Energetics Batch Hydrolyzer (EBH)

A significant inventory of chemical munitions is stored at Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond, KY. GA is a member of the Bechtel-Parsons Bluegrass Team that is responsible for the design, construction, systemization, operation, and closure of the Bluegrass Chemical Agent Pilot Plant (BGCAPP). This facility will treat agent, explosives, and propellants in a two-step process. In the first step, chemical agents and explosives are neutralized in separate processes to nonlethal and nonexplosive materials by means of low temperature, low pressure chemical reactions. The resulting agent and energetics hydrolysates are subjected to post-treatment using supercritical water oxidation (SCWO). GA is responsible for the design, testing, and construction of Energetic Batch Hydrolyzers (EBHs) used to hydrolyze energetic components and SCWO systems for treatment of agent and energetics hydrolysates.

Development of the EBH system was based on extensive testing performed at GA to demonstrate key design and operating parameters. A full-scale mockup of the EBH drum, support structure, conveyors, and fluid transport equipment were subjected to BGCAPP operating conditions using simulated chemical munition components. The results of these tests, and others performed at U.S. Army test sites using actual chemical munition components, confirmed the effectiveness of energetics destruction via caustic hydrolysis.

EBH Drum and Support Structure

Internals of EBH Drum