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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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System Starts Processing 8-inch Test Projectiles

Published: May 25, 2018 | Category: BGCAPP News, Systemization
  • Technicians work on a munitions transfer tray during operations procedure testing for 8-inch inert projectiles at the Munitions Washout System at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in May.

    Technicians work on a munitions transfer tray during operations procedure testing for 8-inch inert projectiles at the Munitions Washout System at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in May.

  • A technician teaches the Munitions Washout System robot data points for processing specific projectiles at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    A technician teaches the Munitions Washout System robot data points for processing specific projectiles at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

The Blue Grass start-up team is testing the Munitions Washout System with 8-inch inert projectiles in preparation for its systemization demonstration procedure.

“Right now we’re testing operability and dialing-in flows, pressures and speeds,” said Ralph Thornton, start-up manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “We’ll be verifying the system standard operating procedures through the end of the month.”

The system was previously tested with 155mm inert projectiles, which require different Cavity Access Machines, Thornton said. This equipment will punch into the agent cavity of the projectiles to allow access to the chemical agent inside. Technicians had to change out the machines and make some other changes to accommodate the larger 8-inch projectiles as part of this systemization process.

“We taught the system robot the data points for the 8-inch projectiles, as they are larger than the 155mm projectiles previously tested,” Thornton said. “We also had to reroute some piping and conduit that would have interfered with system clearance. That’s what the testing phase is all about – to find these things and take care of them before operations begin.”

The ‘washout’ part of the system is a misnomer, as the equipment has been redesigned to remove the fluid washout process, but the system name was retained due to the large effort required to make changes to plant documentation and operating system, Thornton said. Instead, the system will use gravity to drain the agent.

Next, the Munitions Washout System will undergo dry-run activities for system demon­stration testing during the summer.

More BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • Vicky J., Container Handling Building/Unpack Area lead operator, reviews a munition image in the Rocket Non-Destructive Evaluation equipment at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Common Technology Making a Difference at Blue Grass

    Published: March 8, 2023
  • The first boxes of containerized, drained GB nerve-agent rocket warheads sit on a conveyor to be processed in the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 2000 Jan. 27. The SDC 2000 is being used to destroy secondary waste, overpacked M55 rockets, M55 rockets deemed unsuitable for processing in the main plant and undrained rocket warheads.

    Static Detonation Chamber 2000 Begins Operations at Blue Grass Plant

    Published: January 27, 2023
  • Munitions handlers crimp a seal onto the end of a container holding a simulated rocket warhead in the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200 storage magazine at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in September. The simulated containerized warheads were developed to test the Blue Grass SDC units prior to their operations.

    Simulated Warheads Prepared for Systems Testing

    Published: October 27, 2022
  • A munitions handler at the Anniston Field Office binds the fins of a Blue Grass rocket motor partially removed from its shipping and firing tube prior to its placement into the Anniston Static Detonation Chamber unit for destruction.

    Former Destruction Site Aiding Blue Grass Mission

    Published: September 14, 2022
  • Workers in protective suits make updates to the Punch and Drain Station in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in preparation for upcoming GB nerve agent M55 rocket destruction. This automated system will punch holes in the rocket warheads and drain them of their chemical agent. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

    Rocket Destruction Efficiencies Applied for Final Destruction Campaign

    Published: June 30, 2022
  • Entrants in Demilitarization Protective Ensembles work to decontaminate a portion of the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant where VX nerve agent projectiles were destroyed in early 2021. This work is being done in the changeover period between the destruction of the VX M55 rockets and the start of the GB nerve agent M55 rockets. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

    Changeover Period Begins at Blue Grass Plant

    Published: May 31, 2022
  • 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
BGCAPP Equipment, BGCAPP Systemization

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