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Title: 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 » AN. We found that the prediction of ignition was not sensitive to small perturbations in the latent enthalpies.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
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  1. 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.
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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
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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.
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@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}
}
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Journal Article:
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DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/07370652.2018.1521480
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: (a) SITI schematic with small expansion gap filled with AN prills, (b) cross-section of AN in the SITI apparatus showing thermocouple locations and (c) post-ignition SITI debris for various explosives with AN being the least violent.
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Works referenced in this record:

Detonation in Ammonium Nitrate
journal, July 1962

  • Paterson, Stewart; Davidson, Jean M.
  • Nature, Vol. 195, Issue 4838
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Modeling TNT Ignition
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Ammonium nitrate thermal decomposition with additives
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PETN Ignition Experiments and Models
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  • Hobbs, Michael L.; Wente, William B.; Kaneshige, Michael J.
  • The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol. 114, Issue 16
  • DOI: 10.1021/jp1007329

Ignition experiments and models of a plastic bonded explosive (PBX 9502)
journal, March 2014

  • Hobbs, M. L.; Kaneshige, M. J.
  • The Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 140, Issue 12
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.4869351

Modeling the measured effect of a nitroplasticizer (BDNPA/F) on cookoff of a plastic bonded explosive (PBX 9501)
journal, November 2016

Comparison of Three Methods for Selecting Values of Input Variables in the Analysis of Output from a Computer Code
journal, May 1979

Lessons to be learned from an analysis of ammonium nitrate disasters in the last 100 years
journal, September 2014

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    Figures / Tables found in this record:

    Figure 1 (p. 3)figure
    Table 1 (p. 5)table
    Figure 2 (p. 6)figure
    Figure 3 (p. 7)figure
    Table 2 (p. 10)table
    Table 3 (p. 11)table
    Figure 4 (p. 13)figure
    Figure 5 (p. 13)figure
    Figure 6 (p. 14)figure
    Figure 7 (p. 16)figure
    Figure 7 (p. 17)figure
    Table 4 (p. 18)table
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