Atlas Copco Rental Delivers Clear Air For Latest Airport Development

Online, August 1, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Among the advanced development features of the all-new airport is its aircraft fuelling system. The aviation fuel depot vat the airport supplied by a pipeline from Izmit Tupras Rafinery. Previously, the fuel was supplied from the depot to aircraft by refueling tankers. Because of the growth of in the number of passengers using Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport this system was replaced by installing an approximately 15000 meter long aviation fuel hydrant system comprising dual pipe loops and 112 no. hydrants located on each passenger aircraft parking stand and on the cargo apron. The fuel is supplied to the aircraft using mobile fuelling dispensers. The new hydrant fuelling system allows 6 aircraft to be filled simultaneously at the overall flow rate of 720m3/hour.

Direct fuelling considerably reduces demands upon the service infrastructure of the airport, with a centralized control of all fuel supplied to aircraft. Safety is also enhanced, the removal of fuelling tankers reducing traffic servicing the aircraft.

The 73km pipeline from the refinery connects to a fuel depot on the outskirts of the airport. This depot feeds directly into a ring pipeline that connects each of the dedicated fuelling rigs on the airport. Over some 50 days, a new shorter pipeline connection to the airport was subject to a full pressure and leak test, followed by a dewatering and cleaning procedure using compressed air. This testing, preparation and cleaning process demands a reliable supply of clean, dry, oil-free Class 0-certified (acc. To ISO 8573-1) compressed air. Of equal importance, a strict schedule demanded there were no delays during this pre-commissioning operation and that the whole system was completely free of contamination.

Atlas Copco Specialty Rental have proven expertise in the supply of compressors for this type of work, so were chosen by the commissioning contractors to supply equipment for the job. An Atlas Copco PTS 916 compressor and CD47 desiccant dryer were selected for the task, along with necessary ancillary equipment.

Constructed by a consortium comprising Limak Holding of Turkey (40%), GMR Group of India (40%) and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (20%), Sabiha Gokcen Airport is set for further growth, a new 60m-wide second runway being scheduled for completion in 2012. This will enable the airport to accommodate the giant Airbus A380 in the near future. The integrated fuelling system will help ensure theses giants of the air are fuelled and ready to fly in double quick time.