U.S. Air Force Is Seeking Alternative Jet Fuel

The New York Times/International Herald Tribune ^ | MAY 14, 2006 | Thom Shanker

[kellynla]

When an F-16 lights up its afterburners, it consumes nearly 28 gallons of fuel per minute. No wonder, then, that the Air Force uses more than half of all the fuel the U.S. government consumes each year.

The Air Force may not be in any danger of suffering inconveniences from scarce or expensive fuel, but it has begun looking alternative fuels for its jets.

While the military has been a leader in adopting some technologies, any effort to hit a miles-per-gallon fuel efficiency rating has taken a back seat when the mission is to haul bombs farther and faster or push 70-ton tanks across a desert to topple an adversary. (The Abrams tank, for example, gets less than 1 mile per gallon under certain combat conditions.)

"Energy is a national security issue," said Michael Aimone, the Air Force assistant deputy chief of staff for logistics.

The United States is unlikely ever to become fully independent of foreign oil, he said, but the intent of the Air Force project is "to develop enough independence to have assured domestic supplies for aviation purposes."

By late this summer, on the hard lake beds of the Mojave Desert, where the Air Force tests its most secret and high- performance aircraft, a lumbering B-52 is scheduled to take off in an experiment in which two of the giant bomber's engines will burn jet fuel produced not from crude oil but from natural gas. The plane's six other engines will burn conventional jet fuel - just in case.

The Air Force consumed 3.2 billion gallons, or 12.1 billion liters, of aviation fuel in the 2005 financial year, which was 52.5 percent of all fossil fuel used by the government, Pentagon statistics show. The total Air Force bill for jet fuel last year topped $4.7 billion.

[llevrok]

rubber bands?

[flashbunny]

For some reason I don't see them using ethanol...

[Red Badger]

Does anybody here know if or is it even possible to run an airplane engine on diesel?..........

[Red Badger]

DiLithium Crystals......

[.cnI redruM]

I doubt it. It would probably have to have too large of a volume under combustion at once to generate enough power.

[Sonny M]

The fact that we call this "alternative" alone, tells you its not as good as the original, and is a substitute.

If they are serious, why not look for something better then the fuel they use, not a mere "substitute" for it?

And instead of doing this themselves, why not offer the incentives to the private sector to let them try and develop it instead, this way if they fail, taxpayers aren't on the hook?

[neodad]

The LM-2500's on Cruiser's & Destroyers burn basically diesel.

[Red Badger]

Yes, but they're not Cruisin' at 20000 feet.....

[Polybius]

Does anybody here know if or is it even possible to run an airplane engine on diesel?..........

Junkers Jumo 205

[RexBeach]

What's that, no lead?

[Sax]

Maybe not a bad idea, use some DoD dollars to give Hydrogen research a push - the commercial sector will definitely take note.

[ArrogantBustard]

Diesel, JET-A, and K-1 are more or less the same stuff.

[Donald Meaker]

It is possible.

The Army FMTV can use DF-2 or JP-8 in its diesel engine, as can the Army M-1A2 tank.

Purdue and RPI have demonstrated thermonuclear fusion in a can: Acetone has the H1 hydrogen molecules replaced with deterium H2, and that is hit by high intensity sound waves to create bubbles: when the bubbles collapse, they create locally intense region of high pressure and temperature. Hitting it at the same time with a neutron flux generates Helium from the Hydrogen.

With thermonuclear fusion, we can synthesize fuel. Also, the waste stream is non-hazardous Helium.

[jbwbubba]

Tremble evil doers from the might of the F-24 Yugo, deadly and economically.

[P-40]

why not offer the incentives to the private sector to let them try and develop it instead

There already are tax incentives available for making diesel alternatives but I don't know of any that produce it for jet fuel. I read one story that it had been done but I don't know if anyone is producing it comercially for that purpose right now.

[P-40]

Here is some good info:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul01/jet0701.htm

Cleaner, greener jet fuels made from formulas that contain part soybean oil could clean up the air and give added profits to the nation's 400,000 soybean growers.

Now that biodiesel fuel is being used in ground transportation, research efforts at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois, are helping lay the groundwork for new, winterized formulas of jet fuel blended with esters of soybean oil.

