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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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      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 Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

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Static Detonation Chamber

  • Neutralization
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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) was necessary to destroy a portion of the inventory of chemical munitions that presented 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 leaked in the past and were overpacked, required a different technological approach for their destruction. To resolve this issue, an SDC was used to destroy all of the approximately 15,000 mustard projectiles, as well as two 3-gallon Department of Transportation bottles containing mustard agent.

In 2019, to further enhance worker safety, the decision was made to also use SDC units to process rocket warheads from which the nerve agent has been drained. After being containerized, these drained warheads are processed in the SDC 1200 and SDC 2000. Some containerized, undrained rocket warheads will also be processed in the SDC units at the Blue Grass plant. The SDC 2000 is also being used to destroy rockets deemed unsuitable for processing in the main plant and overpacked rockets. The SDC 2000 began operations in January 2023.

How the Static Detonation Chamber Works

The SDC uses thermal destruction technology to process the weapons. Chemical munitions are placed in a feed box, 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 SDC 1200 and SDC 2000 facilities are screened for decontamination.

Step 1

A robotic arm places the drained rocket warheads or overpacks in a feed box. The system allows for minimal handling of munitions by workers.
A robotic arm places the drained rocket warheads or overpacks in a feed box. The system allows for minimal handling of munitions by workers.

Step 2

Munition components or overpacks are conveyed to the top of the vessel.
Munition components or overpacks 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

The loading chamber rotates, and the munitions components or overpacks are fed into an electrically heated detonation chamber.
The loading chamber rotates, and the munition components or overpacks are fed into an electrically heated detonation chamber.

Step 3 (cont.)

Chamber temperature is maintained above critical temperature of energetics inside the munitions.
Chamber temperature is maintained above critical temperature of energetics inside the munitions.

Step 4

High heat detonates/deflagrates munitions and the residual chemical agent and the energetics are destroyed by explosion/thermal decomposition. The off gases are treated by an air pollution control system.
High heat detonates/deflagrates munitions and the residual chemical agent and the energetics are destroyed by explosion/thermal decomposition. The off gases are treated by an air pollution control system.

Static Detonation Chamber 1200

The SDC 1200 was originally selected as the EDT to destroy the 155mm projectiles containing mustard agent, as well as two 3-gallon Department of Transportation bottles containing mustard agent. Now that the mustard projectile campaign is complete, the off-gas treatment system is being updated to help support the destruction of containerized rocket warheads that have been drained of VX nerve agent. This system may also potentially destroy rocket warheads containing GB nerve agent.

Static Detonation Chamber 2000

The SDC 2000 is a larger unit selected to destroy containerized, drained and undrained rocket warheads. The chamber is large enough to destroy M55 rockets deemed unsuitable for processing in the main plant and overpacked M55 rockets, as well.

Learn More: Neutralization

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