Fuel price
The latest batteries (top) and more efficient operation of systems such as mobile generators (below) promote energy efficiency.
Since fossil fuel reserves are limited, and its cost is high, the military is looking for alternatives to the current methods of supplying their bases and equipment to the theater of operations (theater of operations). Let's see how the industry contributes to the promotion of innovation in this area.
“Since 2001 in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 3000 American soldiers and contract soldiers have lost their lives or were injured when attacking fuel and water supply columns,” according to statistics from the Ministry of Defense.
However, reducing fuel consumption by 10% for five years would allow 35 to save the life and health of soldiers from fuel supply columns for the same period; This data is taken from a study by Deloitte auditing company, published in 2009 year. At the moment, data for the period 2009-2014 years for losses associated with the columns of the supply of water and fuel, were not presented.
Prior to this, it was estimated that in each of the 24 fuel convoys there was one wounded or killed. For example, in 2007, only in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US Army conducted 6030 fuel convoys. This has led to the emergence of a new bill submitted to the Senate this year, the 2014 Energy Security Act of the Ministry of Defense, which aims to help military operations become more energy efficient and less rely on fossil fuels.
The goal is not only to save money in the Pentagon’s budget, but also to reduce the need for fuel convoys and, ultimately, reduce the risks for military personnel.
The US Department of Defense is currently the single largest consumer of fuel, which needs about 90 million barrels of oil, worth almost 15 billions of dollars a year. 75% of this amount goes to meet the needs of active troops, and by 2025, it is planned to increase it by 11%.
Collaboration work
Not only the United States paid serious attention not only to fuel efficiency, but also to the so-called “smart energy”. In 2012, NATO created a working group to identify the most promising energy-saving solutions and initiate multinational projects to coordinate them. NATO also considered the possibility of integrating the concept of smart energy into documents defining the strategy and standards of the alliance.
After the meeting in May 2012, the SENT (Smart Energy Team) Smart Energy Team was created, it is funded under the NATO Science for Peace and Security program. The group is led by NATO’s Lithuanian Energy Security Center and the Joint Department for the Environment of the Swedish Armed Forces. The group includes experts from eight countries, including six allies (Canada, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States) and two partners (Australia and Sweden).
“We want soldiers and commanders to understand that energy savings have a direct impact on the safety and lives of soldiers,” said Susan Michaelis, smart energy officer at NATO headquarters. “It frees up resources for the main NATO mission, which is currently aimed at protecting fuel convoys.”
She added that SENT is considering NATO standardization agreements on “smart energy,” which should include the installation of intelligent flow meters in existing military camps; general design of future camps; training and participation of experts; general training included in the general military training course; and a scheme to encourage officers who have succeeded in reducing fuel consumption. ”
Total overhead
The US military and NATO conducted calculations of the so-called FBCF (fully burdened cost of fuel) fuel cost, which takes into account all operational factors in the energy supply chain, including transportation, infrastructure, human resources, maintenance, security and energy storage.
Consequently, going through one gallon (3,785 liters) of fuel across its entire supply chain worth up to 3,50 dollars in a US well (77 cents per liter) can reach prices in excess of 100 dollars per gallon (22 dollars per liter) after delivery to the advanced North eastern Afghanistan.
According to these calculations, alternative energy sources and smart energy solutions that cannot be financially competitive in everyday life due to their high initial capital costs are becoming more and more justified on the battlefield.
Earl Energy CEO Doug Morehead said that “to be honest, when you start paying 15 dollars for a gallon, a lot of the new technology makes sense.”
Indeed, if a combined system for generating solar energy and reserve energy storage is uneconomical for home and life, then it is invaluable when deployed to the military, especially if you look at it with all the components in the FBCF.
In June, the Dutch army demonstrated a tent covered with solar cells at the NATO Capable Logistician 2013 exercises in Slovakia in June. The army has already installed 2013 square meters of solar panels in Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, which are currently generating 480 kWh. According to an energy expert in the Netherlands Army, Lieutenant Colonel Harm Renes, "the investment has already been justified."
In line with trends
The US Department of Defense holds annual Defense Energy Technology Challenge (DETC) competitions in defensive energy technologies in order to be in line with the latest trends in smart energy and select those that could be moved forward to help the military significantly reduce their dependence on minerals. fuel. The Pentagon has allocated 9 billions of dollars in energy efficiency programs for the 2013 – 2017 years.
In November, 2013 was selected by Sierra Energy with its FastOx power plant as the winner of the DETC 2013 competition held as part of the annual meeting on defense energy.
Sierra Energy President Mike Hart said: “The US military has a whole directorate that deals with waste management and the problems of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, as this makes them strategically vulnerable. A solution that can generate its own energy significantly affects several aspects, including increased safety, independence and environmental sustainability. ”
“Our technology that turns garbage into fuel in 2009 was identified as a key year, and therefore the Ministry of Defense’s renewable energy test center included it in its priority list. In some cases, when processing 10 tons of garbage, we can produce about 500 kWh of electricity without disrupting its supply. ”
Sierra Energy's FastOx Installation
Non-alkaline slag
About this technology in a nutshell. Oxygen and steam are injected, heating the waste to 2200 ° C (without burning); This allows the use of any material, provided it contains carbon. Any residual metals, ashes or inorganic substances are melted into a liquid, which is drained to the bottom, which allows the reduction of metals. The remainder is in the form of unleached slag, which can be used for road paving. Two produced gases (70% carbon monoxide and 30% hydrogen) go to fuel cells that release only heat and water.
