Portable High-Pressure Waterjet System for UXO Demilitarization Steve J. Schmit Gradient Technology June 17, 2010
Outline Gradient Technology background High-pressure waterjet background Project examples UXO work at NSWC-White Oak UXO work at NSWC-Indian Head MLRS rocket motor sectioning at Redstone Arsenal Stockpiled projectile demil at NSWC-Crane
Gradient Technology Background Small business founded in 1996 Operations Elk River, MN Crane Army Ammunition Activity, IN Huntsville, AL Conduct basic chemical engineering research, design, development, and fabrication with an emphasis on demilitarization technology Operate research laboratory Fabrication capabilities
High-Pressure Waterjets Converts pressure to velocity V = (2P/ ) 1/2 M water = A orifice V Abrasive commonly added to increase cutting speed Demilitarization use of waterjets Low pressure (90 psi) used in the 1920s to demil HE projectiles Medium pressure (5,000 psi) used in 1960s to demil solid fuel rocket motors High pressure (55,000 psi) currently used to demil 40,000 Explosive D projectiles per year
High-Pressure Waterjets Cont d Numerous safety concerns have been raised about using waterjets on PEP Impact Friction Mechanical Sparks ESD Commercial waterjets are safe (P < 1x10-6 ) to use on PEP Impact energy for pumped waterjets remains less than 0.1% of most sensitive secondary HE Friction is not an issue since localized temperature rise is limited by fluid heat sink Safe for use in flammable/combustible atmospheres Proper bonding and grounding MUST be used to prevent ESD
High-Pressure Waterjets Cont d
High-Pressure Waterjets Cont d Gradient Technology s application of high-pressure waterjets Abrasive waterjet used to cut base fuse from Explosive D projectiles and high-pressure water used to remove the explosive fill Waterjet used to washout PBXN-109 from warheads Abrasive waterjet used to section UXO in portable system
Project Examples
NSWC-White Oak UXO Demil Gradient Technology utilized a portable highpressure waterjet system to safely section in excess of 500 UXO items in 2003
NSWC-White Oak UXO Demil Cont d System designed to handle 3000 lbs Fabricated of stainless steel Utilized remotely operated high-pressure waterjet to cut through steel, concrete and energetics
NSWC-White Oak UXO Demil Cont d Before and after photographs of the sectioning of a Mk84 2000lb GP bomb
NSWC-White Oak UXO Demil Cont d System capable of handling various ordnance shapes and sizes
NSWC-Indian Head UXO Demil Gradient Technology utilized its portable high-pressure waterjet system to safely section in excess of 500 UXO items in 2006
NSWC-Indian Head UXO Demil Cont d Portable system manually loaded with items to be sectioned
NSWC-Indian Head UXO Demil Cont d Mk84 bomb 2000lb sea mine Missile
NSWC-Indian Head UXO Demil Cont d Site after project completion Sectioned ordnance items Certified scrap loading
M26 MLRS Rocket Motor M270 MLRS uses M26 Basic Tactical Rockets that are tube-launched, spin-stabilized, free flight projectiles Four stabilizer fins located in propulsion section Propulsion provided by 325 lbs. of Arcadene 360B solid propellant 69 wt% ammonium perchlorate (AP) 12 wt% hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) 18 wt% aluminum (Al) 1 wt% iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 )
Live Rocket Motor Segmenting Tested waterjet system with live rocket motor at Redstone Arsenal Building 7695 Cut 3 live rocket motors M26 MLRS rocket motor segment without nozzle. Contained 6 mm Arcadene 360B propellant rind. M26 MLRS rocket motor 13-inch segment without nozzle. Contained full Arcadene 360B propellant cross section. M26 MLRS rocket motor 24-inch segment without nozzle. Contained full Arcadene 360B propellant cross section.
Live Rocket Motor Segmenting Cont d M26 MLRS rocket motor segment with 6 mm Arcadene 360B propellant rind
Live Rocket Motor Segmenting Cont d M26 MLRS rocket motor 13-inch and 24-inch segments without nozzle
Stockpile Demil Gradient Technology designed, installed, and currently operates a projectile demil facility at NSWC-Crane Processes Navy Explosive D projectiles 3 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch, and 8 inch Uses high-pressure abrasive waterjet to cut and remove base fuze Uses high-pressure water to wash out Explosive D fill Chemical plant converts Explosive D to picric acid for commercial sale Safely operating since 2000 Has demilitarized in excess of 150,000 projectiles
Stockpile Demil Cont d Projectile demil system is an R3 process (resource recovery and recycling) 5 / 38 Assembly Nose Fuze Aux Det Fuze Body Explosive Filler Base Fuze or Plug
Stockpile Demil Cont d Projectile Processing Projectile Inspection Projectile Loading
Stockpile Demil Cont d Ammonium picrate conversion to picric acid Projectile bodies and rotating bands recycled
Conclusions High-pressure abrasive waterjets can quickly process UXO Capable of processing items of different shapes, sizes, and weights Safe system is designed to handle energetic materials Transportable Synergistic with detonation chambers and recycling operations