Fuel Efficiency

Examples of fuel efficiency through oil blending and use of canola oil at Victory Base Complex East in Iraq

Blending Used Oil

In providing prime power on military bases in Iraq, Berger/Cummins developed a program to blend used oil from the power plant gensets with JP-8 fuel. We have burned thousands of gallons of used oil through this internal power plant process, saving the client hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by (1) decreasing the amount of JP-8 fuel required, and (2) reducing the costs of transporting and disposing used oil as hazardous waste.

This fuel recovery purification process falls in line with the military's move toward employing more economical and cost-effective solutions for energy production at military installations. By blending used oil with fuel, Berger/Cummins methods are safer and more efficient than those of other firms, reducing the need for transporting used oil and thereby minimizing the risks associated with operating in post-conflict and remote areas.

Canola Oil

In September 2010, at the request of the Director of Public Works at Victory Base Complex, Iraq and at no cost to the Government, Berger/Cummins prepared to initiate a feasibility study into the effects of burning canola oil from the military's dining facilities in our gensets. We have dedicated two of our existing VBC East gensets for this effort and will create an operational baseline and collect data for our engineers to review and assess the risk of engine damage and to adjust the process as required for maximum efficiency. Approximately 3,000 gallons of canola oil per month will be consumed for testing purposes. The feasibility study will utilize one KTA 50 and one QSK 60 Cummins generator set, rated at 850kW and 1.1 MW respectively. If proven feasible, Berger/Cummins will blend canola oil with JP‐8 fuel, which will decrease the total amount of JP-8 fuel required and largely eliminate the costs associated with the transportation and disposal of canola oil.