Mobility Fuels (ADV)

Abstract

This project provides data through laboratory, component, engine and fuel system tests which relate the effects of changes in Navy fuel procurement specification properties and chemistries to the performance and reliability of Naval ship and aircraft engine and fuel systems. This information is required to: (a) develop, validate and execute the test protocols necessary to approve fuels derived from non-petroleum feedstocks; (b) determine the extent to which unnecessarily restrictive specification features can be relaxed to reduce cost and increase availability worldwide; (c) provide guidance to fleet operators for the safe use of off-specification or commercial grade fuels when military specification fuels are unavailable or in short supply; (d) make needed periodic changes to fuel specifications to ensure fuel quality and avoid fleet operating problems while accommodating evolutionary changes in fuel supply industry and (e) improve the capability to provide fuel quality surveillance in the field. Continued volatility and rapid escalation of the cost of fuel has placed additional pressures on the Navy budgets responsible for maintaining and sustaining the Navy tactical fleet both now and in the future. These pressures have placed an added emphasis on the potential utilization of lower cost commercial fuels and/or fuels derived from non-petroleum sources as a potential means of stabilizing the current and anticipated price volatility. Recent problems with petroleum based fuel quality have demonstrated the adverse affects fuel related problems can have on ship and aircraft system performance, reliability and readiness. While the impacts on readiness, additional maintenance costs, and the cost of lost equipment are often difficult to fully quantify they are often many times the cost of this program. This potential risk of fuel related problems over the next decade, given the unknowns of supply, feedstocks, environmental regulations and the introduction of new theaters of operation will continue to increase. This project represents the only investment designed to maintain the Navy's ability to operate as a "smart" customer for fuels that cost over $4.0 B per year for procurement, transport, storage and consumption and are essential to fleet operations. The increase in project 0838 in PE 0603724N from FY10 to FY11 is to support the Navy's effort to test and certify alternative fuels for Navy ship and aircraft utilization. The increased funding is for procurement of test fuel and to conduct the large scale engine and system tests required to approve alternative fuel candidates for inclusion into the Navy's JP-5 and F-75 specifications. ARRA funding was provided to accelerate the development of the test requirements and to validate them using the F-18 as the lead the fleet test vehicle. The funding provided in project 0838 in PE 0603724N is to expand the ARRA sponsored efforts across additional aircraft and ship systems. This funding is the Navy's only investment in the approval of alternative fuels for tactical applications and directly supports the Navy energy goals of increased energy security and environmental stewardship.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2011
Source ID
0838_0603724N_4_1319_PB_2011

Tags

Readers

  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting

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