If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.
Posted on 09/18/2006 8:49:40 PM PDT by jdm
The Air Force is scheduled Tuesday to test a new jet fuel made from coal instead of oil.
A B-52 bomber at Edwards Air Force Base in California is expected to take off with two of its eight jet engines burning a 50-50 blend of synthetic and oil-based fuel.
Research on the fuel project has been conducted at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. The goal is to develop, test and pave the way to commercialize the fuel.
The research is focused on the Fischer-Tropsch process for producing synthetic kerosene from coal. The military wants a fuel that works with engines, fuel systems and supply infrastructure already in the field.
Known since the 1920s, the process produces clean-burning fuel, but it hasn't been economical, Harrison said. High fuel prices are making it more attractive, and the Pentagon hopes it can help jump-start an industry by earmarking funds for synthetic jet fuel starting in 2008.
The Air Force says it burned 3.2 billion gallons of jet fuel last year, some 57 percent of the Defense Department's total consumption.
Sounds like the Space Shuttle and greenie foam.
In other news, the Dept of Transportation will be testing a new style of bicycle with wheels of identical diameter and having a sprocket-driven rear wheel.
Sarcasm off.
Simply groundbreaking research here! LOL How typical of the FAA to be worrying about the source of fuel for an engine design (turbine) that can burn any combustible liquid or finely ground flammable solid.
War for Coal!
ping.
You may reconsider that outlook if/when Middle East oil spigots shut off.
Time will tell.
Depends on how much fuel per amount of coal, but if feasible, it could strongly reduce American dependence on foreign oil (as it could also be used by the civilian aviation industry). Can they also turn coal into a gasoline substitute?
Well, there goes the price of West (by God) Virginia real estate.
"....finely ground flammable solid..."
I never knew that......what are a few examples of such that work?
I hope this is aimed in the direction of commercializing the use of shale for oil. Both the US and Canada have vast reserves of shale; it supposedly becomes a viable energy source at $70/bbl oil prices.
The South Africans have been manufacturing liquid vehicle fuels from coal for many years. Duplicate their plants here.
damn good move! We have massive 100+ yr deposits of coal in the US.
So very true. What's to test? It's utterly known that fuel-from-coal works, the Fischer-Tropsch method has been known for 50 years and is in use in many countries. It's just a matter of the economics.
A B-52 burning coal - probably less polluting than one burning Jet A.
huh??
Half(or more) of WWII Germany's war machine ran on synthetic fuel made from coal, especially later in the war since Rommel "The Desert Fox" lost control of the ME. For some strange reason Germany's technology was lost/shelved after the war.
Hell, a B-52 tends to look like it's burning coal anyway.
If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.