Explosive Destruction Technologies Summary 23 October 2013

Explosive Destruction Technologies Summary

23 October 2013

Presented to:

Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board

Presented by:

Jeffrey KileyRisk Management DirectoratePEO ACWA

A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction

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Explosive Destruction TechnologiesSummary

Explosive Destruction System (EDS) Transportable Detonation Chamber (TDC)

Detonation of Ammunition in a Vacuum-Integrated Chamber (DAVINCH)

Static Detonation Chamber (SDC)


BGCAPP

Not all current BGCAPP plant processes meet hold, test, release (HTR) criteria.

Agent/energetic hydrolysates are subject to hold, test and release. Agent vapors are vented from primary treatment processes (i.e.

agent and energetics neutralization reactors) and are processed through an off-gas treatment system (OTM) and multi-bed carbon filtration with monitoring.

The Munitions Demilitarization Building (MDB) is under engineering controls (cascade ventilation and multi-bed carbon filtration with continuous monitoring).

The agent vapors in room air from accessing the munitions and the output of the OTM are not subject to any HTR process. They are exhausted through the MDB carbon filtration system to prevent release from BGCAPP plant.

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SCWO and Liquid Recovery

ResiduesOff-Site Disposal

Meta

l

Gas

EBH Gas

Gas

SCWO and Liquid Recovery

Agent Hydrolysate

Energetics Hydrolysate

BGCAPP Plant Process Flow

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Agent Neutralization System (ANS)

Agent

Agent Contaminated

Metal Parts

Energetics

Energetic Batch Hydrolyzer (EBR)/Energetic Neutralization System(ENS)

Munitions Demilitarization Systems (e.g. Rocket Shear

Machine, Munition Washout

System, etc.)

ResiduesOff-Site Disposal

Treated Metal

Off-Site Recycle/ Disposal

Metal Parts Treater

Thermal Oxidizer, Metal Parts Treater (MPT) Cyclone, MPT Venturi, OTM Scrubber, Carbon Filter Units

Atmosphere

Thermal Oxidizer, MPT Cyclone, MPT Venturi , OTM Scrubber, Carbon Filter Units

EBH Scrubber, Carbon Filter Units

Atmosphere

Atmosphere

Online Agent Monitoring

Monitored for agent prior to transfer out of MDB

Thermal Oxidizer, MPT Cyclone, MPT Venturi , OTM Scrubber, Carbon Filter Units

ENS Gas Atmosphere

MDB Facility


EDS is a trailer-mounted mobilesystem designed to destroy chemical munitions in a safe, environmentally sound manner

Sealed, stainless steel vessel contains the blast, vapor and fragments generated by the process

EDS uses explosive cutting charges to access the munition and destroy its explosive components; the chemical content of the munition is then neutralized by a reagent appropriate to the type of agent present

Agent destruction is confirmed by sampling the residual liquid and air before reopening the vessel; process waste products are removed, packaged and shipped to an approved disposal facility for final disposition

All solid, gas, and liquid streams are monitored for agent prior to release from the EDS chamber. If results are positive, actions may be taken to further treat the chamber. Therefore, the EDS is a hold, test, and release technology for solids, gases, and liquids

Residual liquid and solid residue are disposed off-site in compliance with applicable state and federal regulation

As the BGCAPP plant, the unit is under engineering controls (cascading ventilation & carbon filtration) with monitoring to prevent any inadvertent release of harmful vapors to the environment

The EDS has successfully destroyed ≈560 mustard-filled munitions in the US and United Kingdom

Explosive Destruction System (EDS)

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Explosive Destruction System (EDS) – Process Flow

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Explosive Containment

Vessel

Solid Residue for

Disposal

Donor Charge

Fragment Suppression

System

Reagent

Water

Neutralent for

Treatment

Helium

Carbon Filter

Exhaust Gas

Munition

Monitored for agent to clear all solids, liquids, and gases before release


The SDC is a nearly spherical, armored, high-alloysteel vessel

Chemical munitions are placed in a carrier, conveyed to the top of the vessel and fed into an electrically heated detonation chamber

The high heat (approximately 600°C or 1,100°F) causes the munition munition to either detonate or deflagrate. The chemical agent is pyrolized by the temperatures that exist within the chamber.

Gases generated by the detonation pass to the off-gas treatment system that cleanses the gas of particulate matter, acid gases, and destroys/removes organic contaminants and then be monitored and carbon filtered

The off-gas treatment system operates continuously and gases are treated and released continuously while munitions are processed. Therefore, it does not have a hold, test and release capability for gases

Munition solid waste is held in the chamber at sufficient temperature and time to ensure thermal decontamination of the agent. After discharge from the chamber, the solid wastes are also monitored for agent prior to removal from the unit for disposal.

Similar to the BGCAPP plant, the unit is contained in a structure under engineering controls (cascading ventilation & carbon filtration) with monitoring

The SDC has successfully destroyed mustard-filled munitions in the US (≈2700 @Anniston, AL), and numerous other munitions in Germany, China, and Japan

Static Detonation Chamber (SDC)

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SDC – Off-Gas Treatment / Waste

Off-Gas Treatment May Consist of:– Buffer Tank with cyclone filter capability to capture particulates that are

recycled back into the system– Thermal Oxidizer– Spray Dryer to quickly quench thermal oxidizer exhaust gas to minimize

formation of dioxins and furans– Baghouse Filter to remove dust and absorb acid gases– Additional quench– Acid and Neutral Scrubbers (excess scrubber liquid goes to the spray dryer)– Induced Draft Fans to maintain the OTS below atmospheric pressure– 2 sets of HEPA and Carbon Filters with monitoring

Waste material consists of: scrap metal, buffer tank dust, spray dryer salts, spent bag house adsorbent material, HEPA filters, and activated carbon. The SDC produces no liquid waste; scrap metal has been recycled and salts from the off-gas treatment system are treated and disposed off-site in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.

