Figure 6-1. Washout room (APE 1300)

TM 9-1300-277

are placed vertically and open end down in holding

for return feed to the heating units. Ordinarily, no water

racks. Hot water is jetted up into them at 90125 psi to

is discharged from a washout plant while it is running

melt and wash out the explosive fill. The hot water is

(although some do feature an overflow equal in volume

held at approximately 1800-2050F, a temperature which

to the volume of explosive washed out). Instead, the

melts the TNT. Much higher temperatures would clog

water is continuously recycled to the washout section

the flumes and filters. The molten TNT-water slurry is

after being chilled and filtered to remove excess

fed to a settling tank where most of the water is

dissolved and suspended explosive. When a plant is

separated for reuse. The molten explosive is pelletized

shut down, the water inventory maybe discharged to

by showering dropplets forced through a perforated plate

some disposal system or filtered through a carbon

and through ambient cold water. The solidified pellets

column for purification. It is planned to equip washout

are collected, dried, and boxed for storage or shipment.

plants with carbon absorption columns for final

The production rate of the standard APE 1300 system is

treatment of discharged water.

approximately 1400 pounds per hour of explosives,

limited mainly by the capacity of the pelletizing unit. A

d. Empty metal munition cases are flashed at the

modified washout system at Hawthorne AAP equipped

burning ground or in a flashing furnace to remove any

with a belt flaker has an estimated capacity of 2000

remaining traces of explosive, and then sent to Property

pounds per hour.

Disposal Office for disposal. Occasionally, when the

cases are needed for reloading, they may be chemically

c. Recycled water is chilled to remove excess

cleaned to avoid heat warpage.

This procedure,

dissolved explosive, filtered and sent to a holding tank

however, is unusual.

Figure 6-1. Washout room (APE 1300).

6-3