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PEO ACWA
- 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
- 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 Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) PCAPP Destruction Technologies Static Detonation Chamber

How the Static Detonation Chamber Works

The SDC uses thermal destruction technology to process the chemical weapons stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado that cannot be easily processed by the main plant’s automated equipment. Chemical munitions are placed in a feed tray, conveyed to 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 treatment system that includes a thermal oxidizer, scrubbers and a carbon filter system. All waste streams generated are screened. Scrap metal is sufficiently decontaminated and recycled.

Step 1

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

System allows for minimal handling of projectiles by workers.

Step 2

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

Projectiles are conveyed to the top of the vessel.

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.

Projectiles are fed into an electrically heated detonation chamber.

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

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

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 projectiles, and the mustard agent and the energetics are destroyed by explosion/thermal decomposition. The off-gases are treated by an air pollution control system.

Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)