Patent ID: 6610157
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: B01J,C06B

Abstract:
A process for producing prills comprised of an energetic material having a melting point, the energetic material being free of ammonium dinitramide and ammonium nitrate, said process comprising:providing a solid particulate feedstock comprising an energetic material; providing a prilling column, said prilling column having at least one heated zone, and at least one cooling zone; introducing said solid particulate feedstock into said prilling column and allowing said solid particulate feedstock to fall through the at least one heated zone along a flow path to form melted particles as pre-prills; providing a countercurrent flow comprising an inert fluid medium in said prilling column in a countercurrent direction to the flow path of the pre-prills, the countercurrent flow being sufficient for spheridization of the pre-prills into spherical pre-prills, while avoiding excessive turbulence within the prilling column; allowing the spherical pre-prills to pass through the at least one cooling zone in the prilling column, the at least one cooling zone being at an operation temperature sufficient to harden the spherical pre-prills into prills while avoiding excessive condensation in the at least one cooling zone, the operation temperature being below the melting point of the energetic material; and collecting the prills.