DLA Research & Development's Energy Readiness Program is a designated Defense Operational Energy Program and is managed under the DLA LOG R&D Program. The ERP directly supports the DOD Class III bulk fuel and energy supply system through a multi-faceted approach to addressing current and future issues connected to the entire spans of the system. R&D projects and studies are normally developed by or in conjunction with the military service technical offices and activities.
Innovation & Technology
- Support of DOD and industry coordinated efforts to determine the effects of alternative (non-petroleum based) fuels on aircraft engine combustion.
- Support of DOD and industry coordinated efforts to develop innovative techniques to mitigate and/or prevent fuel instability, deterioration and contamination.
- Improvement and enhancement of practices and standards for fuel product additization, filtration and sampling for analysis.
Strategic Thrusts
- Keep abreast of fuel refining and distribution industry practices that affect, or potentially affect, warfighter operational requirements.
- Coordinate with military services and industry technical organizations to develop and structure projects addressing fuel instability and contamination problems.
- Coordinate with Military Tri-Service Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants group to optimize support opportunities for alternative fuel certification efforts.
Program Challenge
- Fuel production practices that affect product stability and integrity.
- Environmental mandates (e.g. fuel desulfurization) that can affect certain military fuel operational properties (e.g. lubricity).
- Supply infrastructure practices that contribute to fuel product contamination and adulteration.
- Decreased military budgets for the certification of alternative fuels in meeting warfighter requirements.
Benefits
- Improved operational energy performance for the warfighter
- Improved technology for the quality assurance and quality surveillance of fuel and energy products
- Increase in reliable product supplier base for fuel and energy products
Partners
- DLA Energy
- U.S. Army
- NATO
- U.S. Navy
- U.S. Marines
- Industry
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Academia
Accomplishments & Ongoing Efforts
- Development of New Ground Vehicle Fuel Contamination Limits Compatible with High Pressure Common Rail Engines - results of this study used to determine the allowable fuel particulate contamination load of the high-pressure common rail fuel injection equipment used in Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) operations.
- Development of conditioned-based fuel-metering maintenance and calibration protocols that eliminate unnecessary upkeep expenses and increase inventory accountability performance.
- Management of congressionally funded initiative to develop refinery-scale production of biofuels produced from woody biomass for military and commercial consumption.