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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
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      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

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Engineers Design Munitions-Monitoring Equipment

Published: July 28, 2017 | Category: BGCAPP News, Technology
Using a scale model for reference, a scientist points out details of a glovebox that will be fabricated and later used to monitor M55 rockets for chemical-agent contamination in the Unpack Area of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Munitions Demilitarization Building. The model was constructed to demonstrate the size, function and location of the glovebox within the room.

Using a scale model for reference, a scientist points out details of a glovebox that will be fabricated and later used to monitor M55 rockets for chemical-agent contamination in the Unpack Area of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Munitions Demilitarization Building. The model was constructed to demonstrate the size, function and location of the glovebox within the room.

An engineering team has designed a glovebox to monitor M55 rockets, which have motors slated for disposal outside the Blue Grass plant.

“In the destruction process, M55 rockets will be separated between the agent-filled warhead and the propellant portion of the rocket, known as the motor,” said Kevin Rankin, systemization integration manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “To ensure the safety of downstream workers handling the rocket motors, we need to monitor the motors to confirm they are free of chemical-agent contamination before they move on to the next step. A glovebox is a safe, simple and proven way to do this.”

The glovebox will allow operators to monitor the rocket motors without having to wear high levels of protective gear, Rankin said. Rockets will be sealed into the glovebox and technicians will manipulate them using agent-resistant gloves attached to ports in the box. If the rockets are contaminated, then they will be overpacked and processed with other leaker rockets.

If no agent contamination is detected, Rankin said, the rockets will start the destruction process, where the warhead and rocket motor are separated. The warheads will be processed and destroyed on site, while the rocket motor section will be placed into a box with other motors.

“There should be no chemical-agent contamination, as the two sections of the rocket are separate of each other,” said Steve Mantooth, mechanical engineer, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “But there is a very slight possibility of motor contamination if a rocket leaks within its shipping and firing tube, so we developed this process to ensure motors leaving the facility are non-contaminated.”

The initial monitoring at the gloveboxes will help guarantee worker safety and prevent the possible contamination of equipment used in processing the rocket motors, Mantooth said. A final monitoring process occurs after the rocket motors are placed in a box for storage and shipment.

The Blue Grass plant will use two gloveboxes, with a third as a backup. The boxes will be fabricated off-site and delivered to the plant.

More BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • Workers lower a 30,000-pound buffer tank into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 building through an opening in the roof. This tank will buffer exhaust gases from the destruction process of the drained nerve-agent rocket warheads before the gases are processed in the off-gas treatment system.

    New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

    Published: March 30, 2022
  • Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

    Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

    Published: March 1, 2022
  • Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entrants decontaminate equipment in the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Since all projectiles have been destroyed, much of this equipment is no longer needed for chemical weapons destruction.

    Decontamination Efforts Begin on Projectile Equipment

    Published: February 8, 2022
  • An operator cuts up the buffer tank from the mustard-processing off-gas treatment system at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 site Jan. 11. The tank pieces are being disposed of as scrap and a new buffer tank will be installed for the upcoming drained VX rocket warhead destruction campaign.

    Equipment Removed for Site Upgrade

    Published: February 1, 2022
  • Workers guide a stand-by diesel generator as it is lifted by a crane in preparation for placement on its foundation at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 2000 site Jan. 11. During operations, this generator will provide back-up power in the event of a total power outage.

    From Tents to Today, a Year at the New Site

    Published: January 27, 2022
  • A team of Blue Grass plant operators demonstrate the process for loading a tanker during a visit of local and state officials on Sept. 21.

    State, Local Officials Observe Tanker Loading in Preparation for Hydrolysate Shipment

    Published: October 5, 2021
  • A scientist holds a slice of the propellant portion of a rocket motor, a shaped chemical compound known as the propellant. After being separated from the rocket warheads during the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant destruction process, the motors are crated and stored pending their shipment for disposal as a secondary waste.

    Rocket Motors Stored to Await Destruction

    Published: September 30, 2021
  • A training specialist explains the automated rocket processing equipment installed at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell during his visit to the facility Aug. 18.

    Senator McConnell Visits Training Facility

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • Members of two community advisory groups watch as a robot moves a containerized punched and drained VX test rocket warhead during a tour at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Community Advisory Group Members Tour Training Facility

    Published: August 17, 2021
  • A robot moves a non-contaminated rocket motor separated from its warhead to place it into a shipping crate in the Motor Packing Room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The motors, in their shipping and firing tubes, will be packaged and transported to Anniston, Alabama, for disposal in a Static Detonation Chamber unit.

    Rocket Motors Extensively Studied Before Shipment

    Published: July 29, 2021
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Other Recent BGCAPP News

  • Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    May 2, 2022
  • Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    April 20, 2022
  • Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    April 19, 2022
  • U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    March 31, 2022
  • BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    March 31, 2022

BCGAPP Technology Videos

  • Kentucky Workers Prepare for Next Campaign

    Kentucky Workers Prepare for Next Campaign

    August 12, 2020
  • Robots Take Apart Nerve Agent-filled Rockets

    Robots Take Apart Nerve Agent-filled Rockets

    April 20, 2018
  • Piping Pressure Builds at Blue Grass Plant

    Piping Pressure Builds at Blue Grass Plant

    February 8, 2018
  • Blue Grass Air Filter Banks Prepared for Testing and Operations

    Blue Grass Air Filter Banks Prepared for Testing and Operations

    January 31, 2018
  • What is BGCAPP?

    What is BGCAPP?

    November 17, 2017

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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)