Since 2000 ATMOSi has supplied Tightness Monitoring Systems for jet fuel pipelines and airport hydrant systems based on statistical algorithms applied to pressure only or pressure/temperature measurements. More recently ATMOSi has also applied the statistical approach to the pressure step method improving its reliability.
In its recommendations for the “Testing of Tightness Integrity Of Aviation Fuel Hydrant Systems”, API 1540 recommends as best practice a minimum detectable leak threshold of 0.04 litres/hour/cubic metre at a reference pressure of 7 barg. For some airports the fuel hydrant section volumes are such that the 0.04 l/hour/m3 represents an extremely small leak rate indeed, often associated with holes of 1 mm diameter. Such sensitivity is achieved with a low false alarm rate by ATMOSi’s Statistical Tightness Monitoring System (STMS) to ensure confidence in the system.
ATMOS STMS leak detection technology is widely used in liquid pipelines, monitoring approximately 200 pipelines many of which transport jet fuel over distances from as small as 100 meters to a few kilometres. ATMOSi successfully adapted and tested the STMS for airport aviation fuel hydrant systems, initially for military airports and naval bases where it has been in use since 2004. Since 2006 ATMOS STMS has been in operation in the New Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport and in the Sydney International Airport since 2010. In both cases ATMOS STMS was extensively tested during real leak trials.
ATMOS STMS was also independently tested at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) by Ken Wilcox Associated. ATMOS STMS was successful using a procedure that met the requirements of the USA Environmental Protection Agency. In all cases the minimum detectable leak threshold of 0.04 litre/hour/cubic metre threshold was achieved.
