Small-scale cook-off experiments and models of ammonium nitrate
Abstract
Here, we have completed a series of small-scale cook-off experiments of ammonium nitrate (AN) prills in our Sandia Instrumented Thermal Ignition test at nominal packing densities of about 0.8 g/cm3. We increased the boundary temperature of our aluminum confinement cylinder from room temperature to a prescribed set-point temperature in 10 min. Our set-point temperature ranged from 508 to 538 K. The external temperature of the confining cylinder was held at the set-point temperature until ignition. We used type K thermocouples to measure temperatures associated with several polymorphic phase changes as well as melting and boiling. As the AN boiled, our thermocouples were destroyed by corrosion, which may have been caused by reaction of hot nitric acid (HNO3) with nickel to form nickel nitrate, Ni(NO3)2. Videos of the corroding thermocouples showed a green solution that was similar to the color of Ni(NO3)2. We found that ignition was imminent as the AN boiling point was exceeded. Ignition of the AN prills was modeled by solving the energy equation with an energy source due to desorption of moisture and decomposition of AN to form equilibrium products. A Boussinesq approximation was used in conjunction with the momentum equation to model flow of the liquidmore »
- Authors:
-
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1477438
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2018-6377J
Journal ID: ISSN 0737-0652; 664379
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Energetic Materials
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 37; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0737-0652
- Publisher:
- Taylor & Francis
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; ammonium nitrate; cook-off; thermocouple corrosion
Citation Formats
Hobbs, Michael L., and Kaneshige, Michael J. Small-scale cook-off experiments and models of ammonium nitrate. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1080/07370652.2018.1521480.
Hobbs, Michael L., & Kaneshige, Michael J. Small-scale cook-off experiments and models of ammonium nitrate. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07370652.2018.1521480
Hobbs, Michael L., and Kaneshige, Michael J. Mon .
"Small-scale cook-off experiments and models of ammonium nitrate". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07370652.2018.1521480. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1477438.
@article{osti_1477438,
title = {Small-scale cook-off experiments and models of ammonium nitrate},
author = {Hobbs, Michael L. and Kaneshige, Michael J.},
abstractNote = {Here, we have completed a series of small-scale cook-off experiments of ammonium nitrate (AN) prills in our Sandia Instrumented Thermal Ignition test at nominal packing densities of about 0.8 g/cm3. We increased the boundary temperature of our aluminum confinement cylinder from room temperature to a prescribed set-point temperature in 10 min. Our set-point temperature ranged from 508 to 538 K. The external temperature of the confining cylinder was held at the set-point temperature until ignition. We used type K thermocouples to measure temperatures associated with several polymorphic phase changes as well as melting and boiling. As the AN boiled, our thermocouples were destroyed by corrosion, which may have been caused by reaction of hot nitric acid (HNO3) with nickel to form nickel nitrate, Ni(NO3)2. Videos of the corroding thermocouples showed a green solution that was similar to the color of Ni(NO3)2. We found that ignition was imminent as the AN boiling point was exceeded. Ignition of the AN prills was modeled by solving the energy equation with an energy source due to desorption of moisture and decomposition of AN to form equilibrium products. A Boussinesq approximation was used in conjunction with the momentum equation to model flow of the liquid AN. We found that the prediction of ignition was not sensitive to small perturbations in the latent enthalpies.},
doi = {10.1080/07370652.2018.1521480},
journal = {Journal of Energetic Materials},
number = 1,
volume = 37,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {10}
}
Web of Science
Figures / Tables:

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Figures / Tables found in this record: