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Title: Combustion aspects of the reapplication of energetic materials as fuels as a viable demil technology

Abstract

This investigation addresses the combustion-related aspects of the reapplication of energetic materials as fuels in boilers as an economically viable and environmentally acceptable use of excess energetic materials. The economics of this approach indicate that the revenues from power generation and chemical recovery approximately equal the costs of boiler modification and changes in operation. The primary tradeoff is the cost of desensitizing the fuels against the cost of open burn/open detonation (OB/OD) or other disposal techniques. Two principal combustion-related obstacles to the use of energetic-material-derived fuels are NO{sub x} generation and the behavior of metals. NO{sub x} measurements obtained in this investigation indicate that the nitrated components (nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, etc.) of energetic materials decompose with NO{sub x} as the primary product. This can lead to high uncontrolled NO{sub x} levels (as high as 2,600 ppm on a 3% O{sub 2} basis for a 5% blend of energetic material in the fuel). NO{sub x} levels are sensitive to local stoichiometry and temperature. The observed trends resemble those common during the combustion of other nitrogen-containing fuels. Implications for NO{sub x} control strategies are discussed. The behavior of inorganic components in energetic materials tested in this investigation could lead to boiler maintenance problemsmore » such as deposition, grate failure, and bed agglomeration. The root cause of the problem is the potentially extreme temperature generated during metal combustion. Implications for furnace selection and operation are discussed.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (United States). Combustion Research Facility
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
244528
Report Number(s):
SAND-96-8501C; CONF-960772-13
ON: DE96008704; TRN: AHC29613%%3
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 26. international symposium on combustion, Naples (Italy), 28 Jul - 2 Aug 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; 40 CHEMISTRY; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES; COMBUSTION; NITRO COMPOUNDS; NITROGEN OXIDES; AIR POLLUTION CONTROL; CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD; BOILERS; FOULING; WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION; ON-SITE POWER GENERATION; PILOT PLANTS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; FLUE GAS; GAS ANALYSIS; PROPELLANTS; BOILER FUELS; WASTE MANAGEMENT

Citation Formats

Baxter, L, Davis, K, Sinquefield, S, Huey, S, Lipkin, J, Shah, D, Ross, J, and Sclippa, G. Combustion aspects of the reapplication of energetic materials as fuels as a viable demil technology. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Baxter, L, Davis, K, Sinquefield, S, Huey, S, Lipkin, J, Shah, D, Ross, J, & Sclippa, G. Combustion aspects of the reapplication of energetic materials as fuels as a viable demil technology. United States.
Baxter, L, Davis, K, Sinquefield, S, Huey, S, Lipkin, J, Shah, D, Ross, J, and Sclippa, G. 1996. "Combustion aspects of the reapplication of energetic materials as fuels as a viable demil technology". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/244528.
@article{osti_244528,
title = {Combustion aspects of the reapplication of energetic materials as fuels as a viable demil technology},
author = {Baxter, L and Davis, K and Sinquefield, S and Huey, S and Lipkin, J and Shah, D and Ross, J and Sclippa, G},
abstractNote = {This investigation addresses the combustion-related aspects of the reapplication of energetic materials as fuels in boilers as an economically viable and environmentally acceptable use of excess energetic materials. The economics of this approach indicate that the revenues from power generation and chemical recovery approximately equal the costs of boiler modification and changes in operation. The primary tradeoff is the cost of desensitizing the fuels against the cost of open burn/open detonation (OB/OD) or other disposal techniques. Two principal combustion-related obstacles to the use of energetic-material-derived fuels are NO{sub x} generation and the behavior of metals. NO{sub x} measurements obtained in this investigation indicate that the nitrated components (nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, etc.) of energetic materials decompose with NO{sub x} as the primary product. This can lead to high uncontrolled NO{sub x} levels (as high as 2,600 ppm on a 3% O{sub 2} basis for a 5% blend of energetic material in the fuel). NO{sub x} levels are sensitive to local stoichiometry and temperature. The observed trends resemble those common during the combustion of other nitrogen-containing fuels. Implications for NO{sub x} control strategies are discussed. The behavior of inorganic components in energetic materials tested in this investigation could lead to boiler maintenance problems such as deposition, grate failure, and bed agglomeration. The root cause of the problem is the potentially extreme temperature generated during metal combustion. Implications for furnace selection and operation are discussed.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/244528}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}

Conference:
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