With winterization processing, biodiesel fuel can be safely blended with jet fuel used in commercial and military aircraft. ARS chemical engineer Robert O. Dunn found that small amounts of methyl soyate (SME)—esters from fatty acids of soybean oil—could be blended with jet fuel (JP-8) with little or no effect on aircraft operation, based on established jet fuel specifications.

Dunn has developed a three-step winterization process for biodiesel fuel that involves mixing in additives, chilling the fuel, and filtering out solids. In laboratory tests, researchers have produced biodiesel fuels capable of starting engines at temperatures as low as 5°F, making them comparable to petroleum-based diesel fuels.

In laboratory tests, Dunn checked winterized blends having between 10 and 30 percent methyl soyate (SME) by volume to determine their compatibility with JP-8 and tested the fuels under cold temperatures. Using unwinterized biodiesel fuel blends could mean limiting the ability of aircraft to fly at high altitudes, where cold temperatures can cause crystal formation, which blocks fuel filters and plugs fuel lines.

"The most promising aspect of this work was finding that winterized SME did not form solid particles when exposed to a range of slightly below zero to –52°F in the laboratory," says Dunn.

But eventually even winterized SME blends will form solid particles when the temperature is low enough. "Our work will continue to focus on expanding the lower limits of temperature so that winterized, blended biodiesel fuels can function safely in commercial and military aircraft," says Dunn.

Biodiesel fuel has been shown to reduce harmful exhaust emissions—particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, smoke, and carbon dioxide. Another plus: Biodiesel is nonflammable, making it relatively safe to store and handle. It's also biodegradable.—By Linda McGraw, Agricultural Research Service Information Staff.

[Gay State Conservative]

Does anybody here know if or is it even possible to run an airplane engine on diesel?..........

I always thought that standard jet fuel (the stuff you put into a 747),home heating oil and standard diesel (the stuff you buy at truck stops) was pretty much the same stuff.

[magslinger]

The fact that we call this "alternative" alone, tells you its not as good as the original, and is a substitute.

If the Air Force isn't supplying the best fuel available they are letting down the joystick actuators and the American people. As I recall, the availability of 100 octane avgas and the better performance thus provided was part of the advantage the RAF had over the Luftwaffe who used 90 octane.

[theFIRMbss]

>U.S. Air Force Is Seeking Alternative Jet Fuel

[Red Badger]

All government land vehicles, cars, trucks or what have you, should ALL be Diesel. All future purchases of government vehicles should be mandated to be Diesel engines only, unless an exception is necessary for local fuel supplies or environmental reasons.............

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Fill 'er up!

[wouldntbprudent]

The fact that we call this "alternative" alone, tells you its not as good as the original, and is a substitute.
If they are serious, why not look for something better then the fuel they use, not a mere "substitute" for it?

And instead of doing this themselves, why not offer the incentives to the private sector to let them try and develop it instead, this way if they fail, taxpayers aren't on the hook?

WORD!!

[taildragger]

Sounds like GTL, Gas to Liquid.

Can be done to burn off gases at the well heads, to capture fuel that normally goes to waste.

Engine upgrades for the B-52, C-5, and B-1 have been talked about for years. In fact it was discussed in the early 90's when I worked at Pratt & Whitney so you get an idea as to how long the ideas have been kicking around.

Google it or look here on the Freep, the B-52/C-5 engine upgrade programs may happen soon, to more current generation Turbofans.

The B-1 upgrade was to use the F-119 engines from the F-22 to give it back all the supersonic capabilities it lost, maybe more fuel efficient, time would tell.

[JamesP81]

Does anybody here know if or is it even possible to run an airplane engine on diesel?

Actually, jet fuel is very very similar to kerosene and diesel already.

[BufordP]

The United States Air Force needs you! It's time for a new electric/jet fuel hybrid aircraft.

[Victor]

"....I always thought that standard jet fuel (the stuff you put into a 747),home heating oil and standard diesel (the stuff you buy at truck stops) was pretty much the same stuff...."

Not quite. It's a matter of degree of refinement. Jet fuel is basically ultra-refined, water-white kerosene.

Diesel is a little further down the fraction process and still further down is home heating oil, which is heavier, more viscous and contains elements that could foul precision mechanisms (such as a jet engine.

Ships used to run on #6, which if left to cool can actually harden, like asphalt. But it's a relatively cheap way to fire a boiler.

