95th MSG trucks demonstrate alternative fuel viability

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
If the B-52 Stratofortress can run using alternative fuels, then why not an R-11 6,000-gallon refueling truck? In fact, the 95th Mission Supports Groups' refueling trucks that carried the alternative fuel for the B-52 testing also ran on the same fuel Sept. 15.

The alternative fuel made from a blend of 50 percent Fischer-Tropsch processed fuel from natural gas and 50 percent J-P8 jet fuel.

"We wanted to demonstrate the alternative fuel also works on trucks," said Cliff Cunningham, 95th MSG fuels manager. "We filled each truck's gas tank with the fuel and ran our operation for the B-52 testing."

Usually, the refueling trucks run on diesel fuel, Mr. Cunningham said. However, jet fuels are also one of the alternative fuels that the refueling trucks can use. The jet fuel can replace the diesel for the refueling trucks' operation. According to Mr. Cunningham, the characteristics of diesel are close with the jet fuel and allow it to run in the trucks engine.

"The refueling truck demonstration is working great so far," Mr. Cunningham said. "We haven't seen any difference on the performance of the refueling trucks. It is running just as it was on diesel."

Throughout the B-52 testing of the alternative fuel, all the refueling trucks handling the refueling are running on the same fuel, he said.

"If you can use it in the refueling trucks and use it on the aircraft, it reduces your logistics footprint during deployment," Mr. Cunningham said. "During deployment, Air Force utilizes two fuel tanks -- a diesel and jet fuel. With this, we don't have to use two separate tanks. The whole key with this alternative fuel is you are only handling one grade of fuel instead of two."

Another advantage of using the alternative fuel is that United States has a significant amount of coal and natural gas reserves, which are a more attractive long-term energy source, said Lee Hatch, fuel's operation manager.

The fuels are blended because jet fuels have aromatic property while the FT fuel doesn't, he said. The aromatic property keeps the seals and makes them swell enabling to seal up properly and preventing fuel leaks.

The aromatic quality of the JP-8 compensates for what the FT-fuel lacks, Mr. Cunningham said.

With this blend, the Air Force can cut back their 50 percent petroleum consumption -- "a significant difference," he said. As production increases, it will eventually reduce the cost the Air Force spends annually on fuel.

The Air Force can continue to fly and test at a cheaper rate, Mr. Hatch said. The Fischer-Tropche fuel is also synthetically derived that eliminates harmful chemical compounds such as sulfur content that can help the environment.

"The team has been working on the B-52 testing and the fuel truck demonstration," Mr. Hatch said. "It involves a lot of coordination. The request is coming from the Secretary of the Air Force, and there is a lot of emphasis to get it done and get it done right."