Airport Pollution and Glycol ReCycling Systems Airports consume vast amounts of ADF (antiicing/deicing fluid deicer / Glycol) in winter keeping runways free from ice and snow and aircraft safe to fly. In an attempt to contain the glycol for recycling some operators have been installing inflatable bladder containment systems under the runways. However, instead of using the bladders as an emergency standby device, we have found that the bladders have inappropriately been specified for permanent inflation. Our founder and inventor of the antipollution bladder Mr David Cole can readily testify that this use is simply inviting disaster, as just like an airbag in a car, bladders were never intended or designed for permanent inflation but just for the containment in the case of emergencies. They are fine for containing spills of aviation fuel and/or firewater but not for holding back tons of glycol. He fears that failure if it has not already happened is inevitable at some point, and the consequences could be catastrophic resulting in serious environmental pollution, loss of valuable glycol, a spill of fuel or firewater. The demand for a more permanent containment technology from industry drove use to invent the now award winning FlapstopperTM back in 2008. The FlapstopperTM as its name implies is an automated heavy duty flap valve that retains many of the key features of the bladders – i.e. low costs and retro fit ability but is features many enhancements the most important being durability and the ability to remain locked in the closed state making the valve fail safe, something a bladder could never be!
Unlike the bladders the FlapstopperTM can also be made to fit any profile of drain or outfall, even square bottomed channels – something again a bladder could never seal. Also the Flapstopper TM can be opened and closed almost an unlimited number of times and unlike the larger bladders does not require repacking. In summary, by fitting FlapstoppersTM in strategic locations a reliable and cost effective glycol containment and recycling system can be created which can also double as a pollution containment system. With our integrated wireless technology the valves can be opened and closed remotely at the push of a button and even made to perform regular self tests, with autoreporting of issues. The
telemetry system can also be integrated into the airports fire control system enabling the valves to close during an incident to contain firewater