DARPA HEDLight Program Saves Up to 87% with New Lights for U.S. Navy
Written by Tina Casey
Published on May 31st, 2009Posted in technology
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After a year-long demonstration project, the U.S. Navy is poised add its own contribution to reducing the military’s carbon bootprint - or carbon wake, as the case may be. The Navy stands to gain up to 87% in savings for shipboard lighting, by switching from conventional light bulbs to high efficiency LED and HID systems developed through DARPA under the HEDLight (High Efficiency Distributed Lighting) program. One recent retrofit has been accomplished by Ohio-based Energy Focus, Inc. Saving energy is just part of the picture: the quantum leap to HEDLight is also expected to yield significant gains in the Navy’s strategic efficiency.
» See also: Hawaiian Garbage-to-Energy Plant Recycles Derelict Fishing Nets for Electricity
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DARPA’s HEDLight and U.S. Navy Supply Logistics
There’s a hidden benefit to high efficiency lighting. Along with shaving some points off your electricity bill, they cut down on the irritating household chore of light bulb replacement. When your house is a U.S. Navy ship at sea, replacing a light bulb is more than irritating. Writer Jennifer Kho reports that during a typical aircraft carrier deployment, every one of up to 18,000 bulbs will blow out and have to be replaced. The logistics of storing, replacing, and disposing thousands of light bulbs are complicated enough, and many of the fixtures are in locations that are difficult or even dangerous to reach - especially while contending with storms, naval maneuvers and exercises, and the possibility of an engagement.
HEDLight and Safety
DARPA’s stated goal for HEDlight is to increase survivability, deployability, and maintainability through a fundamental change in lighting design. Instead of conventional lighting, which originates at the fixture, the light in a HEDLight system comes from a central source. HEDLight uses optical fibers and acrylic rods to distribute the light to each point of use, using metal halide high intensity discharge (HID) and light emitting diode (LED) technology. Aside from the logistical improvements and energy savings, HEDLight also improves safety on board the shop, reducing risks related to electric hazards, glass, and hazardous materials.
Energy Focus, Inc.
The Energy Focus installation involves replacing all of the high-bay lighting in a hangar deck on an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, using HEDLight fixtures and technology developed under DARPA. Based on the demonstration project, the company estimates that LED globe fixtures are an impressive 87% more efficient than the conventional fixtures they replace. Other HEDLight improvements yield more modest gains in efficiency but are still worthwhile considering the logistical and safety improvements.
HEDLight for Landlubbers
At first glance, Energy Focus might seem an unlikely match for a DARPA program. Through its architectural lighting division Fiberstars, the company is best known for its startlingly modern commercial, pool, and spa installations, such as the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. But when you consider the long-neglected design challenges of naval lighting, creativitiy and innovation are the way to go. The lessons learned from designing HEDLight systems for the Navy’s massive ships have enormous potential for a nation packed with buildings that are still lit according to principles that were popular in gaslight days. Cities from New York to Los Angeles, and Anchorage, are already replacing outdoor lighting with LED’s, so indoor lighting along HEDLight principles can’t be too far behind. The final nail in the conventional light bulb coffin? GE recently announced that it’s dropping plans to revitalize its incandescent light bulb technology, and is going full speed ahead on LEDs.
The military is the biggest user of energy, so whatever gains they can achieve is welcomed.
Showing posts with label Navy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Navy. Show all posts
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Hawaii's new wave power
November 13, 2008 8:30 AM PST
Hawaii's new wave power
by Candace Lombardi
On the surface, OPT's PowerBuoy resembles any ordinary ocean buoy.
(Credit: Ocean Power Technologies)Ocean Power Technologies announced Thursday that it will be installing a water-power buoy system to tie into Hawaii's Oahu Island power grid.
The New Jersey-based company makes ocean buoys that harness the energy of ocean waves to generate electricity that is then sent back to shore via underwater cable.
Through a partnership with the U.S. Navy, Ocean Power has been developing technology that could supplement electricity needs for the military in Hawaii .
"We are pleased to be a part of the Navy's effort to develop and commercialize new technologies to reduce the Navy's dependence on fuel shipments for power generation facilities, and to meet its strategic goals and other sustainability initiatives," George W. Taylor, Ocean Power's chief executive officer, said in a statement.
