Written by Kris Land
The Sea Bird (previously the USNS New Bedford T-AKL-17) will implement many new, experimental technologies designed to lower emissions and allow the ship to run clean. Much thought has gone into this unique modification process, implementing some of the most intriguing methods available. The near future of the Sea Bird will not only stand as a lesson in ethics and conservation, but as an example of how we can 
improve our standards of living through innovation and ingenuity.
The Trouble with Modern Combustion Engines
The combustion engines of today face a complicated problem. The catalytic Method used in gasoline piston engines does not function well when exposed to pure alcohol, mineral spirits, or fuel oil. The early detonation of petroleum distillates leads to the early demise of the engine. If the burn is slowed, then fuel usage must be increased, instigating another problem and raising operating costs. In this situation, you may be surprised to learn that nearly 40 percent of the fuel put in winds up going right back out through the exhaust and consumed by your catalytic converter. The current design leaves much to be desired when it comes to both cleaner operation and lowering fuel costs.
Liquid versus Gas
In order to get the most out of every gallon of fuel used, we must learn how to more effectively transform fuel into a gas state. In order to maintain maximum burn, a liquid fuel must be converted to a gas. The liquid form does not burn. Carburetors and fuel injectors are designed to help in the conversion process. However these are not entirely efficient, and often the gas form retains some of its previous liquid state.
A small modification can help change that. By installing a close fitting pipe around a smaller threaded pipe, we
can begin to achieve nearly perfect combustion. This device is fitted with inlet and an outlet. When engine heat passes through the devices center, fuel is guided to the outer cavity. This will turn the liquid fuel into a burnable gas.
This design holds a lot of potential in the realm of fuel conservation. The design is small and can be applied in any type of engine, including diesel piston, gasoline piston, rotary and turbine engines. We can begin to use the fuel we have far more effectively without a large portion of it almost literally going up in smoke. This small addition to the standard engine could mean another victory for the environment as well as the consumers bank account.
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1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.

1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.

2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.




















