VSE unit to research and test Fischer-Tropsch fuels for USAF
Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation (ICRC), a wholly owned subsidiary of VSE Corporation, announced the recent award of a U.S. Air Force subcontract supporting the Advanced Power Technology Office (APTO) to research, demonstrate and sustain the incorporation of Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) fuel in diesel engines. Fischer-Tropsch fuels are ultra-clean synthetic fuels that can be made from any carbonaceous feedstock, including biomass.
Under a two-year subcontract agreement with Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), ICRC will provide technical support to facilitate the testing of F-T fuel blended with conventional petroleum-derived JP-8. This 50:50 blend will be evaluated in base storage facilities, Air Force ground support equipment, and Air Force ground vehicles. Potential ICRC revenues under the subcontract are estimated to be $1.38 million over a two year period.
The longer-term goal of the broader Defense Assured Fuels Initiative, which this project supports, is to ultimately use unblended F-T fuel in virtually all military equipment in future decades (schematic, click to enlarge).
One of the main advantages of F-T fuel is that it can be produced using domestic resources like natural gas (gas-to-liquids), coal (coal-to-liquids), and biomass (biomass-to-liquids). The use of F-T fuels can potentially reduce dependency on foreign sources of energy. Starting now with an F-T/JP-8 fuel-blend minimizes risks, while making it possible for the U.S. military to utilize whatever quantities of F-T fuel are likely to become available within the next several years, thus improving the Department of Defense’s knowledge base of synthetic fuels as early as possible:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: synfuel :: biomass-to-liquids :: Fischer-Tropsch :: USAF ::
ICRC has established a record in alternative fuels research and testing, including several contract agreements with the Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration, some of which involved the production, testing and demonstration of F-T diesel fuel. ICRC has previously evaluated the usage of the ultra-clean fuel in transit buses and other diesel vehicles in Fairbanks, Alaska, Washington, DC and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Research, demonstration and testing will take place at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. ICRC will install its on-board data acquisition system to accumulate engine operational data from the engines’ electronic control systems over the duration of the evaluation period.
In a larger contex, the development of F-T fuels is crucial to actualise the large theoretical biofuel potential. The advent of next-generation techniques to convert biomass into ultra-clean synthetic biofuels, means any type of biomass will soon serve as a feedstock, thus ending the food versus fuel debate.
ICRC is a diversified technical and management services company that serves the government market. The company’s core expertise lies in information technology, advanced vehicle technology, aerospace, engineering and transportation infrastructure.
VSE provides diversified services to the engineering, energy and environment, defense, and homeland security markets from locations across the United States and around the world.
References:
VSE: VSE Unit Wins FT Fuels Research & Testing Contract with USAF - February 13, 2008.
William E. Harrison III, OSD Assured Fuels Initiative: The Drivers for Alternative Aviation Fuels, Assured Fuels Initiative, Department of Defense.
Under a two-year subcontract agreement with Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), ICRC will provide technical support to facilitate the testing of F-T fuel blended with conventional petroleum-derived JP-8. This 50:50 blend will be evaluated in base storage facilities, Air Force ground support equipment, and Air Force ground vehicles. Potential ICRC revenues under the subcontract are estimated to be $1.38 million over a two year period.
The longer-term goal of the broader Defense Assured Fuels Initiative, which this project supports, is to ultimately use unblended F-T fuel in virtually all military equipment in future decades (schematic, click to enlarge).
One of the main advantages of F-T fuel is that it can be produced using domestic resources like natural gas (gas-to-liquids), coal (coal-to-liquids), and biomass (biomass-to-liquids). The use of F-T fuels can potentially reduce dependency on foreign sources of energy. Starting now with an F-T/JP-8 fuel-blend minimizes risks, while making it possible for the U.S. military to utilize whatever quantities of F-T fuel are likely to become available within the next several years, thus improving the Department of Defense’s knowledge base of synthetic fuels as early as possible:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: synfuel :: biomass-to-liquids :: Fischer-Tropsch :: USAF ::
ICRC has established a record in alternative fuels research and testing, including several contract agreements with the Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration, some of which involved the production, testing and demonstration of F-T diesel fuel. ICRC has previously evaluated the usage of the ultra-clean fuel in transit buses and other diesel vehicles in Fairbanks, Alaska, Washington, DC and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Research, demonstration and testing will take place at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. ICRC will install its on-board data acquisition system to accumulate engine operational data from the engines’ electronic control systems over the duration of the evaluation period.
In a larger contex, the development of F-T fuels is crucial to actualise the large theoretical biofuel potential. The advent of next-generation techniques to convert biomass into ultra-clean synthetic biofuels, means any type of biomass will soon serve as a feedstock, thus ending the food versus fuel debate.
ICRC is a diversified technical and management services company that serves the government market. The company’s core expertise lies in information technology, advanced vehicle technology, aerospace, engineering and transportation infrastructure.
VSE provides diversified services to the engineering, energy and environment, defense, and homeland security markets from locations across the United States and around the world.
References:
VSE: VSE Unit Wins FT Fuels Research & Testing Contract with USAF - February 13, 2008.
William E. Harrison III, OSD Assured Fuels Initiative: The Drivers for Alternative Aviation Fuels, Assured Fuels Initiative, Department of Defense.
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