The company's PowerBuoy, which on the surface resembles an ordinary ocean buoy, is about 12 feet wide and 55 feet long. As the buoy is jostled by naturally occurring offshore waves, it moves a piston-like device located at its core up and down. The electricity generated by the system, which is typically placed in about 100 to 150 feet of water, is then sent back to shore via a standard submarine transmission cable along the ocean floor.
The water-power buoy is loaded with onboard sensors and communications tools that allow it to be monitored and instructed from Ocean Power's headquarters in New Jersey. But the device can autonomously adjust the way it pumps to accommodate changes in ocean waves and maximize its effect.
The U.S. Navy contributed $300,000 to funding this particular installation. But Ocean Power announced in early November that it has won a $3 million contract with the Navy to develop its PowerBuoy for use in conjunction with data gathering and communications.
Ocean Power also has the support of the U.S. Marine Corps. This latest PowerBuoy system will be placed about one mile off the coast of Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) at Kaneohe Bay and will be connected to Oahu's power grid.
This is the third PowerBuoy that Ocean Power has installed within the last two months.
The Navy and Marine support is a coup for Ocean Power, which struggled with its IPO, and perhaps even for the ocean energy industry as a whole.
Ocean energy proponents have been swimming against a current of lackluster interest because of logistical issues like infrastructure costs, and the unpredictable nature of the energy source
Hawaii's new wave power
by Candace Lombardi
On the surface, OPT's PowerBuoy resembles any ordinary ocean buoy.
(Credit: Ocean Power Technologies)Ocean Power Technologies announced Thursday that it will be installing a water-power buoy system to tie into Hawaii's Oahu Island power grid.
The New Jersey-based company makes ocean buoys that harness the energy of ocean waves to generate electricity that is then sent back to shore via underwater cable.
Through a partnership with the U.S. Navy, Ocean Power has been developing technology that could supplement electricity needs for the military in Hawaii .
"We are pleased to be a part of the Navy's effort to develop and commercialize new technologies to reduce the Navy's dependence on fuel shipments for power generation facilities, and to meet its strategic goals and other sustainability initiatives," George W. Taylor, Ocean Power's chief executive officer, said in a statement.
The company's PowerBuoy, which on the surface resembles an ordinary ocean buoy, is about 12 feet wide and 55 feet long. As the buoy is jostled by naturally occurring offshore waves, it moves a piston-like device located at its core up and down. The electricity generated by the system, which is typically placed in about 100 to 150 feet of water, is then sent back to shore via a standard submarine transmission cable along the ocean floor.
The water-power buoy is loaded with onboard sensors and communications tools that allow it to be monitored and instructed from Ocean Power's headquarters in New Jersey. But the device can autonomously adjust the way it pumps to accommodate changes in ocean waves and maximize its effect.
The U.S. Navy contributed $300,000 to funding this particular installation. But Ocean Power announced in early November that it has won a $3 million contract with the Navy to develop its PowerBuoy for use in conjunction with data gathering and communications.
Ocean Power also has the support of the U.S. Marine Corps. This latest PowerBuoy system will be placed about one mile off the coast of Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) at Kaneohe Bay and will be connected to Oahu's power grid.
This is the third PowerBuoy that Ocean Power has installed within the last two months.
The Navy and Marine support is a coup for Ocean Power, which struggled with its IPO, and perhaps even for the ocean energy industry as a whole.
Ocean energy proponents have been swimming against a current of lackluster interest because of logistical issues like infrastructure costs, and the unpredictable nature of the energy source
Friday, November 28, 2008
pirate solutions
The solution is obvious. Albeit not politically correct.
Dont copy the US FIRST barbary pirate war of 1805.
The first Barbary war had grossly ineffective "diplomacy" that meant nothing to the pirates, followed by slow, gradual, escalation of military force.
The USN kept building more and more ships, all being sent to north Africa, losing one of its largest warships (a sister of the USS Constitution) as well as merchant ships to the pirates, the mess dragged on for years as pirates built forts at their bases and bought bigger guns before finally being worn down by a country that originated the saying for that war: "millions for defense, not one cent for tribute"..
