Case Study: NJK Precision Solves Jet-Fuel Sensor Contamination at Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) opened in 2020 and operates 24/7 in one of the harshest outdoor-air environments in commercial aviation: constant exposure to airborne jet-fuel particulates. These particulates create a sticky residue that accumulates on legacy airflow-sensor technologies, leading to premature failure, recurring maintenance, and costly hidden energy waste.
After years of sensor drift, escalating energy waste, and compromised control performance, SLC selected NJK Precision's next-generation airflow measurement technology to restore accuracy, eliminate contamination-driven drift, and deliver validated, measurable results.
"We fought our OA sensors for years. They drifted constantly and we had no way to know how far off they were until systems started over-ventilating. After installing NJK, the difference was immediate. The readings stabilized, the VFDs responded properly, and our maintenance burden dropped to almost zero. NJK finally gave us the accuracy and reliability we needed."
— SLC Facilities Team
Project Highlights
76
Air Handling Units
296 ac
Terminal & Concourse Area
4M sq ft
Full-Scale Program Scope
$202K
Projected Annual Energy Savings
1.5 yr
Simple Payback Period
718 MT
CO₂ Reduced Annually
The Problem: Contamination-Induced Drift
SLC's mechanical systems include 76 AHUs serving more than 296 acres of terminal and concourse space. All units were equipped with bead-in-glass suspended-tube thermal dispersion airflow sensors — devices highly susceptible to fouling, failure, and drift in contaminated environments.
Legacy suspended-tube sensors rarely fail abruptly. Instead, they fail gradually as residue builds on the probe wires, causing under-reported airflow. The BAS interprets this as insufficient ventilation and compensates by:
Over-opening outdoor-air dampers
Increasing fan speed via VFDs
Driving up heating loads in winter
Extending cooling runtimes in summer
The Invisible Energy Penalty
Even a 5% drift can cause substantial over-ventilation. At SLC, many sensors had drifted 15–20% or more, with no alarms triggered. A Rocky Mountain Power study confirmed that SLC was introducing 62% minimum outside air during winter — far above design requirements — due entirely to failed OA sensors.
Implementation Details
Pilot installation on AHU 20-A3E07 completed in April 2024
Bead-in-glass sensors replaced with NJK airflow stations
Weather-bin analysis performed for M&V; supply fan VFD data evaluated using TMY3 data
Gas savings calculated via OA-percentage modeling
Minimum OA levels validated via mixed-air, return-air, and OA-temperature mapping
Accurate airflow measurement enabled VFDs to modulate to real conditions, eliminating chronic over-ventilation
Successful Pilot Drives Full-Scale Program
Based on pilot results, SLC elected to implement a full-scale program spanning 4 million square feet across seven buildings: TRM-20, CAW-21, CAE-22, CBW-41, CBW-42, CUP-60, and GWY-30.
Validated savings in the pilot project qualified SLC for two utility incentives, directly funding the modernization effort.
Project Financials
Annual Reductions
Electricity
868,706 kWh
$64,163 / year
Natural Gas
20,954 Dth
$137,758 / year
Carbon
718 MT CO₂
Annually
Why NJK Technology Works in Airports
NJK's Hybrid airflow-measurement architecture replaces fragile wires and suspended tubes with a robust, parallel-flow design that resists particulate fouling and maintains long-term accuracy.
No Fouling Mechanisms
No thin hot wires, beads, or tubes suspended in the airstream — nothing for particulates to accumulate on.
Parallel-Flow Sensor Geometry
The NJK DLS sensor frame with active airfoils installs easily upstream or downstream of the damper, with minimal pressure drop.
Drift-Free Performance
Any obstruction generates an immediate, fail-visible indication — not a slow, invisible drift. The problem is obvious. The fix is quick.
Zero Field Recalibration
No periodic recalibration required — critical in hard-to-access mechanical rooms.
True VFD Control Stability
Accurate OA data restores proper modulation, reducing both electric and heating/cooling energy consumption.
Minimal Pressure Drop
Essential for large airport AHUs where added resistance increases fan energy load.
Conclusion
Salt Lake City International Airport demonstrated what many airports are now confirming: traditional probe-style sensors cannot survive jet-fuel particulate environments — nor can they deliver long-term accuracy.
NJK eliminates drift, resists contamination, and restores true control integrity, providing both immediate and long-term operational and energy benefits. For airports where reliability, efficiency, and uptime are mission-critical, NJK Precision advanced airflow measurement technology has become the clear choice.
Related Product
NJK Precision — Airflow Measurement Stations
21 patents. Domestic manufacturing. Recalibration-free. If your legacy sensors are failing your building, NJK Precision is the replacement worth specifying.
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