrounding the enclosure. Any air seepage will therefore be in an inward direction into the enclosure. Air will not be allowed to seep out into the surrounding area. Any unsettled, flying fibers will therefore remain within the enclosed area. This pressure differential is maintained by apparatus that will be described in greater detail below.
The enclosure means is provided with several fittings for connection to tubes leading to the portable wheel-supported van 13. A fitting 23, for example, is provided for mounting a return air duct that supplies fresh air l O in a closed circuit with the present system to the enclosure means . A
fitting 24 is also provided for an auxiliary air tube used for drawing air and suspended flyable particulates to the van. Another provision is made in the form of a funnel 25 formed along the floor or enclosure bottom 19.
The funnel is upwardly open to receive asbestos solids removed from the structure within the perimeter of the enclosure means 15.
The funnel 25 may lead to a grinder means 27 that is shown in Figs.

4 and 5. The grinder means 27 may be attached to the funnel 25 for receiving asbestos solids and for grinding the solids into small, easily moved particulates.
2 0 The grinder means may include a hollow tubular structure with a rubber splashback door 28 at an upward end thereof. This upward end is attachable and sealable to the funnel 25 for receiving the asbestos solids.
The rubber splashback door will allow relatively free passage of the asbestos as it is dropped into the grinder but will prevent the asbestos from being thrown back upwardly by the grinding mechanisms below.
The asbestos particles are ground or comminuted between a bladed rotor 29 and rigid stators 30 mounted within the tubular support. A drive motor 31 is supplied outside the grinder tube for driving the rotor 29. It ~:5~C3(3~i lA8541 has been found that a l . 5 hp . motor rotating the grinder at approximately 3,600 rpm will function aclequately to comminute any received asbestos materials to particle sizes easily transported in the closed system to the waiting van.
The rotors operate with a hammer-mill effect to comminute the material and discharge the resulting particles downwardly to a hollow tube 34 extending from an intake end 35 to a discharge end 36 connected to the van 13. The intake end 35 may be selectively secured in a sealed relationship to the grinder means 27 by an appropriate cam lock coupler (not shown) that is commonly available for producing moisture and airtight seals between hollow tubes.
The tube 34 is made up of several interconnected sections 37 having sealable fittings 38 at opposed ends. Similar conventional cam lock couplers can be provided for securely sealing these sections together and to prevent seepage of air and entrained materials therefrom.
It is intended that air and moist asbestos particulates be drawn or moved in a flowing manner along the tube to the van. This is accomplished by air movement but is also assisted by water jet means 40 along the tube 34. The water jet means 40 is supplied with water under a 2 0 selected pressure (approximately 90 pounds per square inch or 63. 279 grams per square millimeter) from a pump 41 on the van. The water is pumped to jet nozzles 42 (Fig. 7) that may be situated at each of the sealable fittings 38 along the length of the tube. A common water line will supply each of the jet nozzles 42. The water line is also supplied in lengths equal the tube lengths. Quick disconnect couplings can be provided to interconnect the various water delivery tube sections together along the full lenKth of the tube.

1A~541 ~S~O~S

The jet nozzles 42 are shown in Figs. 6 and 7. They are preferably angled in the direction of -flow of air and asbestos particulates. The water discharged by the no~les will wet the asbestos particles that may begin a drying process in the moving air within the tube~ The water will therefore serve to maintain the asbestos in a somewhat wetted condition.
Secondly, the jets are directed in the direction of flow to encourage flow of the particles along the tube to the van. The jets will further aid in avoiding plugging situations that might otherwise develop at the tube joints .
Water is also supplied from the pump 41 to opposed nozzles 45 situated at the top end of the grinder means 27. The water here is also utilized to further wet the asbestos received from within the enclosure.
The asbestos dropped into the grinder preferably includes approximately 15 to 25% water by volume due to previous wetting. The jets in the grinder serve to further saturate the received asbestos and to provide a spray of water droplets that will contact and attach a good portion of any flyable fibers dislodged by the grinding process.
In addition to tube 34, two other tubes may be supplied interconnecting the van and the enclosure means 15. An auxiliary air tube 2 0 46 may be supplied . This tube 46 leads from the van to an end connected to the fitting 24 described above. Tube 46 is used to maintain a low pressure environment 1,vithin the enclosed area by supplementing air flow through the tube 34 or substituting for such flow should the tube 34 become clogged or otherwise incapable of drawing air from the enclosed 2 5 area to the van . A make-up or return air tube 47 is also supplied between the van and enclosure area 15. Tube 47 is used to supply air to the enclosed area if so desired.

