Air-Propane Proportioning Device for Naval Firefighter Training Facilities (FFTFS)

Abstract

Abstract : The Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC) was tasked by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) to investigate the feasibility of reducing air pollution emissions from the Navy Fire Fighter Training Facilities (FFTF). As a part of this task, the NFESC assessed the feasibility of using a 50-50 air-propane fuel as an alternative fuel to the current use of 100 percent propane fuel and adopted an air-propane proportioning device which can mix and supply air and propane mixture automatically. The air-propane proportioning device is a commercial available, off-of-the-shelf item which is commonly installed as 'standby' device to substitute natural gas with an air-propane mixture on short notice. The results of this study indicated that air pollution emissions are reduced approximately 40 percent and fuel costs are reduced by 50 percent because only half of the fuel will be used. Operational safety is assured because the specified amount of air in the propane is less than a quarter of air required to reach the upper combustible limit and the control box for the controlling the air-propane proportioning device is an explosion proof device.