“This modular system can be abandoned in any area,” Hart noted. The system is currently being finalized so that it can be packaged in six to seven standard ISO containers for quick and easy deployment.
Most likely, fuel cell technology will be the preferred option, which will replace diesel generators in the field, especially in small units. The German Institute of Chemical Technology, Fraunhofer, is developing a portable hydrogen fuel cell for the German armed forces, which is silently capable of generating electricity with a capacity of 2 kW. The system uses solar energy to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen.
However, project manager at Eniquest, an Australian independent energy company, Chris Andrews, commented on the general interest in alternative fuel systems and increased use of renewable energy: “Our experience in the military market shows that with the current technology, the need for mobility, simplified transportation, quick installation, simplicity , the strength and predictability of supply outweighs the benefits of reducing fossil fuel use. ”
Eniquest supplies the Afghan army with various silent alternators and AC and DC power distribution stations. Andrews noted: "Improvements in technology, especially in energy / battery storage technology, which can compete with the specific energy of fossil fuels, will be important when avoiding the use of fossil fuels in military applications."
Immediate goals
At the time, in the medium and long term, emphasis can be placed on gradually eliminating dependence on fossil fuels, the immediate goal is to significantly reduce its use through a variety of methods.
One approach is to increase the efficiency of generators already in the theater. Earl Energy recently signed a contract with the Department of Defense for the Mobile Electric Hybrid Power Systems (MEHPS) Mobile Hybrid Energy Systems program, which could lead to the purchase of FlexGen units around 50. The system technology was previously adopted by the Marine Corps, which, in 2010, tested a prototype on an 6 kW in operation. Then it was announced that this technology will reduce fuel consumption on the battlefield by more than 80%.
During testing in Afghanistan, the Earl Energy FlexGen system allowed the generators to work from three to six hours a day instead of the previous round-the-clock operation.
“This is a reflection of how inefficient energy production on the battlefield at the current stage is equated with all the technologies that we have,” said Morehead. “The power grids are tailored for peak power generation, since one can never assume that the military does not have available energy to support its operations. And the same, unfortunately, applies to such a system as, for example, a generator. They work around the clock in this operating space, 365 days per year, regardless of whether energy is needed or not. It’s like a car that you never jam, even when you don’t use it. ”
The FlexGen hybrid system uses an automated diesel generator with start-stop capabilities that is combined with renewable energy sources and a large energy storage device. The generator operates at full capacity, and when there is excessive power, it charges the batteries. If the batteries are sufficiently charged and cope with the consumption of electricity, then the generator turns off. During testing in Afghanistan, the system allowed the generator to work from three to six hours a day with an average fuel economy of more than 50%.
Earl Energy is currently the main contractor for the Marine Corps and is developing the next-generation portable power system with 10 kW. The company sold 12 systems for trial operation; in perspective, new contracts provide for the acquisition of FlexGen systems up to 50.
Energy is being improved
The British Department of Defense has the Power FOB intelligent energy storage and management system, which allows for the introduction of renewable sources and energy-saving technologies. The system allows you to save up to 30% of fuel due to the accumulation of energy produced by diesel generators and solar panels, and to redistribute it at the right time to the right consumers.
All of these technologies rely on advanced battery storage solutions; in this case, renewable energy sources can become truly deployable.
Morehead added: “The soldier’s daily need for kilowatt hours is constantly increasing as he carries more energy consumers than he ever had before. A modern soldier needs 10 times more energy than 15 years ago. ”
The British company Lincad produces a line of intelligent lithium-ion batteries Lithium Ion Power Source (LIPS). Her model LIPS 5 has become the most successful in the company's catalog; more than 17 500 pieces were delivered to the British Department of Defense and other customers around the world. As one company executive noted: “The first LIPS battery was released in the 2000 year, weighed about 3,5 kg and had a 12 Ah capacity. The newest LIPS 10 model weighs the same, but has an 23 Ah capacity, dramatically reducing the logistic burden on the soldier. ”
Along with the supply of long-lasting rechargeable batteries, Lincad also manufactures a line of charging devices. A company spokesman said that “in recent years, solar energy storage technology has been developing rapidly, and therefore the Solar Charger and Power Scavenger solutions from Lincad have appeared. There was also a need for mobile charging from cars while driving. The vehicles are already generating energy from their generators and this is implemented in the DC Vehicle Charger DC charger from Lincad. The emergence of these chargers means that users do not need to carry a lot of batteries. "
Sometimes soldiers carry on themselves up to 10 kg of batteries that need recharging, and the large capacity of batteries and flexible solutions for charging them reduce the need to return to the base, which can positively affect the performance of a combat mission.
Materials used:
www.shephardmedia.com
www.earlenergy.com
www.sierraenergycorp.com
www.lincad.co.uk
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