After washing and scrubbing the EPDM membrane of the Test Module lung, we attempted to remove the bolts that hold the lung membrane in place using an angle grinder, only to realize that we had dozens of hours ahead of us and an unspeakable amounts of debris from the process. Then it occurred to us that a high torque impact wrench would either remove the nuts from the welded studs or snap them off (they have to be removed anyway). We borrowed a massive DeWalt from the Biosphere 2 Energy Center and jumped right in. In less than two hours we had the metal ring sections removed and the membrane pealed free.
For the first time in thirty four years, the Test Module lung is disassembled! Now, the real effort begins as we must remove the studs and return the top flange to a pristine state before attaching all new steel studs with which the EPDM membrane will be reattached and sealed.
