Automated Fueling for the Jet-Age Airport

The underground fueling system at John F. Kennedy International Airport provides for handling as many as 28 segregations of fuel. These fuels are transferred from a main or bulk storage area, laid out to accommodate 90 large tanks to a satellite or day tank area which is 2 miles closer to the terminals and consists of 40 small tanks. Identity of product by supplier and grade must be maintained in transferring fuel from the bulk to satellite tanks in five pipe-line transfer systems. Reassignment of tankage in both areas and pipe lines is made possible by flexible arrangement of mechanical equipment and piping. Control of the transfer requires automated valves, pumps, tank gauging, and other equipment in both tank farms. To provide supervision and control of this complex system, a data control system was designed, consisting of a GE 412 digital computer, solid-state supervisory system, and backup manual control. The real-time program incorporates many safety checks and alarms and the capability of matching the flexibility of the mechanical system without program changes.