Supporting SECNAV’s energy goals, the Department of the Navy is pursuing science and technology investments in energy distribution and control, energy storage, and power generation and loads – all with an eye toward enhancing our war fighting capability. Below are just five of the new technologies the Navy is showcasing with the Great Green Fleet demonstration in 2012.
- A Stern Flap is an extension of the hull bottom surface which extends aft of the transom. It is a relatively small steel plate appendage that is welded to the transom.
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- Stern Flaps modify the flow field under the hull afterbody, decreasing flow velocity and increasing pressure, resulting in reduced drag, reduced turbulence, and thus, reduced hull resistance.
- Stern Flaps have been proven, at sea, to increase propulsion efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions to foster significant fuel cost savings while increasing both ship speed and range. Stern Flaps decrease the strain on main engines, decrease propeller loading, cavitation, vibration and noise, and thereby increase the interval between engine overhauls and extend the service life of the propulsion machinery.
- Stern Flaps are currently installed (or being installed) on Cruisers (CG 47 Class), Destroyers (DDG 51 Class), and certain amphibious ships (LPD 4/17 Classes, LHD 1 Class, and LSD 41/49 Classes).
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Currently, U.S. Navy surface ship gas turbine generators and main propulsion engines are periodically shutdown and washed to improve compressor performance and extend operating life. The online water wash system allows the compressor wash to be performed while the engine is in operation. This extends the period between offline washes and improves performance in the interim.- For affordability, the online waterwash system utilizes and augments the existing offline wash equipment architecture. For each Ship Service Gas Turbine Generator (SSGTG) and Gas Turbine Main (GTM) engine, it consists of a set of nozzles, hoses and an automated 3-way diverter valve to send wash fluid to either online or offline nozzles.
- Online water wash will reduce maintenance, improve starter life and reduce fuel consumption by extending the time between offline washes and keeping the compressor section of the gas turbine cleaner in the interim.
- Installed on USS Prebble (DDG-88).
Currently, U.S. Navy surface ship gas turbine generators and main propulsion engines are periodically shutdown and washed to improve compressor performance and extend operating life. The online water wash system allows the compressor wash to be performed while the engine is in operation. This extends the period between offline washes and improves performance in the interim.
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Smart Voyage Planning Decision Aid (SVPDA) is a computer software application that will be used by the Navy’s Fleet Weather Centers in Norfolk and San Diego to push optimized ship routes to all Navy ships for both maximum fuel efficiency and safety.
- SVPDA reduces energy consumption by exploiting real-time knowledge of the physical environment including:
- Weather
- Waves
- Currents
- Ship-specific hydrodynamic and propulsion data
- SVPDA capitalizes on real-time data and computing power to plot routes with the potential to save 3% across the Fleet in annual fuel costs.
Smart Voyage Planning Decision Aid (SVPDA) is a computer software application that will be used by the Navy’s Fleet Weather Centers in Norfolk and San Diego to push optimized ship routes to all Navy ships for both maximum fuel efficiency and safety.***
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Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are replacements for incandescent and fluorescent lighting fixtures. SSL lamps are arrays of individual LEDs producing light at the same quality and brightness as legacy lamps with an increased lifespan.
Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are replacements for incandescent and fluorescent lighting fixtures. - All SSL replacements are engineered to meet military specification for lighting (MIL-DTL-16377) and are in the process of being qualified for shipboard use. Incandescent and berth lights will be replaced with fixture-form-fit-function SSL bulbs, and legacy fluorescent tubes will be replaced with SSL tubes.
- SSL improves energy efficiency, saves fuel at-sea and saves shore power in-port. SSL also improves lamp lifespan, and drives down maintenance and sparing costs. Removal of mercury-containing fluorescent tubes drives down handling and storage costs
- LED replacements, general illumination and task-specific lighting throughout Navy Ships.
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Energy Dashboard is a shipboard tool that provides the sailor with real-time situational awareness of the energy demand associated with equipment lineups and mission.- Energy Dashboard uses the Integrated Condition Assessment System (ICAS) to collect data from shipboard equipment. The Energy Dashboard includes the Fuel Management System (FMS), which assists pre-underway planning by recommending efficient equipment lineups. Energy Dashboard calculates and instantly displays daily energy consumption rates.
- Energy Dashboard will raise awareness of how certain plant lineups and equipment affect fuel consumption rates. It will also build ownership in energy conservation efforts by showing how the actions of ship’s force can instantly and dramatically affect fuel consumption.
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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 8, 2012) A Sailor assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) uses the shipboard energy dashboard during the "Great Green Fleet" demonstration portion of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