lAû5~1 ~;~$~(~05i The contents of the wheel supported van 13 are shown in somewhat schematic form by Figs. 2 ancl 3. Basically, the interior of the van body may be described as a separator chamber 50 in which asbestos particles are received and separated from the air stream flowing through the tube 34 and auxiliary tube 46 from the enclosed area. The air is cleaned of asbestos fibers and is recyclecl through the make-up air tube 47 or is simply discharged into the surrounding atmosphere. ~ppropriate filtration (described below) is provided within the separator chamber to adequately filter the received air and render it safe for free discharge to the atmosphere .
Within the separator chamber, a valved tube extends from a sealed bulkhead 54 over the collection tank 12. The valved tube is elongated and includes three longitudinally spaced discharge spouts that are selectively openable to direct airflow and asbestos particles into the collection tank 12 below.
A rotatable internal tube 57 is provided within the valved tube 53.
The internal tube 57 includes three angularly spaced holes 58. These holes are equiangularly spaced at approximately 30 from one another.
The tube 57 is connected to a crank 59 extending erom the outward tube 2~ 53.
An operator 60 such as a cylinder or motor arrangement is mounted between the crank 5~ and van walls. The operator can be selectively actuated to rotate the internal tube 57, bringing any selected one of the holes 58 into alignment with an associated discharge spout 56. Appropriate sensors may be positioned within the tank to detect the level of material collecting below each of the tubes. As the asbestos reaches a prescribecl level, the appropriate sensor 62 will be activated. A signal may then be sent to the operator which will automatically rotate the internal tube to ~S~LO~S

align another of the remaining two holes with its associated discharge spout. The discharging asbestos and air will therefore be directed through the new opening until the asbestos level builds to the height of the associated sensor.
The accumulating material will activate the sensor upon reaching a selected height at which time the operator will again be activated to rotate the internal pipe for a third time. Thls will bring the remaining hole into position, thereby changing the discharge location for the air and entrained asbestos particles. Material build-up will then continue below the last l O discharge opening until the final sensor is activated . The sensor may be connected to an appropriate warning device that will indicate the tank 12 is full and requires emptying.
The collection tank 12 is formed within the separator chamber 50 between the sealed bulkhead 54 and an upright partition wall 67. An upper edge of the wall is spaced below the ceiling or top of the separator chamber to provide a space through which air may flow. The wall 67 ~
along with the bulkhead 5~ and side walls of the van, form the upwardly open collection tank 12 which can be lined with a flexible waterproof removable liner 68. The liner 68 facilitates removal of collected asbestos in bulk rather than simply by draining a collected slurry through a discharge valve 70. 13ither step can be accomplished, depending upon the consistency of the mixture held within the tank and disposal requirements.
The flexible liner, for example, can be closed about the contents and removed from the van in an acceptable manner according to present 2 5 standards for asbestos removal in closable plastic bags . An appropriate door (not shown) may be supplied along the bulkhead 5~ or side wall of the van body to permit access for removal of the liner.

~2~ 5 lA8541 Asbestos particles will settle by gravity into the collection tank 12.
The received air will move on through the separator chamber to be cleaned and discharged into the atmosphere or re turned in a cleaned condition to the enclosure means 15. The air received from the tubes 34 and 46 will move through a pre-filter arrangement 73 that will collect large particulates. It is then encountered by a series of laminar flow baffles 74 which serve to spread the air stream over the entire face surface of downstream filter assemblies.
The airflow spread by the laminar flow baflles 74 is received by a filter assembly 78. The assembly 78 has the function of removing any remaining harmful asbestos fibers and has the further function of drying the air for discharge.
The assembly 78 includes a series of filter elements for this purpose.
A first wet pre-filter element 81 uses water to wash particulates and water droplets containing particulates into a receiving tray below. The air passes through this filter to a secondary, dry filter 82. Filter 8~ serves to remove more fibers. ~ second wet filter 83 may also be employed adjacent the dry filter 82 to perform a further filtering function, along with a second dry filter 84.
2 0 The above filtering arrangement may be repeated as many times as necessary to clean the air of large fibers and water droplets before it enters a stabilizing air space 85 situated between the last dry filter 84 and a final filter wall 86. The filters comprising this wall are preferably made up of a high efficiency particulate filter material capable of filtering approximately 14,000 cubic feet or 396.48 cubic meters of air per minute and removing particulate matter of . 002 inches or . 0508 millimeters and larger. Air exiting the high efficiency filter will be sufficiently free of asbestos particles to meet or exceed any known safety regulation.

