Thermal Methods in Chemical Weapon Destruction And Computer Modeling of Plasma Technology

Year 2022, , 1799 - 1808, 16.12.2022

Murat Şahin Caner Dereli

https://doi.org/10.2339/politeknik.1109423

Abstract

Disposal of chemical weapons is a very complex issue, and this ammunition can be disposed of by nonthermal or thermal methods after separating from metal and energetic parts. Thermal methods are incineration, supercritical oxidation, and plasma gasification technology. Since the plasma gasification technology is operated at temperatures much higher than 2000 ºC, the bond structures of chemical compounds are broken and gases containing fewer heavy metals are released. This method, which is a more environmentally friendly disposal method compared to other thermal methods, is the subject of the study. The gasification of chemical agents such as Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard, and Tabun, and explosives TNT (trinitrotoluen), RDX (Royal Demolition Explosive), and PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate) with plasma technology was modeled with VMGSim© software, and the contents of the synthesis gas released were examined. Both chemical agents and explosives studied in this study were chosen because they are the most commonly used chemicals in chemical munitions. Besides, the effect of the amount of air, oxygen, and steam entering the reactor on the composition of the combustion products released while these chemicals are gasified has been investigated.

Keywords

Chemical munitions, disposal methods, plasma technology, gasification, thermal disposal methods, computer modelling

Kimyasal Silahların Bertarafında Termal Yöntemler ve Plazma Teknolojisinin Bilgisayar Modellemesi

Abstract

Kimyasal silahların bertarafı oldukça karmaşık bir konu olup, metal ve enerjik (patlayıcı) kısımları mühimmattan ayrıldıktan sonra termal ya da nontermal yöntemlerle bertaraf edilebilmektedir. Termal yöntemler yakma, süper kritik oksidasyon, erimiş metal teknolojisi ve plazma gazlaştırmadır. Plazma gazlaştırma teknolojisi, 2000 ºC'den çok daha yüksek sıcaklıklarda çalıştırıldığından kimyasal bileşiklerin bağ yapıları kırılır ve daha az ağır metal içeren gazlar açığa çıkar. Diğer termal yöntemlere göre daha çevreci bir bertaraf yöntemi olan bu yöntem çalışmanın konusunu oluşturmaktadır. Kükürt Mustard, Nitrojen Mustard ve Tabun gibi kimyasal ajanlar ile TNT, RDX ve PETN patlayıcılarının plazma teknolojisi ile gazlaştırılması VMGSim© yazılımı ile modellenmiş ve açığa çıkan sentez gazının içerikleri incelenmiştir. Bu çalışmada incelenen hem kimyasal maddeler hem de patlayıcılar, kimyasal mühimmatlarda en sık kullanılan kimyasallar oldukları için seçilmiştir. Ayrıca reaktöre giren hava, oksijen ve buhar miktarının, bu kimyasallar gazlaştırılırken, açığa çıkan yanma ürünlerinin bileşimine etkisi araştırılmıştır.

Keywords

Kimyasal Silah, bertaraf yöntemleri, plazma teknolojisi, gazlaştırma, termal bertaraf yöntemleri, bilgisayar modellemesi

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