Case Study - Computer Modeling
ton containers
CR&E provides computer models that accurately predict the peak vaporization rate and required residence time in the Metal Parts Furnace for ton containers, munitions, and bombs, with various chemical agent heel depths. A significant problem in chemical weapons demilitarization is some of the chemical agents have degraded and become solid. CR&E utilized a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Computer Model, CR&E's proprietary Peak Vaporization Rate (PVR) Model, mass and energy balances, and processing data to develop the processing criteria for solid HD heels in ton containers. The CFD and PVR Models used the physical properties of the mustard (based on analysis) in the ton containers to be processed. The project identified the furnace processing parameters, peak vaporization rate and required residence times for the various solid heel depths in the ton containers.
Sludge
During the closure of JACADS, sludge’s from the agent collection system and the spent decontamination system had to be thermally decontaminated in the Metal Parts Furnace. CR&E developed the processing criteria by completing bench scale testing utilizing a non-contaminated sludge, instrumented with a bank of thermocouples in a furnace to determine the heat transfer rate. The sludge used in the testing was saturated with water to simulate a worse case condition. The process of heating the sludge was then modeled using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). CR&E developed a special module for use with the Computational Fluid Dynamics software for the Water Vaporization Model. The module can dynamically model the effect of different water mass fractions in the sludge. Using Turbulence and Radiation Heat Transfer Models coupled with the Water Vaporization Model, the time required for the concrete sludge to reach the “5X” condition was accurately determined.
