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Washington (AFP) - The US Navy believes it has finally worked out the =
solution to a problem that has intrigued scientists for decades: how to =
take=20
seawater and use it as fuel.
The development of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel is being hailed as "a=20
game-changer" because it would signficantly shorten the supply chain, a =
weak=20
link that makes any force easier to attack.
The US has a fleet of 15 military oil tankers, and only aircraft =
carriers and=20
some submarines are equipped with nuclear propulsion.
All other vessels must frequently abandon their mission for a few =
hours to=20
navigate in parallel with the tanker, a delicate operation, especially =
in bad=20
weather.
The ultimate goal is to eventually get away from the dependence on =
oil=20
altogether, which would also mean the navy is no longer hostage to =
potential=20
shortages of oil or fluctuations in its cost.
Vice Admiral Philip Cullom declared: "It's a huge milestone for =
us."
=20
View gallery =
=20
=20
Dr. Heather=20
Willauer explains how scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory in =
Washington,=20
DC can =E2=80=A6
"We are in very challenging times where we really do have to think in =
pretty=20
innovative ways to look at how we create energy, how we value energy and =
how we=20
consume it.
"We need to challenge the results of the assumptions that are the =
result of=20
the last six decades of constant access to cheap, unlimited amounts of =
fuel,"=20
added Cullom.
"Basically, we've treated energy like air, something that's always =
there and=20
that we don't worry about too much. But the reality is that we do have =
to worry=20
about it."
US experts have found out how to extract carbon dioxide and hydrogen =
gas from=20
seawater.
Then, using a catalytic converter, they transformed them into a fuel =
by a=20
gas-to-liquids process. They hope the fuel will not only be able to =
power ships,=20
but also planes.
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View gallery =
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This April=20
2, 2014 US Navy handout image shows a beaker of fuel(right) made from =
seawater=20
by scienti =E2=80=A6
That means instead of relying on tankers, ships will be able to =
produce fuel=20
at sea.
- 'Game-changing' technology -
The predicted cost of jet fuel using the technology is in the range =
of three=20
to six dollars per gallon, say experts at the US Naval Research =
Laboratory, who=20
have already flown a model airplane with fuel produced from =
seawater.
Dr Heather Willauer, an research chemist who has spent nearly a =
decade on the=20
project, can hardly hide her enthusiasm.
"For the first time we've been able to develop a technology to get =
CO2 and=20
hydrogen from seawater simultaneously, that's a big breakthrough," she =
said,=20
adding that the fuel "doesn't look or smell very different."
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View gallery =
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A general=20
view of a US Navy ship at the Washington Naval Yard on September 17, =
2013 in=20
Washington, D =E2=80=A6
Now that they have demonstrated it can work, the next step is to =
produce it=20
in industrial quantities. But before that, in partnership with several=20
universities, the experts want to improve the amount of CO2 and hydrogen =
they=20
can capture.
"We've demonstrated the feasibility, we want to improve the process=20
efficiency," explained Willauer.
Collum is just as excited.
"For us in the military, in the Navy, we have some pretty unusual and =
different kinds of challenges," he said.
"We don't necessarily go to a gas station to get our fuel, our gas =
station=20
comes to us in terms of an oiler, a replenishment ship.
"Developing a game-changing technology like this, seawater to fuel, =
really is=20
something that reinvents a lot of the way we can do business when you =
think=20
about logistics, readiness."
A crucial benefit, says Collum, is that the fuel can be used in the =
same=20
engines already fitted in ships and aircraft.
"If you don't want to re-engineer every ship, every type of engine, =
every=20
aircraft, that's why we need what we call drop-in replacement fuels that =
look,=20
smell and essentially are the same as any kind of petroleum-based =
fuels."
Drawbacks? Only one, it seems: researchers warn it will be at least a =
decade=20
before US ships are able to produce their own fuel on board.
- Science
- Renewable Energy & Energy =
Saving
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