Tracer anti-icing system for Gatwick Airport

Tracer, the engineering arm of Tyco Thermal Controls, has provided an electrical anti-icing system for the world's largest air-passenger bridge, at London Gatwick Airport.

In a full Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) project, Tracer, the engineering arm of Tyco Thermal Controls, has provided an electrical anti-icing system for the world's largest air-passenger bridge, at London Gatwick Airport.

Tracer was contracted by NG Bailey and Co, the M and E contractor for this 197 metre bridge, which is part of BAA Gatwick's GBP 100m Pier 6 extension project.

The Pier 6 extension has been designed to connect the North Terminal with 11 new aircraft stands.

Spanning a live taxiway, the passenger bridge is thirty two metres high and gives sufficient clearance for Boeing 747 aircraft to pass beneath it.

The freeze protection heat-tracing system has been installed to alleviate the risk of snow and ice falling from the underside of the structure.

The 2700 tonne bridge was constructed some 1.5km away from its final location, and then moved into position over ten days.

Tracer had to install the heat-trace cabling before the bridge was moved, as no work was permitted on the outside of the structure after it had been sited and the taxiway underneath re-opened.

From within Tyco Thermal Controls proprietary brands (Raychem, Pyrotenax, Isopad, DigiTrace etc) Tracer had an extensive choice of products and technologies from which to select the optimum solution.

For this application, it employed mechanically robust Pyrotenax mineral insulated (MI) heating elements, proven to perform well in the harshest of climatic environments.

Six heating elements, each 94 metres long, have been installed, using specially prepared stainless steel fixing strips which complement the aesthetic appearance of the bridge.

Advanced Digitrace 915 controllers are programmed to activate the anti-icing system whenever the ambient temperature falls below +5degC.

These controllers also feature a facility to programme-in automatic circuit-integrity checks during periods when the system is not active and for reassurance that it is fully functional and ready prior to winter - the period of greatest need.

Back to top