Carbon Dioxide Blast/Vacuum Demilitarization
Abstract
Carbon Dioxide Blast/Vacuum Demilitarization is an initiative intended to provide a new alternative to open-burning and open-detonation as a means of disposing of unwanted munitions. This initiative uses a commercially available Carbon Dioxide Blast Cleaning System which has been successfully adapted for use as a Demilitarization System by Crane Army Ammunition Activity, Crane Indiana. It is the first known use of CO, Blast Cleaning for demilitarization of live explosives. This initiative shows exceptional promise for reducing environmental risk while providing a cost effective disposal mechanism. Many systems and products that have been in use for years are presenting ammunition managers with serious environmental problems when the time for disposal comes. Military ammunition and explosives comprise one of the more hazardous disposal problems in the Department of Defense. Historically, planning for disposal of these items has been inadequate. They are consumables; they are gone once you've used them, so the alternatives to open-burning and open-detonation did not get the attention they do today. Over the past 30 years, only a handful of options for disposal of unused ammunition have been developed. The most widely used alternatives are incineration, steamout and high-pressure water washout. These methods do not come close to solving all of our disposal problems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA507035
Entities
People
- Leonard S. Olson