Hydrant System
Haneda International Airport with four runways in operation has the largest aircraft handling capacity in Japan.
The enormous quantity of aviation fuel used in this airport is transported by oil tankers from refineries in Japan to our berth, where it is unloaded to the receiving facility and stored in the storage tanks, and then pumped to the apron where the aircraft sits.
This system is called “Aviation Fuel Hydrant System” or simply “Hydrant System,” and makes the aircraft refueling operation more efficient. Most of the pipelines with a total length of about 40 km are laid underground so that they will not cause any disruption on the roads and runways at the airport.
1 Aviation Fuel Tanker
An oil tanker dedicated for aviation fuel transportation with a loading capacity of about 2,000 kl to 5,000 kl.
2 Unloading Arm
An unloading arm is used to connect the fuel delivery port of the tanker to the fuel receiving port at the berth. We closely monitor for fuel leakages, as well as the pressure and flowrate in the receiving pipeline.
3 Strainer
A strainer is a filter to remove dust and impurities, which is attached to a pipeline, refueling vehicle, etc.
4 Filter Separator
A filter separator is used to remove water and impurities from the fuel. Aviation fuel is filtered twice, once when brought into the fuel storage tanks and again when delivered.
5 Fuel Storage Tank
A floating roof tank with cover to store received aviation fuel, each with a capacity of 8,000 kl to 9,800 kl.
6 Pump
This pump is used to refuel the aircraft. Fuel is pumped at a specified flowrate (at the optimum pressure) using a VVVF (Variable Voltage Variable Frequency) motor that automatically varies the rotation rate.
7 Header
An underground pit installed at the connection points between the main and branch pipelines. A header contains a variety of devices, such as a surge pressure absorber, fuel flow routing, shut down, and other valves, and low-point drain for checking the fuel quality
8 Hydrant Valve
A hydrant valve is used to connect the hydrant pipeline with a refueling vehicle.
9 Servicer
A vehicle that receives fuel from the hydrant valve and refuels the aircraft, which contains a variety of devices, such as a final aviation fuel filter, a flowmeter that measures the loading amount, and a pressure control gauge.