US Navy 'game-changer': converting seawater into fuel

AFP/Yahoo ^ | 4/7/14 | Mathieu Rabechault

[TangledUpInBlue]

The US Navy believes it has finally worked out the solution to a problem that has intrigued scientists for decades: how to take seawater and use it as fuel.

The development of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel is being hailed as "a game-changer" because it would signficantly shorten the supply chain, a weak link that makes any force easier to attack.

The US has a fleet of 15 military oil tankers, and only aircraft carriers and some submarines are equipped with nuclear propulsion.

[TangledUpInBlue]

This would be pretty cool if it ever actually gets implemented.

[GraceG]

So are they using the nuke power to crack sea water and combine with carbon from the air to make fuel for jets?

[Darksheare]

Since using a uranium or plutonium reactor is forbidden these days, if it uses a reactor it would be a thorium fueled system.

[Iron Munro]

Turning seawater into fuel?

I heard General Motors and Standard Oil bought the patent on that 80 years ago, then hid it away in a vault with the patents on the 100 year wet cell battery, the 1,000 mpg carburetor and the 100,000 mile tire.

[hattend]

Is this like the bio-fuel the Air Force adapted? Only 100+ dollars a gallon vice 8 bucks for JetA?

[Red Badger]

"For the first time we've been able to develop a technology to get CO2 and hydrogen from seawater simultaneously, that's a big breakthrough," she said, adding that the fuel "doesn't look or smell very different."

[Red Badger]

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST jut FReepmail me..... This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

[hattend]

The predicted cost of jet fuel using the technology is in the range of three to six dollars per gallon, say experts at the US Naval Research Laboratory, who have already flown a model airplane with fuel produced from seawater.

Now, I'm impressed.

[Red Badger]

If the Navy can do it at sea, then WE CAN DO IT ON LAND..........................

[Enterprise]

This is terrible news for OPEC and Russia.

[Gay State Conservative]

And at the same time Osama Obama is trying to neuter our Navy...and Army...and Air Force...and Marine Corps.

[Red Badger]

The enviro-whackos will claim that we will use up all the sea water....................

[Red Badger]

Dah..............

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks TangledUpInBlue, additional:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3141725/posts

[aposiopetic]

This is the antidote to those rising seas from AGW…. < / humor >

[Jeff F]

Jet A fuel is in the $6 range currently so this process would be comparable or better.

Naturally, the article and claims are mostly air without any details about the processes used and a link to some test results.

Perhaps they are using the CO2 produced by the ship engines along with hydrogen obtained through electrolysis or high temperature dissociation to feed some variation of the Fischer-Tropsch process to yield liquids. That does not sound like a more efficient substitute for simply carrying Jet A on board.

Now if you add a nuclear reactor to provide the needed energy (electrical and/or heat), then you may be able to see the claimed results. That might make sense for a flattop but would not have much use in a submarine. All the U.S. nuclear cruisers have long been retired, so I can't see where it would work for turbine or diesel craft.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

YOU USED UP ALL THE SEA WATER ON PURPOSE!

[norwaypinesavage]

"Vice Admiral Philip Cullom declared: "It's a huge milestone for us. We are in very challenging times where we really do have to think in pretty innovative ways to look at how we create energy, how we value energy and how we consume it."

Vice Admiral Cullom seems to have forgotten the First Law of Thermodynamics: "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed". The story, too, implies that this law has conveniently been circumvented. Maybe Obama is as great as he thinks he is.

[MrEdd]

US Navy plans to evaporate the seas... definitely a headline for the NYT.

[12th_Monkey]

Obama is proposing that our navy should decomission all ships and then build Viking long boats powered by oars for a better carbon footprint.