Posted on 10/04/2005 6:34:02 AM PDT by OESY
Keeping an army provisioned in the desert is a ballet of logistics, particularly when it comes to supplying two vital liquids: diesel fuel and water.
Now, using technologies developed for the space program, the U.S. Army is conducting an experiment that could convert the exhaust pipes of military vehicles into water fountains.
Later this month, United Technologies Corp.'s Hamilton Sundstrand unit will deliver two military Humvees to the Army for three months of testing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground outside Baltimore. Built into each vehicle's truck bed is a complex system that can recover water from engine exhaust, purifying as much as half the liquid volume from a tank of fuel.
"This is one of those things where, when you first hear about it, you think the scientists have gone out of their minds," says Robert Leduc, president of Hamilton Sundstrand's flight systems business, which includes the water-recovery program. "But once you taste the water, you realize the potential."
The military calculates that a soldier in the desert needs about 20 gallons of water a day, five of which must be pure enough to drink, prepare food and use for medical needs. (The other 15 gallons are for bathing, washing clothes....) Water gets to the front in vulnerable, slow-moving truck convoys that require armed escorts, or it is pumped from local rivers, lakes or ponds and purified by heavy-duty filters.
For the Army, the logistics of moving water limits how it can use troops. When soldiers are deployed in the field, it can easily take 40% of them to move water and other materials, often placing them in vulnerable positions, says Jay Dusenbury, science and technology team leader for... TARDEC, in Warren, Mich. "Anything that can cut down on that vulnerability and enable troops to fight... could be huge,"....
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
"This is one of those things where, when you first hear about it, you think the scientists have gone out of their minds," says Robert Leduc, president of Hamilton Sundstrand's flight systems business, which includes the water-recovery program. "But once you taste the water, you realize the potential."
It is suprising that this hasn't been thought of before. Most folks have seen the catalytic condensation dripping from a tail-pipe. Why not use that system to purify the output into potable water. Just remember to take mineral suplements as distilled water, to some extent, leeches those from one's system.
Good show gents!
Confusion to the enemy!
Top sends
I had a '77 Olds that would burn a quart of oil in every 500 miles. Wonder how they like drinking oily water?
I want one.
I wonder what taking the water from the normal exhaust leaves to be exhausted. My guess is that what ever little still comes out is quite a bit more toxic.
(he says, offering absolutely nothing to back it up)
It's done with a "closed loop" like that used in power plant condensers. Never the two shall meet (in theory).
It can't be "more" toxic. The CO, NOx etc. are there in the same amounts either way. Minus the water vapor that makes exhaust fumes visible, it would just be harder to see.
Since the water has already been vaporized there is no bio-contaminates in it. The only point of possible contamination is the storage tank.
A simpler solution would be to have a removable storage tank that could easily be decontaminated every few days.
"Now if they can just take the carbon dioxide to run little greenhouses in the back of vehicles for fresh vegetables."
Yeah! I remember my few forays into desert environs......I sure missed broccoli!
Solar still works great for collecting a daily life preserving dose of H2O. Should be in every troop's kit.
Cheers,
Top sends
Sure - that must be where the Stonemasons are having the water fluoridation system installed.
Who controls the British Pound?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do!
We do!
Humm
They had less complicated systems on hummers used in GWI to extract water from exhaust.
Is this better because some big defense contractor came up with the system? Or just less oily?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.