Method and apparatus to demilitarize munition energetics

Abstract

A method of demilitarizing an energetic is disclosed. The method comprises indirectly heating the energetic in a chamber to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the energetic to at least partially decompose the energetic and substantially preclude combustion of the energetic such that the indirect heating produces a decomposition gas, and separating at least a portion of the decomposition gas from the chamber. The method may further comprise monitoring the decomposition gas and/or passing the separated decomposition gas through an air abatement system. The method may further comprise adjusting at least one of the following: the indirect heating of the energetic, the separating of the decomposition gas, the air abatement system, and a residence time of the energetic in the chamber. The energetic may be a bulk energetic.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.