11.4 - Air Conditioning Flashcards
What resources of air are there on an aircraft? (2 in flight and on ground, 1 on ground only)
- Engine bleed air
- Auxiliary power unit
- High pressure ground connectors
What 3 types of air can be taken from the engine?
- Fan air
- Intermediate Pressure
- High pressure
What does the check valve on the intermediate pressure stage protect against, and when is it used?
Protects the compressor from back flow (compressor stalls), when air is being taken from the high pressure stage
What does the fan air valve do?
Allows more or less fan air to pass the precooler
Through what 2 methods (one manual, one automatic), is control of the pneumatic system achieved?
- Pneumatic control panel in flight deck
- Pneumatic controller
How many pneumatic controllers is there on each engine bleed air system?
One on each engine
What areas of the aircraft does the air conditioning pressurise? [4]
- Passenger compartment
- All cargo compartments
- Flight deck
- Avionic compartments
How often must cabin air be exchanged to ensure freshness?
Every 3 - 5 minutes
What 2 devices are fitted to keep air clean?
- Air filters
- Ozone converters (at high altitudes)
What is the permitted temperature range to ensure passenger comfort?
18-30 degrees C
Why is water separated from the air? (2 reasons)
- Prevents parts and valves freezing
- Stops fog and water droplets forming in the cabin
What is considered the ideal cabin altitude?
8000 feet
What valve regulates the flow of bleed air from the pneumatic system into the air conditioning system?
Pack valves
What do air conditioning packs do to pneumatic bleed air?
Cool it to a basic temperature
What does the mixing unit, mix?
Cool air from the packs with recirculated cabin air
What is trim air?
A certain amount of hot air that comes from up stream of the packs that makes the final adjustment to the temperature of the air leaving the mixing unit
What do pack controllers regulate?
The temperature of cold air leaving the pack
What 3 functions do zone controllers have?
- Regulate the amount of trim air mixed with cold air from the packs
- Regulate temperature by comparing actual cabin temperature with selected zone temperature set by flight crew
- Define the temperature of the cooler air and send this info to the pack controller
Where are there air conditioning packs, valves and mixing units located on the aircraft?
In the centre wing box area
What are the 3 types of cooling device found on the aircraft?
- Heat exchanger
- Air cycle machine
- Vapour cycle machine
What is the disadvantage of heat exchangers?
They do not have sufficient power to cool all of the cabin air, especially on the ground
When are Vapour cycle machines used?
When engine bleed air is not available
What does a pack check valve do?
Prevents backflow into the pack when the pack is shutdown
What type of valve is a pack valve and how is it controlled? [2]
- Venturi-type butterfly valve
- Controlled by a Solenoid
How is a pack valve operated and how is it held closed? [2]
- Pneumatically operated
- Spring loaded to closed position
In what 3 situations is the Pack Valve controlled to close? (Shut-off function)
- When the fire handle is pulled
- During engine start
- When the pack switch is operated
What indicates if a Pack valve is fully open or closed?
An in built micro-switch
What does the Pack Valve manual override allow?
The pack valve to be locked in the closed position
What happens to the Pack Valve when the electrical power supply is lost?
It opens automatically (fail-safe philosophy)
If an aircraft is fully loaded with passengers, what setting is selected on the Push button on the flight deck air conditioning panel?
Hi flow (Pack Valve opens further)
If an aircraft is not fully loaded with passengers, what setting is selected on the Push button on the flight deck air conditioning panel?
Low Flow (Pack Valve closes partially)
On aircraft capable of selecting High, Medium and LO airflow, what is the percentage of airflow supplied to the cabin for each?
- High=Over 100%
- Medium=100%
- LO=80%
How many heat exchangers do modern Packs have?
2
What is the advantage of mounting heat exchangers close together?
Only one cooling duct is necessary
What are the 3 primary components of an air cycle machine?
- Compressor
- Turbine
- Fan
Why is lubrication of air cycle machines limited?
They use air bearings
What does the Bypass valve in the pack do?
Adjusts temperature in the pack by determining the air mass to the turbine
What type of valve is the bypass valve in the pack?
Butterfly type (with a manual override)
How is the bypass valve in the pack always operated?
Electrically by the Pack controller
What happens to the bypass valve in the pack if turbine outlet temperature is too high?
It closes more
What happens to the bypass valve in the pack if turbine outlet temperature is too low?
It opens more
What does the position of the ram air door effect?
The cooling effect of the heat exchangers
What 3 positions can the ram air door be in?
- Open
- Modulating
- Closed
What type of intake is the ram air inlet?
NACA type air intake
What is used to open and close ram air inlet and exit doors?
Electrically driven actuators
Why is a fan required as part of the ram air system?
For ground use as there is no ram effect
Which two systems can be used to separate water?
- High Pressure loop
- Low Pressure loop
Where is separated water sent?
To the ram air inlet duct to increase heat exchanger cooling efficiency