Controlled
Detonation Chamber (CDC)
Description
The
Controlled Detonation Chamber (formerly known as the Donovan Blast
Chamber),
was the first system approved by the Army for destroying non-chemical
mortars and
shells unearthed at former military munitions ranges. Munitions are
packed in
explosive and loaded into a large, double-walled steel chamber along
with bags
of water for thermal control and steam generation. The floor of the
chamber is
also covered with pea gravel, which absorbs some of the blast energy.
The
system is sealed and the explosive is detonated. This explosion breaks
open the
munition and detonates any energetics [e.g., trinitrotoluene (TNT)].
The CDC is
safe, reliable, and effective. It is made in transportable versions
that are
appropriate for destroying small, medium, and large numbers of
munitions. In
addition, there is a large fixed model that could be used at a large
burial
site or firing range. The CDC has an air pollution control unit that
filters
and treats vapors.
Limitations
and Concerns
If
disposing of large quantities of bulk munitions per year, using the
chamber may
take too long to be of use.
The
Army stated that even with a blast chamber on site, it will still have
to burn
or detonate some shells in place if they are too large or dangerous to
handle.
Applicability
The
CDC and similar configurations are used to detonate unexploded
ordnance. It is
also used internationally for chemical warfare materiel destruction,
although it
is not permitted in the U.S. for this purpose.
Technology
Development Status
The
technology is commercially available.
Web
Link
http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007global_demil/SessionVA/1035Quimby.pdf
Other
Resources and Demonstrations
See http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11777
for description of this technology as it is used in chemical weapons
destruction.