• COVID-19
  • Progress
  • eNewsletter Sign-Up
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Give Feedback
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)
  • HOME
  • PEO ACWA
    • ACWA logo

      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

    • About PEO ACWA
      • Destruction Progress
      • Chain of Command
      • Team Biographies
      • Program Timeline
      • Program Legislation
      • Public Involvement
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • PEO ACWA Media Library
      • PEO ACWA News
      • PEO ACWA Videos
      • PEO ACWA Facts
      • PEO ACWA Press Releases
      • PEO ACWA Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • BLUE GRASS
    • pcapp_logo
      Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

      BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

    • BGCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
      • Hydrolysate Shipments
    • BGCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • PUEBLO
    • pcapp_logo
      Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

      PCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.

    • PCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
    • PCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • CONTACT US

Washout System Tested for Optimal Performance

Published: July 28, 2017 | Category: PCAPP News, Technology
A robotic arm places a munition into a Cavity Access Machine (CAM) during training exercises at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. CAMs, which are a part of the Munitions Washout System, wash out chemical agent from munition bodies with high-pressure, hot water.

A robotic arm places a munition into a Cavity Access Machine (CAM) during training exercises at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. CAMs, which are a part of the Munitions Washout System, wash out chemical agent from munition bodies with high-pressure, hot water.

Experts at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant are optimizing the Munitions Washout System and completing a process required by pilot test demonstrations.

“The goal of optimization is to identify the best conditions to completely and efficiently rinse munitions before feeding to the Munitions Treatment Unit,” said Rick Holmes, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team. “Technicians are looking at munition rotation, rinse pressure and time to establish sustainable and maintainable operations.”

The testing, which began in early June, consists of varying time, pressure and rotation to optimize the munition washout process. Test conditions are compared against design conditions, said John Jackson, plant support specialist, PCAPP.

Munitions were tested with washout times between 70 seconds to 140 seconds, at pressures between 3,500 pounds per square inch (psi) and 6,500 psi, with or without rotation. Each munition was weighed after the rinse. The munitions were then washed under design conditions and weighed again. After, the weights were compared and if there was no variation, the munition passed, Jackson said.

“The lower the pressure of the rinse, the less wear and tear on the equipment,” said Jackson. “Our objective is to minimize toxic area entries by technicians for equipment maintenance and equipment down time.”

Holmes said the testing has also shown the munitions do not need to be rotated to get an effective rinse.

Before pilot testing began, first-of-a-kind equipment testing was performed off site to determine an initial design for washout conditions. Design conditions were established at 7,500 psi, with a washout duration of 140 seconds with rotation, said Jackson.

Plant technicians are currently validating the results from the optimization testing and will then conduct a four-hour run.

Validation must be complete before the initiation of Integrated Facility Demonstrations, during which the plant will run at full capacity and emissions will be monitored, Jackson said.

More PCAPP Technology Articles

  • Agent-filled 4.2-inch mortar rounds are monitored during Static Detonation Chamber agent trial testing operations at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    Published: May 13, 2022
  • After a chemical weapon is drained of agent and rinsed with high-pressure hot water, Agent Washwater Separator tanks collect fluid before sending it to Agent Neutralization Reactors to destroy the mustard agent. The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant has two tanks, providing the plant with redundancy when neutralizing agent.

    Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    Published: March 28, 2022
  • All chemical weapons from the Colorado stockpile are sorted into four color-coded lots to reduce delays in destruction due to problematic munitions.

    Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    Published: March 23, 2022
  • A Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant ordnance technician holds the first 4.2-inch mortar round to be processed in the Static Detonation Chamber complex.

    First Agent Destroyed in Static Detonation Chamber

    Published: February 22, 2022
  • Static Detonation Chamber ordnance technicians Rachelle S. and Mike W. remove a 57mm conventional ammunition round from its fiber tube during SDC non-agent Trial Burn Testing.

    Conventional Explosives Demonstrate Static Detonation Chamber Capability

    Published: February 15, 2022
  • Munitions transporters unload inert 4.2-inch mortar rounds from the back of a Modified Ammunition Vehicle during Integrated Operations Demonstrations. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines)

    Pueblo Static Detonation Chamber Team Demonstrates Operations

    Published: February 2, 2022
PCAPP Equipment

Related PCAPP News

  • Antistatic Gear Improves Safety

    Antistatic Gear Improves Safety

    September 20, 2018
  • Heel Test Anticipates Plant Washout System Failures

    Heel Test Anticipates Plant Washout System Failures

    February 28, 2017
  • Solution Devised for Over-Pressurized Rounds

    Solution Devised for Over-Pressurized Rounds

    February 17, 2017
  • Heating Technique to Eliminate Residual Chemical Agent

    Heating Technique to Eliminate Residual Chemical Agent

    April 5, 2016
  • Pueblo Plant Uses Present-Day Technologies to Clean up the Past

    Pueblo Plant Uses Present-Day Technologies to Clean up the Past

    February 17, 2016

Related Videos

  • Pueblo Plant Control Room Prepares for Operations

    Pueblo Plant Control Room Prepares for Operations

    January 13, 2016
  • Overpacked Pallets Carry the Load

    Overpacked Pallets Carry the Load

    March 15, 2015
  • Modified Ammunition Vehicles Ensure Safe Transportation of Chemical Weapons

    Modified Ammunition Vehicles Ensure Safe Transportation of Chemical Weapons

    September 9, 2014
  • PCAPP Projectile/Mortar Disassembly Systems

    PCAPP Projectile/Mortar Disassembly Systems

    April 18, 2014
  • Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Self-Operating Vehicles

    Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Self-Operating Vehicles

    September 30, 2013

Connect with PEO ACWA

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up for the Connect with ACWA e-newsletters to have information sent directly to your inbox. It’s a great way to stay connected with chemical weapons destruction plant activities.

Sign Up

Recent Tweets
  • Terms of Use
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
  • iSALUTE
  • Archive
  • Welcome to ACWA
  • Home
  • PEO ACWA Pages
    • About PEO ACWA
    • Destruction Progress
    • Team Biographies
    • Chain of Command
    • Program Timeline
    • Public Involvement
  • PEO ACWA Media Library
    • PEO ACWA Media Library (Main)
    • PEO ACWA News
    • PEO ACWA Videos
    • PEO ACWA Facts
    • PEO ACWA Press Releases
    • PEO ACWA Briefings and Reports
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Blue Grass Pages
    • BGCAPP Homepage
    • BGCAPP Project Stages
    • BGCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • BGCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at BGCAPP
    • Public Involvement at BGCAPP
    • Hydrolysate Shipments
  • BGCAPP Media Library
    • BGCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • BGCAPP News
    • BGCAPP Videos
    • BGCAPP Facts
    • BGCAPP Press Releases
    • BGCAPP Briefings, Reports and Downloads
  • Pueblo Pages
    • PCAPP Homepage
    • PCAPP Project Stages
    • PCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • PCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at PCAPP
    • Public Involvement at PCAPP
  • PCAPP Media Library
    • PCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • PCAPP News
    • PCAPP Videos
    • PCAPP Facts
    • PCAPP Press Releases
    • PCAPP Briefings, Reports, and Downloads
  • Archive
  • Job and Business Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)