Open Burning and Open Detonation (OB/OD)

Description

Open detonation and open burn operations are used to destroy excess, obsolete, or unserviceable munitions and energetic (i.e., explosive) materials. Open burn and open detonation are subject to increasing regulatory restriction and these techniques may no longer be feasible in the near future. In open burning, materials such as rocket fuel are destroyed by self-sustained combustion after being ignited. In general, electric initiation systems are preferable because they provide better control. In open detonation, explosives and munitions are destroyed by a detonation of explosive charges. In the past, these operations occurred at land surface or in pits. Recently, burn trays and blast boxes have been used to control and contain resulting emissions. In detonation processes the blast box may be below grade and covered with soil to further minimize the release of emissions.

Limitations and Concerns

Underlying soil and groundwater may become contaminated with byproducts of incomplete combustion, heavy metals, or incomplete detonation products resulting from open operations

Emissions of hydrocarbons, metals, and other substances from open operations are extremely difficult to capture and may not be permitted in many areas. Subsurface processes may minimize emissions release.

Substantial space is required for open processes in order to maintain minimum distance requirements for safety purposes.

It is essential that in planning open operations, wind must keep sparks, flames, smoke, and toxic fumes away from neighboring facilities.

Operations usually contain many types of explosives, pyrotechnics, and propellants. Open burn areas must be able to withstand accidental detonation of any or all energetics being destroyed.

In open burning and open detonation operations, there is still the possibility that some ordnance or energetics will not be destroyed, thus presenting a future hazard. In particular, bulk detonation may cause "kick out", the ejection of an undetonated device, distributing dangerous ordnance over a wide area. Kick-out can be minimized by the proper placement of multiple charges.

Open detonation is a form of uncontrolled incineration. It is a process that can lead toxic releases and exposures.

People who live, work, or recreate near OB/OD sites often complain about noise and in some cases, blast damage.

Applicability

Detonation and open burning destroy excess, obsolete, or unserviceable munitions, energetic materials, and media contaminated with energetics.

Technology Development Status

Open burn and open detonation are is well established, but increasingly restricted due to environmental concerns.

Web Links

http://www.frtr.gov/matrix2/section4/4_27.html http://www7.etl.noaa.gov/programs/SERDP/index.html

Other resources

Also see: http://www.dugway.army.mil/ , go to testing, chemical tests for a description of the Dugway Proving Ground's Bang Box and Open Detonation/Open Burn improved (ODOBi) facilities. This project attempts to evaluate the environmental results from open burning and open detonation.

See pyrolysis as possible alternative.

Blast boxes are commercially available. The three contacts below all use air pollution control devices. Contact:

Chrysler Daimler Benz (Tim Tapp at 703-893-0330, HumaHuma7@aol.com or Thomas Schenkel at 82 52 99-64 11 (Schrobenhausen, Germany), EST.MEKa@t-online.de ]

Donovan Demolition (John Donovan at 309-963-4425, Robert Parman at 502-676-3192 or Michael Frakes at 309-963-4425)

NABCO (Randy Markey at 412-231-8558, www.nabcoinc.com) makes small detonation chambers for terrorist bombs, including those with chemical or biological agents.