The Reality of the Single-Fuel Concept

摘要

To simplify fuel operations, the Department of Defense (DOD) has adopted a single-fuel concept (SFC) that requires U.S. forces to use only one fuel while deployed. Although the concept has merits, it also has shortcomings. The challenge is to develop a policy that will best meet all military fuel needs. Waxing and fuel filterability problems with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) standard diesel fuel, F54, during cold weather created severe problems for the engines of Ml Abrams main battle tanks and other gasoline turbine-powered equipment when they were introduced to U.S. forces in Germany in 1981. [Diesel fuel typically has a high paraffin hydrocarbon content, which prevents it from flowing at low temperatures. Waxing refers to this situation, in which the paraffin hydrocarbons in the fuel congeal and wax-like particles are formed that can either coat the surfaces they contact or plug fuel filters.]