Force Multiplying Technologies for Logistics Support to Military Operations (2014) / Chapter Skim
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3 Reducing the Major Logistics Demands
3 Reducing the Major Logistics Demands
Pages 31-65
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From page 31... ...
Other logistics demands of interest to the Army, even though they are not large by tonnage, are maintenance and critical parts and batteries and soldier load. The committee notes the need to be cautious when introducing new systems and technologies into the field.
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From page 32... ...
These various non-drinking-water requirements can be satisfied by water of differing qualities and by different levels of water treatment. The categories of water quality include these: Potable water, Untreated source water, Untreated grey water, Treated grey water, Untreated black water, and Treated black water.
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From page 33... ...
These facilities used plastic "blanks" that were formed into bottles on-site and then filled with local water. When given a choice between water provided by organic Army capabilities and bottled water, bottled water becomes a cultural preference that imposes a large logistics burden.
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From page 34... ...
Indeed, in crisis response and humanitarian assistance situations, one reason that aircraft carriers are deployed is their ability to make large quantities of fresh water. Alternatively, tankers could be readily adapted by adding modular reverse osmosis units to produce as much as 10 to 30 million gallons per day.6 Placing these systems in containers could make this approach more flexible.
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From page 35... ...
The Army should implement and, where necessary, develop methods to harvest water from the local environment, including rain and fog, to meet soldier water needs at the point of need. Distillation and Nanotechnology Distillation is another approach to water purification whereby water containing any impurities -- chemical or biological -- is boiled.
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From page 36... ...
Distillation may be a simpler, more efficient method of water purification than systems currently used by the Army. It can produce pure drinking water from any water feedstock with any sort of contaminant, including black water.
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From page 37... ...
Current water filtration systems are focused at the Army's company level and above. There is a need to develop and field individual water purification filters.
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From page 38... ...
The Army Base Camp Integration Laboratory at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, is testing technologies expected to reduce the logistics demand for water
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From page 39... ...
21 James Tuten, Product Manager, Force Sustainment Systems, "Contingency Basing and Operational Energy Initiatives," November 2011, http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA558324. 22 Technology readiness levels measure the maturity of a given technology development program (NASA, "Definitions of Technology Readiness Levels," http://esto.nasa.gov/files/trl_definitions.pdf, accessed October 30, 2014.
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From page 40... ...
Using flexible bladders to transport water could simplify the task of returning empties, increasing efficiency, providing greater utilization of flats, and reducing logistics demand for fuel. Recommendation 3-10.
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From page 41... ...
There is a significant body of Army research into improved energy efficiency in order to reduce fuel demand. This body of work includes research on engine design, electric machines and power electronics, power distribution, alternative power sources, and environmental control systems, and considerable effort has been expended in the area of chemical storage batteries.
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From page 42... ...
Investigating smart-grid control technologies to effectively manage electrical power generation, distribution, and use, thus reducing the need for periodic liquid fuel resupply to base camps. Examining innovative alternative energy sources that minimize or replace current hydrocarbon energy systems, perhaps enabling the elimination of fossil fuel based generators.
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From page 43... ...
Recommendation 3-13. Without slowing down fielding of the Improved Turbine Engine Program, the Army should explore the possibility of working with the Air Force and industry partners to combine the relevant technologies of the Adaptive Engine Technology Development program and the Improved Turbine Engine Program to further reduce fuel consumption and improve performance.
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From page 44... ...
The Army should develop more advanced engines for the M1 Abrams and the M2 Bradley, with a goal of 25 percent greater fuel efficiency as envisioned by the Improved Turbine Engine Program. Hybrid Drive Systems for Propulsion Hybrid vehicle propulsion provides another fuel-saving option that could be combined with the possibility of efficiently providing electric power for off-board applications.
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From page 45... ...
In addition to JP8-fueled auxiliary power units, the Army is exploring the use of fuel cells. The use of fuel cells for onboard power generation is two to three times more efficient than using electric power from an enginedriven generator, reducing fuel demand (DOE, 2011)
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From page 46... ...
