The Blue Grass start-up team successfully completed a major test of the Energetics Neutralization System Jan. 12.

“The Systemization Demonstration Procedure proves to oversight organizations that this equipment operates as it should,” said Scotty Conner, start-up manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “For the demonstration process, we started with step one of the operating procedure and went step-by-step through the end. It went well overall.”

The system is important to the Blue Grass project because it will neutralize explosive components and any residual chemical agent from munitions parts, Conner said. It will perform this operation with hot water and sodium hydroxide, a caustic substance much like drain cleaner. For the demonstration, the system was tested with water in place of the caustic.

“This demonstration was a multidisciplinary activity with preparation ongoing for years,” Conner said. “It involved experts from start-up, engineering, automation, Control Room operators and more. The demonstration completion now allows some of these people to move on to the next system to be demonstrated.”

The next step for the Energetics Neutralization System will be to prepare it for turnover to operations.