,~:25~ ; lA8541 Airi low and pressure differential is produced within the separator chamber 50 and through the various tubes to the enclosed area by operation of an air displacement means generally shown at 90 within a forward end of the van body. The air displacement means 90 may be comprised of a battery of four fans 91 powered by a single drive source.
In practice, a 125 hp. internal combustion engine has been used connected by appropriate belting 93 to drive shafts of the four fans 91. Each fan is preferably controlled by an independently operable valve arrangement 94 (such as a standard vortex valve). Appropriate controls can be provided to activate the valves according to selected pressure requirements and the nature of material being removed from the structure.
A discharge 95 may feed return air from the van to the sealed area by the return air tube 47. An appropriate connection can be made at this discharge to releasably secure an end of the return air tube 47. Return or discharge air can be controlled by the appropriate control valves 94 or by an internal valve (not shown) within the air tube 47 to dictate the amount of air returned to the enclosure means 15. ~nly enough air should be returned to the enclosure means 15 through the tube 47 to partially make up for the air drawn into the tube 34 and auxiliary tube 46. The 2 0 remainder of the make-up air should come from the area immediately adjacent the enclosure means 15 to assure any potential air leaks will occur in an inward direction and will not allow escape of flyable fibers.
The remaining discharge 96 simply opens to the atmosphere and will allow escape of the remaining discharge air that is not recycled back to 2 5 the enclosure through tube 47 .
Appropriate controls can be utilized for maintaining low pressure within the enclosure means 15 and separator chamber 50. Appropriate sensors 98, 99, for example, may be situated within the chamber and

5 1~.8541 enclosure respectively to constantly monitor the pressure in both areas.
An abrupt change in pressure differential between the two areas will indicate a difficulty.
For example, a sudden drop in pressure within the separator chamber may indicate a stoppage along the tube 34. Action can then be taken responsive to the pressure differential to alleviate the problem. The fan control valves 94 may then be opened to enlist the help of additional fans to further lower the pressure within the separator chamber, producing a suction that will normally pull any blockage through the tube 34 and into the collection tank. The added fans 91 will also serve to maintain the low pressure area within the enclosure means 25 through the auxiliary air tube 46. Valving within the make-up or replacement air tube ~7 can also be used in appropriate situations to decrease the amount of air returnin~ to the enclosed area, thereby further assuring that the lo~v pressure area will be maintained while the blockage is being removed.
~larious other forms of sensors and controls may be supplied that are well within the capabilities of control system designers.
The present process may be best understood in conjunction with an explanation of the operation for the present system. Firstly, however, it 2 0 should be understood that the entire system may be enclosed within the portable van. All the tubes and the enclosure structure 15 can be carried within a storage space 105 at the rear of the van, behind the bulkhead 5~.
Doors (not shown3 can be sealed at this area and secured for transport of the entire system to a work site.
The van is first positioned at an area adjacent to -the structure where the storage space 105 can be opened and the tubes and enclosure means can be removed and assembled. An area can then be enclosed about the site where asbestos is to be removed simply by positioning the enclosure .
,,,, , ...

