MTTC Fleet Maintenance
Technology Transfer Projects
The following projects have been initiated since the
initial FWG meeting in June 1998:
- Lynx Motor Shock Test -
The Lynx Motor has the potential of replacing electric motor & transmissions with a
common motor/controller in a wide variety of applications. The motor requires shock
testing prior to application to shipboard systems. The objective of this project is to
conduct the shock test qualification. The technical point of contact for this TDL is Mr.
John Anderson, NAVSEA Code SEA-03Z71, (703) 602-5586 ext 366.
- Sea Water Fouling Prevention - Marine growth causes fouling of the fleets sea water systems. The use of
chlorinating to prevent fouling of the sea water systems is a proven technology being
applied to new construction ships in both the military and commercial applications. The
objective of this project is to develop a portable chlorinator unit., determine the
optimal location of the injector port, install the injector port on a fleet ship and
evaluate the portable chlorinator’s utility to prevent fouling. The technical point
of contact for this TDL is Mr. Fred Tsao, NAVSEA Code SEA-03L, (703) 602-5552 ext 604.
- Superbolt Qualification Testing - The fleet has numerous applications for
large diameter locking devices. Current tightening/loosening methods include hydraulic
wrenches and long lever-arm wrenches. A uniquely bolt with a unique locking system, using
common tools for tightening or loosening, is being used in commercial applications. The
objective of this project is to qualify this fastener for shipboard use and test the
fastener in a shipboard application. The technical point of contact for this TDL is Mr.
Jim Williams, NAVSEA Code SEA-03W, (703) 602-1596 ext 130. COMPLETE.
- Watertight Door Hinges – There are approximately 52,000 watertight
doors in-service in the U.S. Navy. NAVSEA 03 estimates the annual maintenance expenditure
of the watertight door hinge to be $10M. The current door hinges have historically
demonstrated the inability to withstand the open/close cycling over extended periods.
Doors in high traffic applications are experiencing 1000 cycles/day and require
replacement of hinge pins, yoke pins and yoke washers in as little as three weeks.
Preliminary tests of the door hinge were conducted on USS RAINIER over a three-month
period. The proposed replacement hinge assembly performed much better than the existing
pin. This project will evaluate the performance of the watertight door hinge design in a
controlled, laboratory test to permit qualification for fleet use. The technical point of
contact is Mr. Jim Hahn, NAVSEA 03P7, (703) 602-9391 ext 419.
- Heat Exchanger Descaler –
Currently, heat exchanger descaling requires the heat exchanger to be removed and washed
with an acid solution by an intermediate maintenance activity. The current process
requires approximately six days to clean and takes the shipboard system serviced by the
heat exchanger "down" as well. A new technology is in use in a variety of
commercial applications. The cleaning using this technology is performed by isolating the
components to be cleaned in a closed loop system and circulating a descaling solution
through the system. Preliminary tests have confirmed that the method is an effective
descaling method and can be used aboard ship with organic personnel. This method requires
only four hours. Qualification will require a controlled test to verify effectiveness in a
controlled shipboard setting and result in a personnel safety approval. The technical
point of contact is Darryl Sheedlo, NAVSEA PMS307, (703) 602-8607.
- EPOXY Bilge Paints – Corrosion
control has been and continues to be the predominant fleet maintenance issue. One area
that is particularly susceptible to corrosion is in the bilge area (very bottom of the
internal ship’s hull). Water gravitates to the bilges and, combined with fuel and
other wastes, causes rapid corrosion, unless the metal is adequately protected. Preparing
and painting bilges is a difficult and dirty job that no one likes. The surfaces must be
completely clean and dry, which is almost impossible in this environment. Until recently,
the only alternative was to preserve these areas on a repeated basis. The maintenance of
this one area of the ship can require hundreds of man-hours of work per month on a typical
ship. New paints, that has very low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been
developed in Europe and are being used in the commercial shipbuilding industry there. In
order to qualify these paints for U.S. Navy use, MTTC will paint several test bilges on
fleet ships in order to quantify the application requirements and the paint effectiveness.
The Navy wants to verify that the paint can be applied over less-than-ideally-prepared
surfaces and will adhere properly. The technical point of contact is Mr. Mark Ingle,
NAVSEA 03M3, (703) 602-0146 ext 231.
- Topside Connector Cover – The fleet
has used a variety of solutions to minimize corrosion of topside connectors. The most
common solution is to wrap the connector with tape and coat with polysulfide or to employ
cold shrink tubing. These solutions are permanent and they must be replaced if it is
necessary to access the connector. A new technology uses a toroid filled with gel. The gel
permits the cover to easily slide over and completely seal the connector from the
environment. This cover can be easily slid back from the connector for inspection and then
restored by sliding it back. This project will conduct qualification tests that will
support a decision for unlimited shipboard use. The technical point of contact is Mr. Don
Cross, NAVSEA 03K, (703) 602-9121 ext 228.
- K-Flex ECO Pipe Insulation - The current
Calcium Silicate insulation used onboard ship is heavy and very difficult to install.
Fleet maintenance personnel and shipbuilders re looking for new materials that will
meet the requirements and yet be less costly to install. A test section of K-Flex
ECO Insulation was installed on USS RUSHMORE for at sea tests. This insulation is
targeted to temperature ranges up to 250 degrees F. Upon completion of the ship's
deployment, the condition of the insulation will be appraised for potential Navy use.
The technical point of contact for this project is Mr. Rich Dempsey, NAVSEA Code
03M3, (703) 602-0145 ext. 102.
- DDG-51 Class Louvers - The design of an
the materials used in the 47 intake louvers on each of the inservice DDG-51 guided Missile
Destroyers has proven to be very susceptible to corrosion. A wide variety of
coatings and surface treatment methods have been used unsuccessfully to date. At the
request of COMNAVSURFLANT and CINCLANTFLT, MTTC obtained a set of test louvers and had
them powder coated using a fluidized bed method. These louvers were delivered back
to the USS COOK for extensive at-sea testing. The technical point of contact for
this project is Mr. David Barlett, CINCLANTFLT Science Advisor, (757) 836-3755.
SURFLANT will track the status of these test units. COMPLETE
- Tri-Tec Remote Valve Actuators - Current
remote valve actuators suffer from poor reliability, are very difficult to accurately set
and maintain and do not physically fit in some applications. This project will
assess the performance of a new design remote valve actuator developed by Tri-Tec, Inc.
performance variables, including torque, valve limit adjustments, electronic
control interoperability and reliability will be monitored. The initial target
application is the JP-5 system on Aircraft Carriers. The technical point of contact
for this project is Mr. Jim Ried, NAVSEA Code SEA-03L, (703) 602-9711 ext. 111.
- ECOTHERM Pipe Insulation - This project
is being conducted in conjunction with the K-Flex ECO Insulation described in a previous
project. ECOTHERM is a fibrous insulation that may be used to replace the current
Calcium Silicate insulation in high temperature (250-1000 degrees F.) applications.
In this project, selected portions of high temperature piping on a test ship will be
observed under normal operating conditions at sea for an extended period. Based on
the results of this test, NAVSEA will make a determination on shipboard use.
Technical point of contact is Mr. Rich Dempsey, NAVSEA Code SEA-03M3, (703) 602-0145, ext
102.
Points of Contact
For additional information on Navy news and projects
contact Dick Gilbert by e-mail [email protected]
or Bob Zangmeister, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, at
(502) 364-5014 or email [email protected]. |
