US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Other

Sandia Corporation

Brent L Haroldsen

Timothy J Shepodd

Jerome H Stofleth

Benjamin C Wu

Edward F Doyle

Raymond A DiBerardo

John E Didlake, Jr

Benjamin C-p Wu

Kenneth L Tschritter

A new High-Throughput Explosive Destruction System is disclosed. The new system is comprised of two side-by-side detonation containment vessels each comprising first and second halves that feed into a single agent treatment vessel. Both detonation containment vessels further comprise a surrounding ventilation facility. Moreover, the detonation containment vessels are designed to separate into two half-shells, wherein one shell can be moved axially away from the fixed, second half for ease of access and loading. The vessels are closed by means of a surrounding, clam-shell type locking seal mechanisms.

High throughput chemical munitions treatment system

The invention provides methods and a reactor for safely destroying containers having toxic chemical and biological materials contained therein. The reactor comprises a pressure vessel having an internal reaction chamber and at least one heater disposed on an exterior of the pressure vessel. A fragment-suppression system is also disposed within the internal reaction chamber. The fragment-suppression system is adapted to receive a container therein, such as an energetic chemical munition, and is adapted to receive a charge for opening the container. An injection port is also provided so that oxidants can be injected into said reaction chamber to neutralize the chemical and biological materials after the container has been opened.

Reactors and methods for oxidizing chemical or biological materials

An explosive destruction system and method for safely destroying explosively configured chemical munitions. The system comprises a sealable, gas-tight explosive containment vessel, a fragment suppression system positioned in said vessel, and shaped charge means for accessing the interior of the munition when the munition is placed within the vessel and fragment suppression system. Also provided is a means for treatment and neutralization of the munition's chemical fills, and means for heating and agitating the contents of the vessel. The system is portable, rapidly deployable and provides the capability of explosively destroying and detoxifying chemical munitions within a gas-tight enclosure so that there is no venting of toxic or hazardous chemicals during detonation.

Explosive destruction system for disposal of chemical munitions

The invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for initiating and sustaining an oxidation reaction. A hazardous waste, is introduced into a reaction zone within a pressurized containment vessel. An oxidizer, preferably hydrogen peroxide, is mixed with a carrier fluid, preferably water, and the mixture is heated until the fluid achieves supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure. The heating means comprise cartridge heaters placed in closed-end tubes extending into the center region of the pressure vessel along the reactor longitudinal axis. A cooling jacket surrounds the pressure vessel to remove excess heat at the walls. Heating and cooling the fluid mixture in this manner creates a limited reaction zone near the center of the pressure vessel by establishing a steady state density gradient in the fluid mixture which gradually forces the fluid to circulate internally. This circulation allows the fluid mixture to oscillate between supercritical and subcritical states as it is heated and cooled.

Method and apparatus for waste destruction using supercritical water

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Manteca, CA, United States of America

Brent L Haroldsen