Interim Design Assessment for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (2005) / Chapter Skim
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4 Core Processes for Agent and Energetics Destruction
4 Core Processes for Agent and Energetics Destruction
Pages 34-47
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From page 34... ...
tional Research Council (NRC) committees involved Studies of the neutralization of VX were not needed with the Army's Assembled Chemical Weapons As- because they had already been performed in support of sessment program reviewed the chemistry and the effi- the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility design.
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From page 35... ...
In a Another TRRP activity, TRRP 6, ANS Reactor Ma- recent solubility study, the crystals were found to be terial and Corrosion Study, is a trade study that has soluble in alcohols, including isopropyl alcohol, methabeen completed, but the final report had not been re- nol, and isobutyl alcohol.7 leased when this report was prepared.6 The committee The Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team has initiated understands that the study confirmed the appropriate- laboratory tests under TRRP 2a, Phase 2, to study the ness of the original selection of commonly available effect of dissolving the crystals in isopropyl alcohol on reactor materials to be used in constructing the agent the reaction parameters and the downstream processneutralization system (ANS)
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From page 36... ...
nium ions, continues.8 Any contaminated wash waters are added next. Finally, If mustard agent or GB is being treated, the hydrolyover the next 20 minutes, agent from the agent concen- sate is transferred to a 2,000-gallon sampling tank when trate holding tank is added.
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From page 37... ...
If the VX concen- Analytical Methods, was initiated when GB was detration in the hydrolysate indicates 99.9999 percent destruction, the hydrolysate is transferred directly to a storage tank that is continually stirred and recirculated 9 John Ursillo, Bechtel, "Process design overview (Blue Grass) ," to prevent the aqueous and organic layers from sepa- briefing to the committee on September 22, 2004.
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From page 38... ...
Finding 4-1. Given the experience of the Army's ENERGETICS HYDROLYSIS chemical demilitarization program with mustard hydrolysis at Aberdeen, Maryland, VX hydrolysis at Energetics Hydrolysis Chemistry Caustic hydrolysis is the basic process used in the BGCAPP design for the destruction of the rocket pro pellant grains and the other energetics (igniters, fuzes, 10John Ursillo, Bechtel, "Process design overview (Blue Grass)
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From page 39... ...
The bulk of the energetics comes Ground for the engineering design studies phase of the 13Deseret Chemical Depot was split off from Tooele Army De- 14Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team responses on January 12, pot and remains a separate entity today. 2005, to committee questions of January 6, 2005.
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From page 40... ...
The hydrolypounds of M28 propellant and over 3 pounds of Com- sis process is effective in counteracting the hazard asposition B In contrast to this, the only projectiles that sociated with the energetic nature of the energetic macontain energetic materials are the mustard-loaded terials being treated (NRC, 2002a)
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From page 41... ...
are encased in crimped copper tubes sealed with a waterproofing 18 As this report was being prepared, the PMACWA and the material that is also impervious to caustic. Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team were discussing the possibility 16Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team responses on May 2, 2005, of eliminating one EBH line and having the remaining one serve to committee questions of April 25, 2005.
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From page 42... ...
the preceding rocket. This segregation of propellant and Eight hours after the first rocket motor parts were dealuminum is necessary because, as noted in the preced- livered to EBH-1, EBH-4 is ready to receive rocket ing section, the Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team ob- motor parts and EBH-1 is ready to receive warhead served during testing that propellant could ignite in the energetics and fins.
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From page 43... ...
Therefore, by the time the hydrolysate is re- destroy the propellant in the absence of aluminum and moved from the EBH, all of the energetics should have does not require separate EBHs dedicated to propellant been destroyed. At the end of the propellant processing step, the sol 19Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team, "EBH system common ids (shipping tube segments and rocket motor segments drum for sequentially processing rocket motor propellant and warplus miscellaneous metal parts)
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From page 44... ...
There is great variability in the sizes of 20Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team, "Munitions demilitariza- the solid parts discharged from the EBHs, ranging from tion building energetics neutralization process flow diagram," the large fiberglass shipping tube and rocket motor case drawing No.
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From page 45... ...
The committee is concerned that the high and shipping/firing tube fiberglass segments passing availability predicted for the robotic arms may be through the HDC. The HDC offgas stream is fed to a overly optimistic in light of the operating environment flameless bulk oxidizer unit.
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From page 46... ...
ing of the gases to no more than 100°F is accomplished The cooled discharge from the bulk oxidizer is then in the scrubber tower. The scrubber water is cooled in combined with vent gases from the EBH units and fed two cascading coolers; the first cooler uses 100°F coolinto the venturi/scrubber tower system, where it is ing water as the cooling medium, while the second scrubbed by a cool spray of scrubber solution.
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From page 47... ...
Treatment requirements for EBH, ENR, and energetics storage tank offgas streams Recommendation 4-9. The allowable size range of should be determined as soon as possible since they particulates and concentration of condensate in gas may affect the size of the MDB and the OTE venturi/ flowing to the bulk oxidizer unit when processing rock- scrubber system.
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