Nor-Ray-Vac heats world’s largest private hangar

Servicing and maintaining planes as big as Boeing Business Jet 737s for private clients requires a sizeable building. The 8000m² hangar at Luton Airport operated by Signature Flight Support is believed to be the largest private aircraft hangar in the world. With an 80m wide door at the front and a 25m roof height, it can easily accommodate the larger private jets, or up to 10 smaller planes.

Heating the vast, high-roofed building economically is a challenge. Quinn Ross consultants of Sittingbourne worked with the Architects Co-Partnership Ltd to design a heating system that would effectively counter the influx of cold air experienced when the doors opened, yet run at a relatively low rate of fuel consumption.

A Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant tube heating system from AmbiRad was specified. With 16 no. 46LR and eight 38LR burners, the system is suspended at 15m above floor level. It is zoned into three separate areas, each controlled by black box sensors and time controls, allowing Signature Flight Support the flexibility to heat only those areas where work is being carried out.

As radiant heating warms only people and objects in its path, the system does not waste energy in heating the entire volume of air within the hangar, ensuring very economical operation for the size of building.

In addition, the heaters can be used to defrost planes that have been standing outside in winter to assist their maintenance year-round.

Derek Quinlan of Quinn Ross comments: “This is an excellent heating solution in an otherwise difficult-to-heat application. The AmbiRad heaters very effectively maintain comfort temperatures within this vast building.”

Web: www.ambirad.co.uk