© ch2m hill 2002. all rights reserved. confidential and proprietary. evolution of blast chamber...

© CH2M HILL 2002. All Rights Reserved. Confidential and Proprietary.

Evolution of Blast Chamber Technology for Demilitarization

byMark S. Morris, PresidentDeMil International, Inc

13921 Park Center Drive, Suite 600Herndon, VA 20171


Convergence of Drivers Demand New Technologies

Environmental Protection: Need for alternative approaches to open detonation and open burning (OB/OD)

Obsolete or Unserviceable Ammunition and Threat Reduction: Reduce stores of conventional munitions

Recovered CWM: Technological alternatives for recovered chemical warfare material destruction


Keys to Effective Controlled Detonation Technology

Provide an important technological alternative that is proven:

Versatile

Effective

Environmentally Protective

Durable


The Donovan CDC Eliminates: Overpressure,

thermal hazards; fragmentation hazards

Protects against noise, soil and groundwater pollution

Treats air discharges as necessary

Effective for conventional ordnance, chemical warfare material, smoke containing munitions and fireworks

The T-10 Transportable Model CDC for UXO Cleanup Can Detonate 13 pounds Net Explosive Weight (TNT)


CDC Flow Diagram

Detonation Chamber

Expansion Tank

Preparation with

“Donor” Explosive

Treated Air Discharge

Fragments and debris contained in chamber

Detonation temp destroys organic content

Blast wave dampened

APCU as necessary to meet project and regulatory requirements

Air Pollution Control Unit (APCU)


Chambers Are Sized for Different Purposes


Transportable Model CDCs for UXO Cleanup

T-30 Model has a NEW of 40 lbs TNT

T-10 Model has a NEW of 13 lb TNT

Detonation Chamber

Expansion Tank

APCU

GeneratorExpansion Tank

APCU

Generator


Fixed CDC Systems for Higher Productivity and Large Ordnance

D-100 and D-200 provide large capacity and high productivity

D-60 can be set us as either fixed or transportable system for large capacity and moderate productivity


Belgium Project Proved the CDC’s Ability to Destroy

CWM Testing completed by US Army

and Belgium MOD on recovered WWI CWM:

77 mm CLARK (I and II) 77 mm mustard 77 mm phosgene 81 mm smoke 81 mm white phosphorous

T-10 CDC at Poekapelle Belgium

Recovered CWM at Poekapelle Belgium

Joint US Army and Belgium MOD report concluded CDC capable of destroying CWM shells

Additional testing recommended to implement lessons learned

CDC has destroyed 1000 77 mm CLARK shells to date

Uses a relatively simple APCU design


TC-25 Model for Destruction of Chemical Warfare Materials

Testing by US Army concluded: Each CWM item safely

handled No chemical agent detected

outside the system Decontamination by heat to

below detection levels - no use of liquids

Same CDC system can destroy chemical, conventional and smoke munitions

“TC-25 CDC was demonstrated to safely and effectively destroy recovered chemical munitions

with or without explosive components”,

Final Demonstration Test Report, 2003


Various Munitions and Chemical Agents Destroyed in CDC Systems

Munitions &Munitions &MaterialMaterial

Chemical Agents

Chemical Agents

High Explosives Projectiles Mortars Mines Fuzes Misc. energetics White Phosphorus

Mustard Lewsite, CLARK Phosgene Smoke


CDC Environmental Testing Results

Air Emissions Testing Low emission rate for Criteria Pollutants:

• CO (7900 ppmv)

• NOx (NO2) (9.3 ppmv)

• Particulate Matter = 1.8 mg/dscm• VOCs (10-20 mg/dscm)

No SVOCs or energetics detected Metals: Mg (2440 ug/dscm), Mn, Fe, Zn, Al

and Cu (100-400 ug/dscm) attributable to pea gravel



Solid Waste Characterization (pea gravel and Torit filter dust samples analyzed for TCLP parameters) TCLP Volatiles (MEK at 0.055, limit 200 mg/L) No detection of semivolatiles and TCLP metals RDX detected in pea gravel (0.74 mg/kg) and dust

(0.069 mg/kg) Total metals in pea gravel comparable pre and post

test except for increases in Cr (1.8 to 6.1 mg/kg) and Cu (3.3 to 161 mg/kg)



Worker Protection Monitoring Particulate Matter (inside the chamber) = 9.3 ±15

mg/m3. OSHA limit of 10 mg/m3 (respiratory protection required)

VOCs were below OSHA TWA concentrations Magnesium, iron, and aluminum averaged 0.32,

0.083, and 0.033 mg/m3, respectively (OSHA limits at or above 5 mg/m3)

Noise monitoring results (OSHA Limit 85 dBA 8-hr and 140 dBC instantaneous):

• Det Chamber baseline = 55 dBA at chamber door, instantaneous peak at detonation = 145 dbA

• Near generator = 80-95 dBA


Armor Plate Bolted to Chamber Wall

Armor Plate Bolted to Chamber Wall

Before and After DetonationBefore and After Detonation

Fragmentation Control Is Key to Durability

Expertise in controlling fragmentation is key to protecting interior armor

Fragments are controlled by proper configuration of donor counter charge


Summary

Effective: CDC technology is proven effective for destroying conventional munitions, chemical munitions and other energetic/explosive items

Versatile: Fixed and mobile systems are follow same basic design principle

Environmentally Protective: Standard air pollution control proven effective

Durable: Fragmentation control is key to maximizing durability

© ch2m hill 2002. all rights reserved. confidential and proprietary. evolution of blast chamber...

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