Refueling of Emergency Medical Helicopters is increasingly conducted on the rooftops of medical institutions where safety and reliability are an absolute necessity. MSI has established an enviable track record in this specialty market niche with successful installations at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., Fairfax INOVA Hospital in Fairfax, VA and later this month, University of Wisconsin Health in Madison, WI. MSI's modular design enables ground level offloading of transports into aboveground or underground storage by our PFT (Pump & Filtration) Module which also doubles as the booster pump for the rooftop RDS (Remote Dispensing) Module. Underground piping is typically non-metallic containment type with transition sumps while aboveground and rooftop piping is double wall stainless steel.

Expeditionary Refueling Systems are a unique specialty at Millennium Systems International. For over 20 years, MSI's senior management team has been involved in the design, development and deployment of self-contained, remote area refueling towcart systems which we call STARCARTS. Over 100 STARCARTS are in operation worldwide with the majority of them in use by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. Other clients include the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The H-14K (U.S. military) version of the STARCART is designed for both helicopter sling and air transport via C-130 or C-141 aircraft. An air- cooled Deutz Diesel Engine drives a Gorman Rupp Self- Priming Centrifugal Pump rated at flowrates in excess of 300 USGPM complete with filter/separator/monitor, flowmeter, control valve, hose reel, hose and single point nozzle. Synthetic canvas covers with Velcro fasteners provide shelter during desert sandstorms or arctic snowstorms. Underdeck storage for hoses and rooftop storage for pillow tanks makes this the ideal towcart for that next Special Ops desert mission! Click on this link for more details on MSI's Expeditionary Fueling Cart Systems.

One of the critical elements of designing a fuel system is to make certain that fluid velocity at design flowrate does not exceed 15 feet per second. Velocities in excess of this standard may increase the likelihood of problems associated with static electricity. So how can you determine if your system velocity is in compliance? Easy, use the following formula to calculate velocity in your piping system:

V = (.4085)(gpm)                                                                                        D²

Where V= velocity and D² = pipe diameter squared

For example, small airport fuel farms offload transports and bottom load refueler trucks at 200 USGPM through a 3" I.D. piping system. Substituting values in the above equation, we have:

V = (.4085 x 200 gpm)     =  9.08 ft./second                                           (3 x 3)

Velocities of 9 to 10 feet per second are close to ideal so 200 USGPM through a 3" piping system is a great selection. Check out your system with the help of this little formula!

Millennium Systems International is proud to have provided design, fabrication and installation of a large JP-5 Helicopter Fueling System for a U.S. government agency located in Southern California. The system consists of (3) 12,000 USG Convault Jet Fuel Storage Tanks, (2) 160 USGPM PFT (Pump & Filtration) Modules and (2) RDS (Remote Dispensing) Modules. The double module configuration provides 100% redundant back-up in the event of down-time due to maintenance, repairs or security incidents. Transport offloading, product recirculation and transfer between tanks as well as overwing and single point fueling and defueling of helicopters is supported by this amazingly flexible system design. Stainless steel piping is used throughout with Cla-Val fueling control valves.