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Environmentally Compliant Disposal Method for Heavy Metal Containing PropellantsABSTRACT An environmentally friendly, cost effective technology has been developed and demonstrated by a team of Naval Air Warfare Center and Lockheed Martin personnel to dispose of Shillelagh solid rocket motor propellants. The Shillelagh is a surface to surface anti-tank weapon approaching the end of its service life. The current demilitarization process employs open detonation, but the presence of lead stearate in the N5 propellant grain motivated the need for the development of an environmentally friendly disposal method. Contained burning of the propellant followed by propellant exhaust processing was chosen as the disposal methodology. The developmental test bed, completed in February 1998, is inexpensive and transportable. Contained burning of Shillelagh propellants posed two technical hurdles: 1) removal of the sub micron lead and cadmium particulate generated during combustion, and 2) secondary combustion of the significant quantifies of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A firing chamber with a stepped nozzle, air injection, and active ignition was developed to combust the carbon monoxide and hydrogen in real time. The hot gases and particulates from the combustion process are completely contained within a gas holder. The gases are subsequently cooled and routed through a treatment facility to remove the heavy metal particulate. Results indicate that the lead and cadmium particulates are removed below their respective detection limits (2 micro-g/cu m & 0.2 micro-g/cu m) of the analytical procedures employed and that the carbon monoxide and hydrogen levels have been reduced well below the lower flammability limits. Organic concentrations, principally benzene, are I ppm or less. A semi-automated machine has been developed which can rapidly prepare Shillelagh missiles for the contained burn facility. This machine allows the contained burn technology to be more competitive with current open bum open detonation disposal rates.
Document ID
20010002073
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Decker, M. W.
(Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake, CA United States)
Erickson, E. D.
(Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake, CA United States)
Byrd, E. R.
(Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Palo Alto, CA United States)
Crispin, K. W. R.
(Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Palo Alto, CA United States)
Ferguson, B. W.
(Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Palo Alto, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: JANNAF 18th Safety and Environmental Protection Subcommittee Meeting
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: Safety and Environmental Protection
Location: Cocoa Beach, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: May 8, 2000
End Date: May 12, 2000
Sponsors: Department of the Air Force, Department of the Navy, Department of the Army, NASA Headquarters
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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