Photo by Photo by Charlie Houser, NSWC Port Hueneme.
NSWC Port Hueneme’s Self Defense Test Ship, ex-USS Paul F. Foster (EDD 964), transits the Pacific Ocean to conduct a test of an alternative fuel blend made of 50 percent hydro-processed algae oil and 50 percent F-76 petroleum on Nov. 17.
The Self Defense Test Ship, an asset of the U.S. Navy located at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme, successfully conducted the largest maritime alternative fuel demonstration to date Nov. 16-17. The ship traveled with approximately 20,000 gallons of a 50-50 blend of hydro-processed algae oil and F-76 petroleum to power one propulsion gas turbine and one ship service gas turbine. The ship began its short, overnight journey from the fueling station at Point Loma, San Diego, and ended at her homeport in Port Hueneme.
The success of the biofuel test was described by the ship’s Underway Project Officer Mike Wolfe.
“The biggest success is that this de-commissioned Navy test ship with engines identical to those in commissioned warships operated successfully on an overnight transit with this biofuel without a glitch,” said Wolfe. “There were absolutely no changes in operations during this test - the fuel burned just like the fuel we get from the Navy that we’ve been burning for years. You could not tell the difference.”
The ship that conducted the test is the Paul F. Foster, a de-commissioned Spruance-class destroyer now used for test and evaluation of combat and weapon systems prior to their use in the U.S. naval fleet. Known as the “test ship,” she is operated by NSWC Port Hueneme and managed by the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems in Washington, D.C.
Data was collected during the overnight transit and will be analyzed for results.
“As far as the data goes,” said Wolfe, “it will be taken back to Naval Air Station Patuxent River for analysis and we’ll know exactly how much hotter or cooler we ran; if we got better mileage; and if we put out more or less carbon monoxide.”
This test of alternative fuel for the U.S. Navy supports the secretary of the Navy’s energy target to demonstrate a Green Strike Group by 2012, and deploy a strike group composed completely of alternatively powered ships, “the Great Green Fleet,” by 2016.
It also supports the Navy’s overall strategy to enhance energy security and environmental stewardship, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, the goal is to develop and certify alternative fuels that can be included as an alternative to NATO F-76 specification – naval marine distillate-shipboard standard. This supports the secretary of the Navy’s goal of energy independence by securing a non-foreign based source for fuel and reduces the demand for non-renewable fossil fuels.
With three key strategies in mind, the Navy is moving forward to meet its goals:
1. energy security is critical to mission success
2. energy efficiency increases mission effectiveness
3. environmental stewardship protects mission capabilities
Wolfe commented on future alternative fuel testing.
“There are additional alternative fuels to use in the future and improvements to the algae-based fuel that we’re using, so we may be seeing this in the next year or two.”
NSWC Port Hueneme is a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command and provides the global U.S. Navy fleet with weapon system in-service engineering, logistics, and test and evaluation. Commanded by Capt. Bill DeBow of the U.S. Navy, NSWC Port Hueneme is located at Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., where it employs more than 1,900 personnel.
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