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Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) – Process Flow

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SDC FeedMechanism SDC Buffer Tank Thermal

OxidizerSpray Dryer Baghouse

Filter QuenchAcid Scrubber

NeutralScrubber

HEPA &CarbonFilters

Munition

Water

Fuel

Air

ExhaustGas

NaOH

HCl

SolidAdsorbent

CollectionTank

Solids

5X Solids

Salts

SpentAdsorbent

Blower

On-line Agent Monitoring

Monitored for agent prior to disposition

A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction Self contained, totally enclosed system

consisting of a detonation chamber, expansionchamber and emissions control system

Munitions are wrapped in explosive, placed in detonation chamber and detonated. Bags of water

in the chamber absorb blast energy and produce steam which reacts with the chemical agent

Resulting gases are vented to the expansion chamber before release to the emissions control system

In the emissions control system a catalytic oxidation unit oxidizes hydrogen, carbon monoxide and organic vapors before the gas stream is vented through a carbon filter bed and released. The emission control system operates continuously and gases are treated and released in batch process. As there is no capability to reprocess the gas, it cannot be considered a hold, test and release capability.

Chamber is monitored before opening. If munition solid waste is determined to be contaminated, it can be further treated before discharge. Typically, the chamber is opened and a “cleansing” shot of explosive is used to decontaminate the chamber. There is a capability to flush chamber with hot air if needed for decontamination.


The TDC has successfully destroyed ≈ 250 mustard-filled munitions in the US and United Kingdom and Australia

Transportable Detonation Chamber (TDC)

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TDC – Off-Gas Treatment / Waste

Off Gas Treatment May Consist of:– Reactive bed filter (hydrated lime or sodium bicarbonate)– Porous ceramic filter with lime precoating (collects particulates)– Catalytic oxidizer (CATOX)– Chiller– Two stage carbon adsorption bed with continuous air monitoring

Waste material consists of:– Scrap metal– Pea gravel dust– Spent lime– HEPA Filters– Activated Carbon – Scrap metal and emission control system solid wastes are treated and

disposed of in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations

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Transportable Detonation Chamber (TDC) – Process Flow

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On-line Agent Monitoring



DAVINCH technology uses a double-walled steel vacuum detonation chamber and an off-gas system

Chemical munitions are placed in the detonation chamber and destroyed by the detonation of donor explosives surrounding the munitions

Munitions are shattered by the detonation and the agent is destroyed by the shock and heat of the explosion

Off-gas system employs a cold plasma oxidizer which converts carbon monoxide to CO2 The off-gas is monitored for agent at the off-gas retention tank prior to release to the

carbon filters. If off-gas is positive, there is a capability for the off-gas to be rerouted and treated through the off-gas treatment system.

Chamber is monitored before opening. If the residual solid waste is positive, there is no capability to treat it without opening chamber.


The DAVINCH has successfully destroyed over 6000 munitions (many containing mustard) in Belgium and Japan and over 25,000 munitions in China

DAVINCH (Detonation of Ammunition in a Vacuum-Integrated Chamber)

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DAVINCH – Off-Gas Treatment / Waste

Off-Gas Treatment May Consist of:– Cyclone filter for particulates– Cold plasma oxidizer– Quencher cooler– Condensate Tank– Off-gas Retention Tank (hold, test and release)– Activated Carbon Filter

Waste material consisting of:– Scrap Metal– Condensate and rinse water– HEPA Filters– Activated Carbon– Scrap metal and emission control system solid and liquid wastes would be

treated and disposed of in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations

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DAVINCH (Detonation of Ammunition in a Vacuum-Integrated Chamber) – Process Flow

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Monitored for agent prior to release


Hold, Test, and Release Comparison

BGCAPP SDC TDC DAVINCH EDSLiquid wastes

Held and tested before release

No liquid process wastes

None from process None from process; condensate from off-gas treatment, held and tested before release

Held and tested before release

Solid wastes

Thermally decontaminated; hold and test before release during MPT demonstration period; vapors captured by CFU

Thermally decontaminated; NRT Monitored while being released from chamber; vapors captured by CFU

Held and tested before release; potential for further treatment if testing is positive for contamination; vapors captured by CFU

Held and tested before release;No capability for further treatment if testing is positive for contamination without opening chamber; vapors captured by CFU

Held and tested before release ; vapors captured by CFU

Gaseous wastes

No Hold and Test; Near Real Time (NRT) Monitored while being continuously released through Carbon Filtration Unit (CFU)

No Hold and Test; NRT Monitored while being continuously released through CFU

Held and tested in retention tank before entering OTS; NRT Monitored while being released through CFU; No capability to reprocess if testing is positive for contamination.

Held and tested before being released to CFU; ; design allows for reprocess if testing is positive for contamination.CFU is NRT monitored.

Held and tested in process chamber before release to CFU; CFU is NRT monitored

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Explosive Destruction Technologies Summary 23 October 2013

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of Explosive Destruction Technologies Summary 23 October 2013