High throughput chemical munitions treatment system

DWPI Title: Semi-continuous system i.e. high-throughput explosive destruction system for remediating e.g. chemical warfare munition in e.g. industrial application, has opening unit opening munition within two side-by-side containment vessels
Abstract: 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.
Use: Semi-continuous system i.e. high-throughput explosive destruction system (HTEDS), for remediating chemical munitions i.e. chemical warfare munition, and explosive i.e. time bomb, in industrial application. Uses include but are not limited to surface hardening of manganese steel rail, welding of metallic components, compression molding of components from powders and large chemical warfare materiel (CWM) disposal/burial sites.
Advantage: The system has chemical agents that are contained within the munition to be treated in a separate waste treatment vessel in a semi-continuous batch mode to free up the detonation containment vessels to process additional munitions, thus eliminating the need for current complex rotating containment vessel. The system is provided with sealing components including a vessel seal and a valve panel, which are redesigned to reduce time needed for each step and allow operators to work more efficiently. The containment vessels are surrounded by a separate ventilation unit such as fume hoods used to reduce operator exposure to toxic agents and noxious fumes. The system allows simplified clamp for the containment vessels to enable much faster closure. The system is provided with combination of the fume hood surrounding the containment vessels and an innovative steam rinsing process to greatly reduce time required to prepare the vessel for next load of munitions. The system allows cylindrical pieces to be spread apart axially providing for ease of loading. The system uses a standard GRAYLOC PRODUCTS (RTM: Not defined) remote clamping system to secure the vessel instead of custom-designed sliding clamps and hydraulic nuts, thus eliminating manual processes of sliding two clamps together, tightening hex nuts, actuating hydraulic nuts and securing the hex nuts and reverse processes at the end of the operation, and hence saving assembly time and reducing level of effort for the operators.
Novelty: The system has an inlet conduit unit for receiving waste treatment reactant chemicals. A waste treatment system fluidly communicates with inlet and outlet conduit units of two side-by-side detonation containment vessels (10, 20) and the waste system. A sealed reactant vessel comprises the treatment reactant chemicals. A closed loop recirculating system is in fluid communication with a canned-motor pump, the seal reactant vessel and the inlet and outlet conduit units of each of the containment vessels. Explosively opening unit opens a munition within the side-by-side containment vessels.
Filed: 10/29/2008
Application Number: US2008260645A
Tech ID: SD 10880.1
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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