The U.S. Navy’s Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS) has undergone its final-phase testing using two alternative fuels.
The SDTS first travelled to San Diego, taking on 30,000 gallons of two types of alternative fuels; Synthetic Iso Paraffin (SIP), which is derived from alternative feedstock and blended with military-grade petroleum-based fuel (F-76) with 20% non-petroleum sourced, and Catalytic Hydrothermolysis Conversion Diesel (CHCD) that is a military-grade drop-in replacement for traditional F-76 and is 100% non-petroleum sourced.
The alternative fuels were loaded into the two gas-turbine engines and the two gas-turbine generators. The test period lasted approximately 12 hours along the Southern California Coast, while returning to Port Hueneme, California.
The trials using the fuels demonstrated that the ship could operate without needing to change equipment or operating procedures. Multiple engine starts and speed changes were carried out by the ship with no mechanical, operational or qualitative differences when operating on either fuel. The data collected from the trial will be fully analysed and coupled with borescope results into a final report.
The successful outcome to date means that these alternative fuels can act as drop-in replacements for petroleum-sourced F-76, meaning they require no equipment modifications or operational modifications by the crew. Additionally, the fuels proved that such alternatively sourced fuels can perform as equally, or better than, existing petroleum-sourced fuels.
Diane Mattingly, In-Service Engineer with Naval Surface Warfare Command, Philadelphia Division commented: “The goal is to qualify as many alternative fuel sources as possible. A range of operational fuel sources will give our mission planners and commanders increased operational flexibility.”
Ship Efficiency Review News
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