Challenge

RAF Brize Norton is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, working on worldwide operations and is home to the RAF’s entire Strategic and Tactical Air Transport (AT) and Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) forces. A new heating and ventilation (HVAC) solution creates high levels of energy efficiency resulting in very significant cost savings.

The previous warm air heating installation at Base Hangar was considered to be very inefficient, with gas costs having risen from £327K in 2004 to £400K by 2006, and to £800K by 2012. This unsustainable situation had to be tackled.

The air base is situated on an exposed site and internal conditions change rapidly when hangar doors are opened. 

Key criteria

  • Economy - cost savings over its life cycle
  • Effectiveness - highly efficient
  • Rapid heat recovery times

An aircraft hangar environment is too hostile for some forms of heating – warm air heating, for example, would consume excessive amounts of fuel in attempting to heat the entire volume of air in the hangar, and would create high levels of temperature stratification. This volume of warm air would then be replaced instantly with colder external air when the doors are open to allow aircraft movement in and out, especially since many aircraft maintenance operations take place at night.

Blanket heat coverage is an essential requirement in aircraft hangars. The ideal heating system – which is economical and effective – should be capable of heating the complete hangar area, but should also be able to be zoned by design to heat specific areas when and where necessary.

Solution

AmbiRads’ Nor-Ray-Vac radiant tube heating meets all of these challenging requirements.

  • One of the most energy efficient forms of space heating available
  • Burns fuel (natural gas or LPG) at the point of use
  • No loss of efficiency in distributing heat around the building
  • Warmth felt by personnel is less affected by cold air influx through doors opening and closing
  • System can rapidly respond to changing conditions

Nor-Ray-Vac has been used extensively across many civilian and military hangars, including two previous installations at RAF Brize Norton – Air Tanker Hangar and C-130J Hangar.

Nortek worked closely with RAF Brize Norton, and SSE Contracting who installed the solution, to achieve uniform blanket heat coverage, minimising cold spots and creating zoning capabilities throughout the hangar to achieve considerable fuel economies.

The AmbiRad Nor-Ray-Vac solution delivers flexibility as well as leading to cost reductions, with a potential 75% in savings over the previous warm air system.

Installation summary

AmbiRad Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant tube system:

  • Uniform blanket heat coverage
  • Highly efficient with rapid heat recovery times
  • Zoning capabilities
  • Operative temperatures 20°C
  • Potential savings of 75% equivalent to 2,170 metric tonnes of CO²

Technical summary

  • Product: AmbiRad Nor-Ray-Vac system installed at 15.5m above finished floor level
  • Heaters: 102 x 46LR Nor-Ray-Vac burners in 24 zones and 12 discharge fans

Outcome

“Following the installation of the new AmbiRad Nor-Ray-Vac radiant heating system into Base Hangar at RAF Brize Norton the complexion of the environment has changed significantly. The improved heating in conjunction with a program of refurbishment has transformed Base Hangar into a more welcoming and pleasant working environment for the different users of the facility. I am sure also that RAF Brize Norton will see a significant heat efficiency saving from Base Hangar which will not only see running costs reduced which is good for the taxpayer but also there will be benefits to the environment also."

– Chief Technician David Craven GCGI MinstLM, Base Hangar Operations Manager, RAF Brize Norton