Tooling Verification Testing (TVT)

The goal of the TVT is to identify a method for accessing the explosive Overlay/Kill Mechanism (O/KM) located inside the ADAM AP so that the O/KM will be deactivated in the APE-1236 without high-order detonation.

This requires punching out the O/KM from the ADAM AP mine housing and accessing it for incineration.

To perform the test, a small press with appropriate tooling is required. The press is placed behind fragmentation shielding to prevent damage to equipment and harm to personnel if the O/KM explodes during the fracture.

Press for TVT Fractures Fragmentation shielding for TVT

The ADAM mine is cooled in LN2 and placed inside the press using a precise positioning device.

LN2 for Cryocooling of ADAM ADAM Mine placement tool in Press

The O/KM is punched through, accessed, and discharged into a box for incineration tests. The mine housing debris is fractured and discharged into a box for later induction heater tests.

O/KM Debris Mine Housing Debris

A fundamental goal of the current cryofracture system is to prevent high-order detonations in the APE-1236 RKS (e.g., the O/KMs not sufficiently accessed) which causes RKS problems, short retort life, impacts the air pollution control system, and could potentially cause other accessed O/KMs in the RKS to be inadvertently kicked out of the retorts. After incineration, the deactivated O/KMs are discharged into a collection drum for examination and then disposal.

Drum of deactivated O/KMs from RKS

The test system is remotely controlled from the control room and various parameters are automatically monitored.

Air Samplers Control Stations in control room