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PEO ACWA
- Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
  
  Mission: Destroy Chemical Weapons Stockpile
  
  Vision: Chemical Weapons Free by 2023
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BLUE GRASS
- 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.
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PUEBLO
- 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.
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Static Detonation Chamber

Home Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) BGCAPP Destruction Technologies Static Detonation Chamber

Explosive Destruction Technology Overview

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, is safely and efficiently destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot. A majority of the chemical weapons are being destroyed using neutralization. However, the use of an explosive destruction technology (EDT) is necessary to destroy a portion of the inventory of chemical munitions that present a problem to process in the main plant. The EDT chosen to augment the main plant is the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC).

A 2011 X-ray assessment of the Blue Grass chemical weapons stockpile confirmed the solidification of mustard agent in a significant number of 155mm mustard projectiles, rendering them unsuitable for automated processing in the main plant. These problematic munitions, together with some 200 mustard projectiles that have leaked in the past and are now overpacked, require a different technological approach for their destruction. To resolve this issue, an SDC 1200 is destroying all of the approximately 15,000 mustard projectiles, as well as two 3-gallon Department of Transportation bottles containing mustard agent.

In 2019, due to worker safety concerns, a decision was made to no longer use the Energetics Neutralization System to process M55 rocket warheads in which the nerve agent has been drained. Instead, these drained warheads, along with overpacked M55 rockets, will be processed in the SDC 1200 or a larger SDC 2000, which is in the process of being procured and permitted.

How the Static Detonation Chamber Works

The SDC uses thermal destruction technology to process the weapons. Chemical munitions are placed in a feed tray, conveyed to the top of the SDC vessel and fed into the electrically heated detonation chamber. The high heat (approximately 600 degrees Celsius or 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit) detonates the munition, and the chemical agents and energetics are destroyed by thermal decomposition. Gases generated as a result of the detonation are treated by an off-gas system that includes a thermal oxidizer, scrubbers and a carbon filter system. All waste streams generated at the EDT facility are screened. Scrap metal is sufficiently decontaminated and recycled.

Step 1

Workers place mustard projectiles in feed tray with aid of material-handling equipment.

Step 1 (cont.)

System allows for minimal handling of projectiles by workers.

Step 2

Projectiles conveyed to top of vessel — Projectiles are conveyed to the top of the vessel.

Step 2 (cont.)

For added safety, it is a fully automatic, double air-lock feeding conveyor system — For added safety, a fully automatic, double air-lock feeding conveyor system is used.

Step 3

Projectiles fed into electrically heated detonation chamber. — Projectiles are fed into an electrically heated detonation chamber.

Step 3 (cont.)

Chamber temperature maintained above critical temperature of energetics inside the projectiles — Chamber temperature is maintained above critical temperature of energetics inside the projectiles.

Step 4