The supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) system is a secondary waste processing reactor of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP). It is perhaps second in importance behind the agent neutralization reactors, which perform base hydrolysis of chemical warfare agents stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot. The SCWO system is designed to reactively destroy the primary products of agent hydrolysis, thus preventing chemical reformation of the original agents.

There has been long-standing concern over the reliable operation of the SCWO system, which is heightened because the SCWO is situated downstream from the agent neutralization reactors, and interruptions in the operation of the SCWO have the potential to cause interruptions in or slowing of the chemical weapons destruction processes in the main plant.

Metrics for Successful Supercritical Water Oxidation System Operation at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, develops metrics that can be used to determine the success or risks of failure of the BGCAPP SCWO system and makes recommendations for metrics that focus on parameters for safety, performance, corrosion, reliability, availability, and maintainability.

The report is available for immediate release. Reporters who wish to obtain copies should contact the Office of News and Public Information at tel. 202-334-2138 or e-mail news@nas.edu. Follow us:
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