The U.S. Army has demonstrated a set of power generation systems that work to reduce fuel consumption during an integrated exercise at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.The service branch said Thursday the exercise ran from May through June 17 at Fort Devens’ Base Camp Integration Laboratory as part of the Sustainability Logistics Basing — Science Technology Objective Demonstration that seeks to reduce fuel, water resupply demand and waste generation at small base camps.
“We introduced two new fuel reduction technology demonstrators as well as two returning systems with updated designs based on lessons learned from prior STO Demos and capability upgrades,” said Selma Matthews, SLB-STO-DÂ fuel reduction thrust lead.
The Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command leads the project while the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center manages the initiative that aims to reduce fuel demand by 25 percent.
CERDEC also tested its Energy Informed Operations tactical microgrid which is designed to give power resources access to the grid and support user management through a software applicatio.
The EIO microgrid worked to maintain power for 10 days at the south side of the camp at BCIL as the east side was powered through the Towable 100 kilowatt Generator Set that works to match engine speed with power load to reduce fuel usage, the Army said.
A computer modeling and simulation tool called Auto Distribution Illumination System Electrical worked to support the EIO microgrid and Towable 100 KW GenSet to help users prepare tailored power and heating, ventilation and air conditioning layouts, the Army noted.
CERDEC is scheduled to conclude SLB-STO-D in 2017 and continue to develop the participating fuel reduction technologies.
