Decontamination of Test Range Metal Debris using a Transportable Flashing Furnace

摘要

The largest quantities of debris collected during the clearance of military test and open burning/open detonation (OB/OD) ranges are not live munitions but parts and pieces of munitions that may or may not have trace quantities of explosive contamination. The collected debris varies in size from very small to very large fragments and consists primarily of steel, with some brass and aluminum, and a small portion of other materials. In a typical range clearance operation, the debris is located, collected, and stored near the test range. Decontamination to a 3X level can be obtained by cleaning and visual inspection; however, blind areas, joints, cracks, voids, etc. can harbor residual energetic materials. Transfer documents for decontaminated metals must attest to the inspection of the materials and certification that it bears no explosive material. Material at the 3X level that is decontaminated by thermal treatment is classified 5X and can be freely released to the public without restriction. To date, thermal decontamination ovens have been fixed installations and the cost of transporting and treating contaminated debris has been prohibitive, the debris has remained unprocessed and stored locally, often buried on-site. For transportability purposes, El Dorado Engineering (EDE) has adapted well-established contaminated waste processing technology into a standard 48-foot trailer configuration. The transportable flashing furnace (TFF) technology can be easily deployed to the field for highvolume, repeatable, and certifiable 5X decontamination.