Navy creates hydrocarbon fuel from seawater

摘要

The U.S. Navy has developed a breakthrough process to convert seawater into hydrocarbon fuel, a process that could lead to fueling stations at sea in decades to come. Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) were looking for a way to reduce the U.S. fleet's reliance on the 15 oilers operated by the Military Sealift Command that deliver 600 million gallons of fuel each year for aircraft-carrier jets as well as vessels. That means vessels must refuel at sea by running parallel with the tanker, regardless of the weather. During flight operations, carriers must take on jet fuel. The oilers are part of a fuel supply chain that may stretch thousands of miles.