Algae Based Hydroprocessed Fuel Use on a Marine Gas Turbine

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) Philadelphia conducted a full scale gas turbine engine test using Rolls Royce engine models 501-K34 and 250-KS4 to assess engine performance and fuel combustion characteristics of an algae based hydroprocessed fuel. The fuel, hereafter described as alternate fuel, consisted of a 50/50 blend of NATO F-76 fuel and the algae based formulation. It is the first time that the U.S. Navy has used a nonpetroleum based fuel on a marine gas turbine. The test was conducted at the DDG 51 Land Based Engineering Site (LBES) of NSWCCD during Jan. 16–21, 2011. The alternate fuel test conducted on the 501-K34 engine consisted of seven cycles of engine operation, one using NATO F-76 fuel to develop a baseline run and six cycles using alternate fuel. Each cycle was 7 h and 20 min in duration and was composed of 27 distinct load scenarios. The total duration of the test was 44 h. The 250-KS4 engine was used as the starter mechanism for the 501-K34 engine. During the test, parameters for combustion temperature, fuel demand, fuel manifold pressure, engine start time, and operation under various load conditions were recorded. This paper discusses the results of the above test by comparing engine operation using alternate fuel to engine performance using NATO F-76 fuel.