~;25~(~0S lA854t means 15 such that the open end 17 is situated about the area and is sealed against an appropriate surface. If another form of the enclosure means is to be utilized, the process remains similar. The enclosure may also become an actual room within the structure and the enclosure means 15 may simply be a sealing device for securing the tubes to a doorway or window .
After the area has been properly enclosed, and the tubes 34 assembled and connected to the separator chamber, the fans can be driven to produce a pressure differential within the enclosed area. This pressure differential is created about the asbestos to be removed so that air pressure within the enclosed area is lower than that of the surrounding ambient pressure. Any seepage will be directed into rather than out of the enclosed area. Any flying particulates or fibers will therefore be maintained within the enclosed area and there will be no danger of fibers escaping the enclosure even though a small "leak" may e~ist.
When the pressure differential has been established, action can be initiated for removal of the asbestos. This can be accomplished by a worker within the assembled enclosure 15. It is advisable first to wet the asbestos with water and a saturant material such as polyethylene glycol.
Enough water is applied to the asbestos to saturate the material to a water content of between 15 and 25g6. This reduces the amount of flyable particulates that will be freed when the asbestos is removed from the adjacent structure.
The ne~t step after wetting the asbestos is to remove it from the structure. This can be done using standard and/or power tools since the area is secured by the enclosure means 15. The removed asbestos is then placed through the funnel where it is drawn through the tube 34 in an air stream to the collection tank 12 within the van. The same air movement ~S~LO~ 854l that is used to produce the pressure differential is also used to move the wetted asbestos material along the tube and into the separator chamber 50.
The asbestos particles arriving at the separator chamber 50 are allowed to drop into the storage tank 12 from the incoming air. The air is then Qltered within the chamber 50 to remove asbestos particles and the cleaned air is subsequently exhausted. Exhausted air may be returned to the atmosphere or a portion of the air can be returned to the enclosed area by the return air tube 47.
The above process may be augmented by grinding the asbestos l O received through the enclosure just as it enters the tube . The ground orcomminuted asbestos particles will move more freely along the length of the tube when ground into fine particulates.
Flow along the tube may be encouraged by injecting water under relatively high pressure at stations along the length of the tube. This is accomplished by the water jet means 40 as described above. The jets serve to increase the flow of asbestos particles along the tube to the separator chamber and to wet the flying asbestos particles as they move along. This facilitates movement through the tube and encourages separation by gravity as the air and entrained droplets with attached particulates enter the chamber over the collection tank 12. The heavy water droplets and solid asbestos particulates will drop into the collecting tank 12.
The process may also be enhanced by producing an auxiliary airflow from the enclosed area to the separator chamber 50. The auxiliary tube 46 2 5 can be used to draw air from the enclosed area to the storage tank, supplementing the air movement through the tube 34.
The process continues by filtering air within the separator chamber to clear the air by removing flyable asbestos particles. This step may be :

~ 25~ 5 lA8541 accomplished by passing the air received within the chamber through the fil ter assemblies described above .
Asbestos can be continually removed within the enclosed area until all traces are drawn through the tube 3~ and received within the sealed separator chamber 50.
The entire area can be washed down with water before the system is shut down to facilitate movement of` the enclosure to another area.
Relocation of the enelosure within the same structure can be accomplished simply by moving the support 22 ~md subsequently reattaching the enclosure means to the structure about a new source of asbestos to be removed. The above process is than repeated until all the harmful material has been removed from the structure.
When all asbestos has been removed the enclosure means can simply be appropriately folded and the tubes disconnected and gathered into the truck where it can be stored and transported to the next site.
The present process will leave the structure clean and free of harmful asbestos particles while the operation remains safe to the workers accomplishing the asbestos removal. It is estimated the cost and completion time will be significantly reduced using the present system and process in comparison to the existing systems in current use.

Claims (23)

The embodiment of the invention, in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:

1. A system for safely removing asbestos from a structure, comprising:
enclosure means securable to the structure for enclosing and partially sealing an area about the asbestos to be removed;
a sealed tube leading from an intake end, opening into the enclosure, to a discharge end;
a portable sealed separator chamber having an intake at one end connectable to the discharge end of the tube and a chamber discharge at a remaining end;
an upwardly open asbestos collection tank enclosed within the sealed chamber adjacent the tube discharge end;
a filter assembly within the chamber between the tank and chamber discharge for filtering asbestos particles from air within the chamber;
air displacement means between the filter assembly and chamber discharge for reducing air pressure within the enclosed area through the tube and for producing an airflow through the sealed tube from the enclosed area and into the chamber, over the collection tank, through the filters and subsequently out through the chamber discharge; and water jet means along the sealed tube for directing a jet of water into the tube in the direction of airflow therein for wetting the asbestos and for moving the wetted asbestos in the direction of the airflow.

2. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 further comprising:
a return air tube leading from the chamber discharge to the enclosure means to provide make-up air to the enclosed area.

3. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 further comprising:
grinder means in the sealed tube adjacent the tube intake opening.

4. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 wherein the asbestos collection tank includes a removable waterproof liner and a sealable drain for receiving water and asbestos from the sealed tube.

5. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 further comprising an elongated valved tube within the separator chamber above the collection tank having longitudinally spaced discharge openings; and means for selectively opening any one of the spaced openings to discharge air and wetted asbestos into the collection tank below.

6. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 further comprising laminar air flow baffles within the chamber between the collection tank and filter assembly.

7. The asbestos removal system of claim 6 wherein the filter assembly includes:
a wet filter element adjacent the laminar flow baffles;
a dry filter element adjacent the wet filter element; and a high efficiency particulate filter between the dry filter and the air displacement means.

8. The asbestos removal system of claim 7 wherein the high efficiency particulate filter is capable of removing particulates of approximately .0508 millimeters and larger from air passing therethrough.

9. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 wherein the air displacement means is comprised of:
a battery of fans;
drive means for selectively operating the fans; and individual, controllable valves on each fan.

10. The asbestos removal system of claim 9 further comprising a return air tube extending from the chamber discharge to provide make-up air to the enclosed area.

11. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 further comprising water pump means within the chamber for supplying water to water jet means.

12. The asbestos removal system of claim 11 further comprising water pump means on the chamber for supplying water at a pressure of approximately 63.279 grams per square millimeter to the water jet means.

13. The asbestos removal system of claim 1 wherein the sealed tube is made up of several sections releasably joined at sealable joints and wherein the water jet means includes a discharge nozzle within the tube at each sealable joint.

14. The asbestos removal system of claim 13 further comprising water pump means on the chamber for supplying water at a pressure of approximately 63.279 grams per square millimeter to the water jet means.

15. The asbestos removal system of claim 13 further comprising:

a return air tube leading from the chamber discharge to the enclosure means to provide make-up air to the enclosed area.

16. A process for removing asbestos from a structure comprising the steps of:
installing an enclosure means to enclose an area about the asbestos to be removed;
operating an air displacement means to produce a pressure differential within the enclosed area about the asbestos to be removed such that the air pressure within the enclosed area is lower than ambient pressure;
wetting the asbestos to be removed;
removing the asbestos placing the removed wetted asbestos into a sealed tube extending from the enclosed area to a separator chamber remote from the structure;
drawing air, using the air displacement means, from the enclosed area through the tube and into the separator chamber;
moving the removed wetted asbestos within the tube to the collection tank within the chamber;
filtering the air within the chamber received through the tube to clear the air by removing asbestos particles; and exhausting the filtered air.

17. The process for removing asbestos of claim 16 further comprising the step of operating a grinding means to grind the asbestos within the tube adjacent the enclosed area.

18. The process of removing asbestos of claim 17 further comprising the step of:
directing jets of water through a water jet means into the tube in the direction of asbestos flow within the tube to further wet the removed asbestos and to move the asbestos along the tube to the storage tank.

19. The process of removing asbestos of claim 18 further comprising the step of:
directing jets of water through a water jet means into the tube in the direction of asbestos flow within the tube to further wet the removed asbestos and move the asbestos along the tube to the storage tank.

20. The process of removing asbestos of claim 16 further comprising the step of producing an auxiliary airflow using an auxiliary tube extending from the enclosed area to the separating chamber to draw air from the enclosed area to the chamber.

21. The process for removing asbestos of claim 20 further comprising the step of operating a grinding means to grind the asbestos within the tube adjacent the enclosed area.

22. The process of removing asbestos of claim 21 further comprising the step of:
operating a water jet means to direct jets of water into the tube in the direction of asbestos flow within the tube to further wet the removed asbestos and move the asbestos along the tube to the storage tank.

23. The process of removing asbestos as claimed by claim 16 wherein the filtering step is comprised of:
passing the air within the separator chamber through a wet filter;
passing the air from the wet filter through a dry filter; and passing the air from the dry filter through a high efficiency particulate filter.