[taildragger]

Badger,

As of 2010 all military stuff has to run on the JP's for logisitc reasons.

Google the Mercury marine "Optimax JP" a Spark Ignited Heavy Fuel Engine (Air Assisted Direct Injected 2 stroke)

More on this later, go to run.

[Fido969]

[68skylark]

Interesting.

I have a bad feeling that a lot of this Air Force research is motivated by politicians who want to suck up to U.S. farmers and agri-business.

Experiments with bio-diesel and ethanol are just attempts to do better in the Iowa caucus.

[Red Badger]

I was thinking primarily of the bureaucrat butt buggies.......

[org.whodat]

Does anybody here know if or is it even possible to run an airplane engine on diesel?..........

JP1 is basically the same thing as number 1 heating oil, ie; kerosene, are number 1 diesel. That is why the military did away with all their gasoline motors, they only use kerosene. Oh, the military add's more stuff in it to prevent jelling.

[oyez]

The solution is obvious.

[llevrok]

a possibility is in this pilot project

>http://www.rvi.net/~mdhorban/hybridmotorcycle.htm

[Concho]

"Does anybody here know if or is it even possible to run an airplane engine on diesel?.........."

The answer is yes. A new turbine engine that is not yet certified at last report is going to be a multi fuel engine which will burn Jet A, Kerosene, or Diesel. It will also be available in sizes small enough for private aircraft. Not much more info available until the FAA puts the certificate on it though.

[Yo-Yo]

Used french fry oil. Come to think of it, the fries in the mess hall tasted like they were fried in JP-4...

[kellynla]

ROFLMAO

well all I can say is that evvvverybody's chow including you flyboys' was better than the chow the Navy passed down to us Jarheads. LOL

[NavyCanDo]

Oh Joy! Coming from a long line of Navy men going all the way back to one ancestor who was an officer sailing under Pirate/Buccaneer Bartholomew Sharp, I have been waiting to say this for a long long time and now is my chance. Dismantle the Airforce and build a BIGGER NAVY.

Oh Oh I sense incoming flack.. But that's OK my WWII Navy hero father is smiling down on me.

[CholeraJoe]

Also, the waste stream is non-hazardous Helium.

Yeah but we'll all talk like cartoon characters.

[llevrok]

Used french fry oil.

Just use the French. Higher grease content.

[oyez]

Actually the secret of Navy chow is the stack gas flavoring from the boiler furnace exhaust. MMM!

[oyez]

You know how ii is:

The Navy
gets the gravy
And the Marines
get the beans.

[P8riot]

The LM-2500's on Cruiser's & Destroyers burn basically diesel.

As someone employed in the gas turbine business, I can tell you there are some models that can run on peanut oil, not very efficiently mind you, but it can be done.

[P8riot]

well all I can say is that evvvverybody's chow including you flyboys' was better than the chow the Navy passed down to us Jarheads. LOL

Oh, come on now. Those fries were hot when I had 'em.

[CPOSharky]

...the Air Force uses more than half of all the fuel the U.S. government consumes each year.

Putting an aircraft carrier near the problem area and running two hour missions beats the milage out of 24 hour missions from half way around the world.

[Yo-Yo]

Sounds...yummy.

[thackney]

Does anybody here know if or is it even possible to run an airplane engine on diesel?..........

Diesel is sometime used as fuel in some industrial applications of aircraft-derivative turbine engines.

GE Turbine article, see 1st paragraph, second column, first page

[thackney]

Simple Distillation The core refining process is simple distillation, illustrated in a stylized fashion at the right. Because crude oil is made up of a mixture of hydrocarbons, this first and basic refining process is aimed at separating the crude oil into its "fractions," the broad categories of its component hydrocarbons. Crude oil is heated and put into a still -- a distillation column -- and different products boil off and can be recovered at different temperatures. The lighter products -- liquid petroleum gases (LPG), naphtha, and so-called "straight run" gasoline -- are recovered at the lowest temperatures. Middle distillates -- jet fuel, kerosene, distillates (such as home heating oil and diesel fuel) -- come next. Finally, the heaviest products (residuum or residual fuel oil) are recovered, sometimes at temperatures over 1000 degrees F. The simplest refineries stop at this point. Most in the United States, however, reprocess the heavier fractions into lighter products to maximize the output of the most desirable products, as shown schematically in the illustration, and as discussed below.