Workers placed key equipment at the Blue Grass plant’s Static Detonation Chamber 2000 site Feb. 9 even as the area was gripped by winter weather.

“In construction, you work as you can during the winter,” said Aaron Renfro, structural and civil engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Getting the thermal oxidizer, a key component of the off-gas treatment system, set was one step closer to completing the setting of the remainder of the Static Detonation Chamber.”

The SDC 2000 will work similar to the SDC 1200, currently operating at the Blue Grass plant, but is larger and designed to handle a full-up sized rocket with nerve agent. Any gases generated during the destruction process will be treated by the off-gas treatment system which includes a thermal oxidizer, scrubbers and a carbon filter system. The scrubbers and carbon filter systems are the next components of the off-gas treatment system scheduled to be placed.

“We wrapped and bagged the thermal oxidizer unit and other components in accordance with the storage requirements from the manufacturer until their building is placed this summer,” added Renfro. “We will begin setting the SDC 2000 itself in the coming weeks after it arrives.”

Placement of the remaining system components are scheduled to take place in early March, with the SDC 2000 set to arrive shortly afterward.