Shaw AFB To Begin One-Year Hybrid Refueler Test

ENERGY TECH

A 72,000-pound, environmentally-friendly hybrid refueling truck, the only one of its kind in the Air Force, is undergoing a one-year test at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. It will be tested to see how much money it saves on fuel, maintenance and other cost measurements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman John Gordinier)

by Senior Airman John Gordinier
Shaw AFB SC (AFNS) May 10, 2007
Fuels Airmen here are putting the Air Force's only R-11 Hybrid Electric Aviation Refueler through its paces during a one-year test that began here this month. The test will determine how much the 72,000-pound hybrid reduces emissions and conserves diesel fuel, potentially saving the Air Force money, said 2nd Lt. Zack Buckallew, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance flight commander.

The test will also track maintenance costs to see if the hybrid is less expensive to operate.

"Shaw was chosen for the test because currently we refuel our aircraft using diesel trucks," said 2nd Lt. Stephanie La Mon, 20th LRS fuel management flight commander.

Shaw refueling trucks make approximately 1,600 refueling trips and pump more than 1.5 million gallons of jet fuel every month, she said. Each R-11 refueler, including the hybrid, can hold 6,000 gallons of jet fuel.

While the hybrid has the same storage capacity as a regular refueler, it will reduce diesel costs and emissions by using electricity for every trip to the aircraft.

The refueler operates a lot like a regular hybrid car, Lieutenant Buckallew said. The vehicle operates with a diesel engine, an electric motor and a battery pack to optimize fuel efficiency.

After the hybrid is started, the electric motor, which draws stored electricity from the battery pack, is used to get the vehicle up to speed, the lieutenant said. Once the truck is at an optimal speed, the diesel engine takes over. The battery pack restores energy by a regenerative braking process. The system captures energy that is lost during the driver's "stop and go" process.

"During the test, we will closely evaluate hours used, mileage, fuel consumption saved, the life of the fuel pump and various metric readouts," Lieutenant Buckallew said. "Once completed, we will send the results up to leadership and they will make the decision on the value of the R-11 hybrid refuelers."

The hybrid refueler prototype was built by the Mack-Volvo Corporation at a cost of $1.2 million for the Advance Power Technologies Office at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Lieutenant Buckallew said. Normal diesel-powered R-11s cost about $200,000.

"It is too early to tell if the hybrid refueler will be successful because we haven't started any tests," Lieutenant Buckallew said. "As a truck, it runs fine and it is successful at refueling F-16s (Fighting Falcons)."

Email This Article

ENERGY TECH

Analysts Question Concerns Over China-Africa Relations

Johannesburg (AFP) May 13, 2007
China is not the only investor motivated by self-interest in its pursuit of closer ties with Africa, a continent in dire need of generous new friends, South African observers believe. Human rights concerns raised as China and Africa bond economically and politically, while not to be dismissed, come mostly from economic rivals whose own democratic records leave much to be desired, they say.

ENERGY TECH Analysts Question Concerns Over China-Africa Relations New Petroleum-Degrading Bacteria Found At Rancho La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles Shaw AFB To Begin One-Year Hybrid Refueler Test India Wakes Up To E-Waste As Economy Booms	CIVIL NUCLEAR Russia Sparks Up Tianwan First Unit Russia Sets Up Nuclear Energy Corporation US May Lift Restrictions On Russian Uranium Supplies In June Russia And Kazakhstan Sign Deal On Uranium Enrichment Center
BLUE SKY Widespread Twilight Zone Detected Around Clouds Rand Says Further Study Warranted On Save The World Air Technology Noxious Lightning AIM Heads For Orbit	WOOD PILE Curbing Deforestation By Half Key To Global Warming Fight Indigenous Groups Seek Millions From Credit Suisse Over Timber Deal Indonesia Fastest Forest Clearer In World WHRC Scientists Creating National Biomass And Carbon Datas
FARM NEWS Netherlands Refuses GM Corn Shipment From US New Knowledge Improves Rice Quality Plant Pathologists Fighting Global Threat To Wheat Supply Light Sticks May Lure Turtles To Fishing Lines	CAR TECH Radical Engine Redesign Would Reduce Pollution And Oil Consumption Intelligent Cars As Fuel-Efficient As Hybrids China Automobile Dream A Nightmare For Climate Change Driverless Car Goes On Show In London
AEROSPACE Australia Fears Jet Flight Guilt Could Hit Tourism Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying New FAA Oceanic Air Traffic System Designed By Lockheed Martin Fully Operational NASA Seeks New Research Proposals	NUCLEAR SPACE Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement