NATICK, Mass. (Aug. 14, 2014) -- The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, or NSRDEC, is demonstrating and evaluating new advanced, energy-efficient shelters and shelter components.
Researchers are using the demonstrations/evaluations to develop new equipment and systems that will reduce fuel consumption.
"The ultimate goal is a 50-percent power reduction, which will equate to a large reduction in fuel. And then you'd hopefully only have to use 50 percent of the generators," said Clinton McAdams, a mechanical engineer in NSRDEC's Expeditionary Basing and Collective Protection Directorate. "So instead of having to use six generators for a 150-man camp, we could theoretically cut it down to three."
McAdams said that they are using each demonstration to add to, and build upon, existing findings and will use the data to drive prototype system designs. The shelters and their components will eventually be used in the Army's Force Provider base camps, Air Force contingency base camps, and other applications.
"We're focusing on lighting, liners, environmental control units (air conditioners and fuel-fired heaters), solar shades, and thermal coatings," said McAdams. "We're also doing modeling and simulation work so that in the future we can plug in information on the external conditions before we send (the shelters) somewhere or before we go to environmental testing."
NSRDEC is performing the demonstration/evaluation efforts with support from the Air Force; the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center/Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, or ERDC/CERL; Transformative Reductions in Operational Energy, or TROPEC; and the Cold Regions Test Center, or CRTC.
"NSRDEC is uniquely qualified to do this testing as we are the U.S. Army's shelter experts," McAdams said. "Along with that, we have extensive knowledge of doing shelter evaluations/demos in various locations, including hot-dry, cold, hot-humid, and (the Doriot) Climatic Chambers."
"NSRDEC provides the labor for setup and teardown, and we also do data collection," McAdams said. "The data we collect is from the internal temperatures, internal humidity, power draw on the (environmental control unit) or fuel used on a fuel-fired heater, and ambient weather conditions along with other data points. NSRDEC also does the analysis of the data. The demos also allow us to get some idea of the durability of these systems in various conditions."
NSRDEC is currently evaluating four shelters in Guam, using two different liners and two different environmental control units, or ECUs. Two of the shelters are frame shelters with radiant barrier liners. One of the frame shelters is equipped with a five-ton ECU and one with a three-ton ECU.
"We are hoping to see what the power savings of the three-ton ECU is, if any, in a hot, humid environment," said McAdams.
The other two shelters in the Guam evaluation are airbeam shelters.
"Both shelters have rigid doors, rigid floors, and five-ton ECUs," McAdams said. "One shelter has a lofted liner and one has a radiant barrier liner. The plan is to compare the liners and see what liner performs best in this environment. We will also be looking to see how these items stand up to the high humidity of a tropical environment. All shelters are equipped with data logging, and we are taking temperature, humidity, power consumed by each ECU and other data points."
NSRDEC plans to keep the shelters up for a few months. The unit in Guam may possibly use the shelters for billeting, which would give NSRDEC the chance to collect operational data in addition to static data.
Following evaluations/demonstrations in Guam and also in Kuwait, some new shelters, including two prototype shelters and prototype liners, will be sent to the CTRC at Fort Greely, Alaska.
"Typically, the shelters need to accommodate extreme weather conditions ranging from minus 25 to 120 degrees (Fahrenheit). When we do the evaluation in Alaska we're going to see not only minus 25, but minus 30, minus 40," McAdams said. "When it's that cold, we are hoping to see that the tents will meet our requirements. We're hoping to see that we can maintain the internal environment and that the tent can withstand that temperature. There's a lot that goes into it. We want to give Soldiers the heating, the cooling, the lights, and the convenience outlets so they can plug in whatever they need."
The goal is to not only reduce fuel and other forms of energy, but to also maintain a quality-of-life level found in the Army's Force Provider, a base camp also known for enabling rapid Soldier deployment and mobility.
"The Soldier's comfort is still a very high priority," said McAdams. "It's clear that there are some things (that) if the Soldiers don't have them, they don't perform as well. It would be very easy for us to just say 'Bundle up, you'll be fine.' But if we do that, Soldiers don't get as good a night's sleep. So anything we can do to help them, we try to do it."
"This work will improve warfighter quality of life by allowing the warfighter to focus on the mission rather ran refueling a generator," added McAdams. "This work will also give the warfighters a more comfortable environment to work in."
Shelter lighting options are also being investigated.
"We are looking at a flat string of LED lighting that we can leave in the tent," said McAdams. "The current fluorescent lights use a good amount of power, and they don't have the long life. The LED lights have such a long life that they should last the life of the shelter. They're durable enough that you can take the tent down and you can leave the lights in place. So, when you get to where you need to set them up next, you open up your tent and the lighting is already there."
In addition to reducing energy and maintaining quality of life, NSRDEC's work will also help reduce the logistical burden, enable more rapid mobility, and reduce maintenance costs. NSRDEC will be sharing what it discovers during the evaluations with the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps.
"A lot of doors are opening up for a lot of collaboration," said McAdams. "People are starting to realize that Natick is a tent expert in the Army and on the RDEC side. There is a ton of knowledge here. Also, to be working in the research and development portion and to actually have your transition partner (Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems, or PM FSS) working right next to you and to be able to get their input helps prevent transition gaps. It gives you a bit of vision regarding possible future issues."
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The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness -- technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment -- to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
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