Halsey Crew Pilots New Fuel Conservation Program During Deployment
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS081104-12
Release Date: 11/4/2008 6:50:00 AM
By Lt. j.g. Chris Peters, USS Halsey Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- When USS Halsey (DDG 97) returned to homeport Nov. 3 following a six-month deployment and friends and family waved the familiar red, white and blue of the American flag, the crew knew they had done more than just supporting maritime security operations and the war on terrorism. They had actually played a major role in "going green" and saving thousands of gallons of fuel through a pilot fuel conservation program.
Late-model Arleigh Burke-class destroyers like Halsey are equipped with three diesel fuel-marine Gas Turbine Generators (GTGs) capable of producing 3,000 kilowatts of electricity each. Standard engineering plant operations include two GTGs on-line at all times in order to provide power to shipboard systems.
By assessing periods of reduced power requirements during their deployment, Halsey's engineers initially tested a pilot program running only one GTG at night, conserving between 600-900 gallons of fuel daily.
Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 1st Class (SW) Ganeshwar Rao, the leading fuels petty officer aboard Halsey, said the ship analyzed its power consumption and determined energy usage during the late evening hours and found that two on-line generators were producing nearly three times the average electrical demand.
"This is due to several factors including cooler nighttime temperatures that reduce air conditioner load, less starting and stopping of equipment due to maintenance, and lights turned off in crew berthing areas and unoccupied spaces," said Rao. "As a result, even one generator's output capacity exceeds the average nighttime electrical load by 30 percent or more."
According to Lt. Rich Robbins, Halsey's chief engineer, the engineering team also took a total-ship approach to weigh potential operational impacts of single generator operations before going forward with the program.
"We didn't want to compromise our ability to fight the ship or defend against an emergent threat," said Robbins.
Robbins said the ship ran numerous trials, energizing various elements of its combat system to measure the impact of any spikes in electrical demand, and drilling watch standers in re-aligning the propulsion plant from single generator configuration to its maximum readiness condition. The results proved one generator sufficient to support a full array of defensive and offensive responses.
"We evaluated the costs versus the benefits of single generator operations," said Robbins. "We determined we could achieve significant cost savings without introducing unacceptable risk."
As the idea for the program evolved, Halsey's Senior Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician (SW) Odelon Malig initiated discussions with the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) gas turbine experts regarding the technical feasibility of the pilot.
"They were excited about the idea," said Malig. "Both SWRMC and NAVSSES [Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station] Philadelphia provided positive feedback and data collection guidance and felt there was no technical reason to not move forward with the pilot program. They are awaiting our feedback and lessons learned."
Cmdr. Robert E. Beauchamp, who assumed command of Halsey during the deployment and after the pilot program began, said he is impressed with the fuel-saving measures.
"Everyone in America is feeling the effects of higher energy costs," said Beauchamp. "We have been entrusted with these magnificent ships, it is our responsibility to act as true stewards of the public's trust and efficiently manage the resources."
Beauchamp said he is proud of the efforts of the Halsey engineers who helped develop and implement the pilot program.
"We've benefited from great technical assistance provided by the SWRMC gas turbines shop both before deployment and as we have proceeded with this pilot project," said Beauchamp. "The results have been remarkable, saving over 21,000 barrels of fuel this quarter alone."
The PELESG, which deployed May 4, is led by Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 and includes the flag ship, USS Peleliu (LHA 5), the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the amphibious ships USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and the guided-missile destroyers Halsey and USS Benfold (DDG 65).
For more news from USS Peleliu (LHA 5) - Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/lha5/.
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