In the good ol’ days, like during WWII, when you ran out of fuel for your jeep on the battlefield, you just sucked it out of any other vehicle that was around. If they extend this ‘algaeline’ (can I get the trademark on this name?) to land vehicles, I have a feeling you’ll be stuck for a while.
The U.S. Navy has rolled out the first military vessel designed to run on eco-friendly fuel. And this “mean, green riverine machine” is only the start: Within five years, the Navy anticipates a 10-ship carrier strike group — a “Great Green Fleet” — that relies entirely on alternative energy.
On Friday, Navy brass showed off the ship — a 49 foot-long riverine command boat that attains speeds of 40-knots — during a demonstration at the Norfolk, Va. Naval Base. The ship burns a 50-50 blend of algae-based fuel and diesel, and “ran just fine” during the demo, according to Rear Adm. Philip Cullom, director of the Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division.
[...]
The Navy’s got a head-start on other fuel-thirsty military departments, but they’re still figuring out how to make alternative fuels affordable. Last year, the Navy spent $424 per gallon to buy 20,055 gallons of algae-based biofuel — a world record price for fuel, the Marine Corps Times is reporting.“Yes, these fuels are expensive,” Cullom says. “When you’re leading the way on something, it’s not gonna be $3 bucks a gallon.”
“a world record price for fuel” — Really? Fuel for nuclear subs is cheaper?
Go Sweden!
(Because that sure looks like a CB90 variant.)
how the hell did this liberal stupidity make it into the military? I guess money making opportunity? As always we should blame communist california, it always tracks back to them.
ummm,
anyone want to enter the ALGAE business?
I think we could compete VERY EASILY…
$424/gal. They really need to get that cost down.
The New NewClear Navy
Clearly this is another great step to blend in with nature, i.e. camouflage.
/s
Navy News article on the Riverine Command Boat. http://bit.ly/duR9iP
Maybe they can use some of the output from a few acres of these:
http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/15/liquid-energy-scientists-unveil-microbes-that-turn-sun-and-co2-into-fuel/
They use regular diesel engines, Scania marine. They can run on anything, provided the filters and injector units can handle it. Including diesel, jet fuel, even biodiesel.
When in a fire to the death, make sure you are eco-friendly.
When we are up against the russians err Muslims…err germans….err venezuelians…err terrorists…man I cant keep track anymore…who is the enemy now? We will be ready!!!
Strangely enough, I was at a seminar yesterday about alternative fuels, including algae based fuel. Apparently it’s not as blue-sky as you might think, and there are people looking into the engineering aspects and pilot plant work already. The info in Nick’s link is close to what was presented in the seminar.
This is a landing vehicle, not a ship. Some of those ships in the background are powered by gas turbines, or the same jet engines found in fighters. Run at flank speed on JP5 and test that fuel economy. Jets are low maintenance because of only one moving part. It takes a lot of power to push a Berkley class Destroyer though water. Don’t forget the diesels for several large generators.
#13 “This is a landing vehicle, not a ship.”
Well, technically, it’s a boat. Hell, the original designation (CB90) says it all: Combat Boat, and can be used for a number of purposes — landing vehicle being one of them, on top of fulfilling the old PBR role.
Uncle Dave asks (rhetorically, but I’ll answer anyway) “a world record price for fuel” — Really? Fuel for nuclear subs is cheaper?”
On a per-watt basis, I’m sure it is quite a bit cheaper. Remember that the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carrier, is designed to be refueled once in it’s 40-50 year expected lifespan. During that time it will desalinate seawater, generate steam for the catapults, produce electricity and drive the ship to over 30 knots.
Nuclear subs do a lot of the same things, but add producing their own oxygen to the list.
It has nothing to do with being “eco-friendly”, it has everything to do with very worrisome concerns for the ability of the armed forces to function during extended fuel shortages.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101013/pl_afp/uspoliticsmilitaryenergyenvironment
#13 RTaylor
My test facility will be testing that fuel on a gas turbine generator set used on the DDG 51 class ships. The amount of this fuel on hand is not enough to perform a main propulsion gas turbine test (25 gal per min). This fuel is basically made to perform exactly like F76 diesel. That’s why it can be mixed 50/50.
Actually the nuclear fuel is a heck of lot cheaper. Sure it costs but you don’t have to refuel very often either.
When the bureaucrats increase their empires promoting this crap with politicos hoping to make brownie points with whomever and it actually is built, it’s sad. Why, because we’re witnessing a great nation in terminal decline.
# 3 ECA”anyone want to enter the ALGAE business?”
Too late. Probly Al Gore has it locked up.