That seems to be what the world is set on doing now.
Copy the second Barbary war of 1815 instead.
After winning the first Barbary war, the US navy was elsewhere from 1812 to 1815 because of an altercation with the Brits -- the 1812 war that included sacking of Washington and torching of the White House. This took priority, the resultant absence of the USN near North Africa allowed the pirates to resume their activities.
After peace with England in 1815, the bulk of the Navy, complete with Marines, was sent to Africa.
The Navy wasted no time.
On arrival they landed the marines, at night, at a leading pirate base.
The local pirate ruler awoke to find that his forts had fallen. All ships and boats in his harbor had been captured. The Navy's frigates were lined up along the waterfront, guns run out, ready to blow his palace off the map; with Marines confiscating or torching the entire contents of the storehouses where loot was stored. (If commingled - consider all stolen contraband)
The slaves and hostages (in those days hostages were sold as white slaves if ransom was slow) were promptly released, loot returned, and peace reigned.
Neighboring pirate bases sent their envoys to meet the fleet as it left harbor, and surrender their slaves and hostages early lest they meet the same fate.
The solution here is to
TAKE THE GLOVES OFF, LET THE MILITARY DO THEIR JOB, WITH AMPLE SHIPS AND MARINES TO DO IT QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY, INCLUDING LAND ASSAULTS WHERE APPROPRIATE.
Forget the meaningless but endless UN resolutions and slow amendments to rules of engagement.
As to penalty for captured pirates - while most nations have gone soft, with wrist-slapping of a few months in prison instead of the traditional penalty of hanging by the neck until dead and decomposed, Saudi Arabia still has appropriate penalties for pirates.
Send captured pirates to Saudi for amputation of head or hands.
AND make it a felony throughout the world to pay ransom to pirates or terrorists of any kind.
Dont copy the US FIRST barbary pirate war of 1805.
The first Barbary war had grossly ineffective "diplomacy" that meant nothing to the pirates, followed by slow, gradual, escalation of military force.
The USN kept building more and more ships, all being sent to north Africa, losing one of its largest warships (a sister of the USS Constitution) as well as merchant ships to the pirates, the mess dragged on for years as pirates built forts at their bases and bought bigger guns before finally being worn down by a country that originated the saying for that war: "millions for defense, not one cent for tribute"..
That seems to be what the world is set on doing now.
Copy the second Barbary war of 1815 instead.
After winning the first Barbary war, the US navy was elsewhere from 1812 to 1815 because of an altercation with the Brits -- the 1812 war that included sacking of Washington and torching of the White House. This took priority, the resultant absence of the USN near North Africa allowed the pirates to resume their activities.
After peace with England in 1815, the bulk of the Navy, complete with Marines, was sent to Africa.
The Navy wasted no time.
On arrival they landed the marines, at night, at a leading pirate base.
The local pirate ruler awoke to find that his forts had fallen. All ships and boats in his harbor had been captured. The Navy's frigates were lined up along the waterfront, guns run out, ready to blow his palace off the map; with Marines confiscating or torching the entire contents of the storehouses where loot was stored. (If commingled - consider all stolen contraband)
The slaves and hostages (in those days hostages were sold as white slaves if ransom was slow) were promptly released, loot returned, and peace reigned.
Neighboring pirate bases sent their envoys to meet the fleet as it left harbor, and surrender their slaves and hostages early lest they meet the same fate.
The solution here is to
TAKE THE GLOVES OFF, LET THE MILITARY DO THEIR JOB, WITH AMPLE SHIPS AND MARINES TO DO IT QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY, INCLUDING LAND ASSAULTS WHERE APPROPRIATE.
Forget the meaningless but endless UN resolutions and slow amendments to rules of engagement.
As to penalty for captured pirates - while most nations have gone soft, with wrist-slapping of a few months in prison instead of the traditional penalty of hanging by the neck until dead and decomposed, Saudi Arabia still has appropriate penalties for pirates.
Send captured pirates to Saudi for amputation of head or hands.
AND make it a felony throughout the world to pay ransom to pirates or terrorists of any kind.
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