By William J. Angelo

New infrared airplane deicing technology is slowly making its way into the marketplace as concerns mount over the adverse environmental impact of glycol runoff. The system may take off next year if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tightens glycol regulations.

The latest and biggest of four facilities built so far using the patented InfraTek Radiant Energy Deicing System, has just wrapped up at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Developed by Radiant Energy Corp., Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, the system was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1997 but was slow to catch on as airports focused time and money on security in the post-9/11 world.

Controlled. Energy processing units convert natural or propane gas into infrared heat.

InfraTek consists of a fixed, hangar-like steel-framed structure containing energy processing units that generate infrared heat from natural or propane gas. A burner box controls the combustion process and directs the flame into a heat exchanger consisting of two heater tubes, which convert the raw heat into infrared energy. The relationship between the tubes determines the wavelength that melts and evaporates ice and snow without harming the aircraft.

EPU's are mounted in racks of four with two at a time cycling on and off. "The cycling allows us to maintain the energy distribution pattern at all power levels," says Tim Seel, Radiant's engineering manager and InfraTek's inventor.

A facility can be designed around any sized aircraft. In severe weather some glycol may be applied for anti-icing before leaving the facility. "Its directional heating so you don't have to heat the whole structure," says Colin V.F. Digout, Radiant president. "At [another facility in Newark. N.J.] they have reported 80% to 90% reduction in glycol usage.

About 200 U.S. airports deice aircraft using ethylene or propylene glycol, which costs about $6 a gallon. It depletes oxygen in water, causing problems for aquatic life and at treatment plants. Deicing fluid also has toxic corrosion inhibitors. Hundreds of gallons can be used on one plane.

EPA is considering rulemaking as early as next year. "We are collecting information to determine if there should be a wastewater regulation," says Debra J. Nicoll, EPA effluent guidelines deputy director. EPA estimates that about 21 million gallons of deicing fluid were discharged to surface water in 2002.

	Space. Facilities can be constructed to fit any size plane. The biggest so far is in New York.

At JFK, all airlines can use the $9.5- million, 68,644-sq-ft, 84-ft high facility. It contains 1,760 burners and became operational in April. InfraTek was chosen after Radiant made an unsolicited proposal to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which previously had done a study for a centralized deicing facility. "FAA came up with 75% of the funding and the rest came from a 20-year payback deal based on deicing charges," says Henry W. Hessing, project manager at URS, which acted as a consultant. The project was designed by D.Y. Consultants, Roslyn Heights, N.Y., and built by Sullivan & Nickel, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Right now, airlines are responsible for deicing [at JFK] but if regulations change...the airlines will have to collect and recycle the glycol," says Hessing.