Protoc 300 TOC at Manchester Airport
Environmental Monitoring at Manchester International Airport
Manchester Airport Group (MAG) has placed a number of significant purchase orders for the supply of water quality instrumentation. The most recent, is a bespoke analyser kiosk to provide continuous surface water quality measurement at the new Terminal Two Apron.
These most recent purchase orders reaffirms MAG’s commitment to continuous environmental monitoring and further strengthens the close working relationship with Pollution & Process Monitoring Ltd (PPM), who manufacture their analysers in the United Kingdom.
Mark Stewart (Water Services Advisor)
comments: “PPM has a proven track record at Manchester Airport over the last 15 years. The reliability of their Protoc TOC technology and the quality of their service support, were key considerations. I am delighted that the Airport took note of these factors when placing the latest order since the Protoc technology and the quality of PPM’s customer service is integral to our environmental compliance. In addition we are standardising our instrumentation across the site reducing our operational maintenance cost”.
Protoc 300 TOC Analysers Measuring Surface Water Quality
Whilst alternative instrumentation has been considered and previously used at the Airport, the Protoc technology has reliably outperformed over an extended period of time. Additionally, since the Protoc TOC analyser technology measures continuously with a fast response rather than intermittently, the instruments are ideal for real-time valve control.
Pollution & Process Monitoring also has a wealth of experience in providing the complete system rather than just the analytical instrument. Mark has therefore commended PPM on their ability to deliver and engineer complete monitoring system which include sample delivery and preparation systems designed for the application. Mark also acknowledges “the ability of PPM to attend site to perform routine maintenance and schedule analyser reagents delivery, has also improved operational performance and minimised operator intervention”.
Ethylene Glycol Detection in Surface Water
The purpose of the water quality instrumentation is to provide continuous measurement and control of the surface water runoff lagoons adjacent to the runways. During the coldest winter months, planes, aprons and runways need to be sprayed with antifreeze agents to keep the Airport operational. Surface water containing Aircraft de-icing fluid (PE Glycol) and pavement anti–icer (Potassium Acetate) is diverted to sewer to protect the local environment. The Protoc TOC monitors continuously measure water quality and ultimately controls the diversion process. The original installation comprised four Protoc TOC analysers which were supplied October 1999 through Crown House Engineering during construction of Runway 2. A further analyser was then added to protect Sugar Brook another tributary to the river Bollin adjacent to Runway 2.
A later order included the supply of five new Protoc 300 TOC analyers which also have the Environment Agency’s Mcerts certification. Two analysers replaced the original instruments on runway 2. These instruments measure the discharge of clean surface water into to the river Bollin, after passing through a series of balancing ponds, and when require activate diversion. two further analysers were installed on the final discharge point from a 72,000 m3 reservoir combined with flow measurement offering information on the ‘Total Loading’. Additionally, a further instrument was installed on runway 1, catchment ‘D’ Badger Brook tributary to Cotterill Clough Brook SSSI close to the Airports Visitors Centre. These instruments were installed onto pre-formed PVC panels at the new locations to simplify site installation. The extent of the continuous monitoring has now been increased which will provide an even more proactive approach to environmental compliance monitoring and site discharge control.
Phase 1 investment ensured that Manchester Airport Group continued to be responsible in their environmental approach and manage the site’s surface water discharge according to measured water quality. The most recent installation of Protoc TOC analysers has taken place during late 2024 at Manchester International Airport.
The large walk-in analyser kiosk houses three Protoc analyser systems complete withsample preparation and sample acquisition and has been installed at the reservoir location as a new upgraded fully engineered, analyser kiosk.Two analysers provide measurement duplication, of the final discharge to the river Bollin and are range 0-100mg/L TOC. A third Protoc analyser system is ranged 0-4,000mg/L TOC and measures the diverted effluent to the United Utilities trade sewer. This real-time measurement system uses a multiplication factor to report the effective COD with a fast speed of response. An automatic sampler also takes discrete sample and creates a daily composite sample which is analysed, using the traditional laboratory method.
The total number of Protoc TOC analysers now installed at strategic locations across the Airport is ten and additional instrumentation includes two pH meters and an automatic refrigerated sampler. The Protoc analyser technology has been used extensively in the United Kingdom to monitor and control surface water discharge. Installations at other Airports include Newcastle, Leeds/Bradford, East Midlands, Birmingham, Luton, Gatwick Airports and extend to the far north of Scotland at Wick and Inverness; Internationally at Prague, Warsaw and as far west as Seattle.
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