Pure electric vehicles might have some application in forward logistics bases and may further reduce the amount of fuel that must be brought forward to support operations at these bases. Microgrids, Power Generation, and Distribution A significant portion of the fuel consumed during operations in Iraq, and in Afghanistan once large bases began to be established, was by generators providing power to facilities and devices.
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From page 47... ...
Recommendation 3-17. The Army should expand its microgrid and smart grid deployment activity, focusing on incorporating fuel cells and renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic-based power generation systems for on-site power generation applications.
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From page 48... ...
41 U.S. Army, Army Research Laboratory, "Creating Desulfurized Fuel for Fuel Cells Technology," Fact Sheet, http://www.arl.army.mil/www/pages/945/docs/powerenergy/ARL_08-25_TFS_Bi-layer_Sorbent-Public_Web.pdf, accessed October 31, 2014.
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From page 49... ...
Many ground vehicles can be converted to run on alternative liquid fuels such as methanol. An SMR could also produce hydrogen for use in fuel cells; however, the storage and transportation of hydrogen in its elemental form can be difficult due to its combustible nature.
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From page 50... ...
(Kendall, 2014.) The committee is not aware of any current SMR designs that would meet Army requirements for use as a transportable nuclear power source.
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From page 51... ...
AMMUNITION Ammunition is the third greatest logistics burden after water and fuel. There are some immediate and near-term approaches the Army can use to address the ammunition logistics demand and some other options that could have a significant impact when the Army replaces its small arms.
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From page 52... ...
. A 40-50 percent reduction in weight per round is a significant reduction in the ammunition logistics burden and in the soldier's load.45 Finding 3-23.
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From page 53... ...
For instance, 60-mm mortar rounds can be packaged in fiber tubes instead of metal tubes, and eight of these fiber tubes 48 GlobalSecurity.org, "M777 Lightweight 155mm howitzer (LW155) ," http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/lw155.htm, accessed November 4, 2014.
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From page 54... ...
SOURCE: Army vehicle-mounted laser successfully demonstrated against multiple targets, www.army.mil/article/116740/Army_ vehicle_mounted_laser_successfully_demonstrated_against_multiple_targets/. 51 Army Program Executive Office, Ammunition, 2014, "Reducing the Logistical Burden and the Soldier's Load," presentation forwarded from this office May 15.
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From page 55... ...
, can be tailored to the mission at the tactical edge, and is self-sustaining with significant logistics demand reduction. This last study insight -- reduced logistics burden for tactical formations -- is especially important.
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From page 56... ...
. 52 Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Command Overview, Program Executive Office Ammunition, provided to the committee on July 15, 2014.
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From page 57... ...
These solutions include soldier power generation systems; renewable energy; lightweight power distribution, power management, and power storage solutions; and soldier portable and wearable power systems. Soldiers carry spare batteries to last for a 72-hour mission, even though few missions last this long.
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From page 58... ...
. Because of their higher energy and current densities, lithium–air batteries could reduce the number of batteries needed for soldier power and reduce total fuel consumption for vehicles.
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From page 59... ...
Small radionuclide power sources could significantly reduce the battery logistics demand and the number of batteries soldiers must carry. This is a long-term effort.
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From page 60... ...
With further advances in these technologies, wireless charging will be prevalent for future electric vehicles -- manned and unmanned -- and portable equipment and devices. Wireless power transfer for the various electrical units within a soldier rucksack could eliminate the need for thick cables and other power distribution devices.
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From page 61... ...
It has proposed a new design called Fully Connected Power and Data Architecture. This architecture is expected to reduce battery requirements from the ISPDS baseline and to provide power from a combination of two or more sources such as conformal batteries, batteries, or fuel cells carried in the rucksack.
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From page 62... ...
2014. Using proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells to recover high-purity helium.
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From page 63... ...
Subject: Terms of Reference Defense Science Board Ad Hoc Committee on Energy Systems for Forward/Remote Operating Bases. Available online at www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/tors/TOR-2014-02-18 Energy_Systems_for_Forward_Remote_Operating_Bases.pdf.
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From page 64... ...
2012. Military adding more electric vehicles to fleet.
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From page 65... ...
2011. Lithium-air batteries' high energy density could extend range of electric vehicles.
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