Frequently Asked Questions about the

Static Detonation Chamber and

Munitions Destruction System

SDC 2000, delivered 2006 in  
Munster, Germany, is a plant  
for the destruction of old  
chemical weapons. It included  
an Off Gas Treatment system.  

1. What is the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC)?

2. Why was the SDC developed?

3. How long has the SDC technology been on the market?

4. What munitions can be processed and how long does it take to process?

5. How does the SDC work?

6. What are the advantages of a hot detonation chamber versus a cold chamber?

7. Is the SDC system safe?

8. What is unique about the heating of the SDC system?

9. What is unique about the Off Gas Treatment system of the SDC?

10. What is the Munitions Destruction System (MDS)?

11. How does DYNASAFE's MDS differ from the SDC?

1. What is the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC)?

The SDC is an armored chamber designed to contain all blast effects, gasses, and fragments from the detonation of munitions. The SDC does not move during the detonation event.

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2. Why was the SDC developed?

In a word, safety. Elimination of the counter charge (needed for cold detonation chambers which were the norm before the SDC was developed) and the elimination of the need for disassembly (needed for other demil processes) results in a system that maximizes safety while simultaneously maximizing throughput and thus profits.

Other processes for munitions destruction are either polluting (open burn / open detonation) or are not economical to operate in a production demil environment. The SDC is able to process most munitions types without pre-treatment, which makes the process economical, and does so using state of the art pollution control equipment.

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3. How long has the SDC technology been on the market?

The first SDC unit (SDC 800) was built in 1997 and continues service in Sweden. There are five models: SDC 400, SDC 800, SDC 1200, SDC 1500, and SDC 2000. There are SDC units in Germany, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. These solutions vary in their explosive capacities (per feed event).

The table below describes these capacities.

Some models offer mobility and chemical options. All models are customizable.

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Before Processing  

4. What munitions can be processed?

A wide variety of munitions can be processed in the SDC (mortars, projectiles, mines, rockets, propellants, explosives, explosive contaminated materials, soils or equipment, airbags, explosive bolts, and components of these munitions or items). Chemical Warfare Agents and CWA containing projectiles can also be accommodated. The selection of the SDC model is made primarily on the target demilitarization inventory. For example, if large caliber, high energy rounds are the predominate items, the SDC 2000 would be a likely solution. If only small caliber ammunition is involved then a Munitions Destruction System (MDS) may be the correct solution. If chemical rounds are to be processed, models would be evaluated that allow for that option.

After Processing. Scrap is  
periodically removed  
for recycle.  

Rates vary considerably depending upon the planned daily work schedule and the type of munitions to be processed.

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5. How does the SDC work?

• Munitions are placed on an input conveyer.
  - This is the last time anyone touches the munitions.
• The munitions are conveyed to the feed system.
  - The feed system is designed as a double airlock type.
• Munitions are fed to the detonation chamber, which is maintained at a temperature above the critical temperature of the explosives in the munitions.
  - The explosives detonate / deflagrate.
• Gasses are largely destroyed by explosive effects and pyrolysis in the main chamber.
• Remaining pyrolysis products and gasses from the explosives are further treated to remove pollutants.
• Scrap is retained in the chamber until it has been completely treated to destroy all explosives and / or CWA.

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6. What are the advantages of a hot detonation chamber versus a cold chamber?

• No counter charge required (lowers costs, reduces risk)
• Automated feed system
• Absolute minimum handling of munitions
• Chamber temperature is 550 C (1,022 F): Scrap does not require further treatment (Army 5X standard). Increases worker safety, reduces risk. Improved processing rate which minimizes handling and increases through-put efficiency.
• Decreased shock and fragment loadings to chamber walls due to much less explosive used.
• Equipment lasts longer.

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7. Is the SDC system safe?

Yes. SDC systems have operated for a total of 14 years. There have been no incidents or failures.

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8. What is unique about the heating of the SDC system?

The SDC has a unique heat distribution system inside the inner chamber guaranteeing a high and equal temperature distribution in all parts at any time. The design is made in a way that heat losses are kept to a minimum. The system uses the energy contained in the explosives to power the reaction. The SDC also has a closed bottom armored chamber.

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9. What is unique about the Off Gas Treatment system of the SDC?

Due to indirect flameless heating of the destruction chamber, off-gas volume is kept extremely low compared to other systems. As a result, the Off Gas Treatment (OGT) is smaller, simpler, and less expensive, which increases environmental acceptance. The OGT is customized to comply with all environmental regulations in the country where it is to be installed.

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10. What is the Munitions Destruction System (MDS)?

The MDS is a hot detonation solution for the disposal of small arms and light weapon (SALW) conventional ammunition up to 37 mm. Explosives devices such as fuzes, igniters, detonators, signal ammunition, propellant powder, and munitions components can also be processed. The MDS can be combined with an optional DYNASAFE Off Gas Treatment (OGT) unit to make a complete system. The OGT is customized to comply with all environmental regulations in the country where it is to be installed. Additionally, there is an option to allow the unit be fed by robotic or automatic means.

There are two models of the MDS, which differ by explosive capacity outlined in the table below.

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11. How does DYNASAFE's MDS differ from the SDC??

Both of these solutions use hot detonation technology. DYNASAFE's Munitions Destruction System (MDS) is a disposal solution for small arms to medium calibre munitions. The MDS is not designed to process Chemical Warfare Material (CWM) or armor piercing munitions such as shape charges. A wide variety of large munitions can be processed in DYNASAFE's Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) and Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) and CWA containing projectiles can also be accommodated.

In the SDC, a feed rate of up to three minutes a feed is possible and is gas-tight; however a batch preparation of the feed is necessary. In the MDS, a feed rate of up to 15 seconds a feed is possible (basically continuous feeding), but it is not gas-tight. High Energy (HE) explosives are also highly limited in the MDS, which has a single-walled chamber compared to the double-walled chamber in the SDC. In the SDC a single full order detonation is possible but in the MDS this type of detonation is to be avoided. Both systems offer scrap free of explosives, however in the SDC scrap is automatically discharged whereas the MDS is semi-automatic. Both solutions offer optional Off Gas Treatment systems.

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