AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

What are the properties of an Air conditioning system?

Air conditioning systems are systems used to maintain cabin,
cockpit and freight air in a suitable condition for occupants.
Air-conditioning includes the separate control of: Ventilation,
Temperature, Velocity Humidification and Filtration

Explain the Combustion Heating system

This system normally has a ram air supply and relies on its
operation on the combustion of a fuel/air mixture within a
cylindrical combustion chamber. The Ram air is augmented
with an air blower.

Fuel is metered from the aircraft fuel system through a solenoid

valve. The fuel/air mixture is ignited in the combustion chamber
and the burnt gases swirl through the heat transfer passages
before being exhausted to atmosphere.

The gas swirling aids combustion and ensures that the gases
impact against the chamber and passage walls to allow the
maximum transfer of heat. The ram air supply flows over the
outside of the combustion chamber where it absorbs the heat
before entering the cabin.
The temperature is controlled manually by setting a control
valve. The control valve is located downstream of the
combustion chamber. It controls the amount of air flow over the
combustion chamber. The slower the airflow the more heat is
absorbed and the hotter the airflow is when it enters the cabin.

The on switch will operate the: Blower, fuel supply and Ignition
simultaneously.

Label the component, Name and Explain how the Air

condition system (DISPLAYED).

The main hot air supply drives the turbine which is coupled to a
compressor. The hot air supply is also fed directly downstream
to the temperature control valves.
As the air passes through the turbine it “does work” and its
temperature decreases This air then passes through the
evaporator where it is cooled further (as the refrigerant absorbs
the heat.)
This cold air is then fed to the temperature control valves where
it is controlled before it enters the distribution system.
List the service equipment for an Air Conditioning system
and explain their functions
1.Manifold Set
2.Recycling/Recovery Equipment.
3.Vacuum Pump
4.Leak Detector

Manifold Set
The manifold set consists of:
1. three fittings to which the service hoses are attached,
2. two hand valves with O-ring seals, and
3. two gauges, one for measuring the pressure in the low side
of the system and one for the pressure in the high side.
The low-side gauge has a pressure range of 60psi (below that of
atmosphere) to 60psi gauge pressure above the atmospheric,
making it a compound gauge.
The high side gauge is a high-pressure gauge with a pressure
range from zero up to around 600psi, gauge pressure.
The set connect:
1. The valves,
2. The gauges and
3. The charging hoses.
The low side gauge is connected to the low side fitting through
the manifold. Likewise, the high side gauge to the high side
fitting through the manifold
The centre fitting can be isolated from both gauges and from the
high and low fittings using the hand valves. When the hand
valves are turned fully clockwise, the centre fitting is isolated.
When the low side hand valve is turned fully counter clockwise,
the centre fitting is open to the low side gauge and low side
service line.
When the high side hand valve is turned fully counter
clockwise, the centre fitting is open to the high side gauge and
high side service line.
The charging hoses are attached to the fittings of the manifold
set for servicing the system.
The high side fitting may be located either at:
1. The compressor discharge,
2. The receiver-dryer, or
3. On the inlet side of the thermal expansion valve
The low-side service valve may be located at:
1. The compressor inlet, or
2. The discharge side of the expansion valve.

Recycling/Recovery Equipment.
The centre hose attaches to the recovery/recycling/vacuum unit
for evacuating the system, or to the refrigerant supply (cylinder
or can) for charging.
Charging hoses used with Schrader valves must have a pin to
depress the valve. These hoses are normally color-coded to
quickly identify them.
The high-side hose is red;
1. The low-side hose is blue, and
2. The centre hose is usually yellow

VACUUM PUMP
Just a few drops of water are all that is necessary to completely
block an air-conditioning system. If this water freezes in the
thermal expansion valve, the vapor cycle ceases.
To eliminate any water from the system, the system must be
evacuated. In this procedure, a vacuum pump is attached to the
manifold set. All the air, refrigerant and water vapor is pumped
out of the system.
A typical pump used for evacuating air-conditioning systems
pumps about 0.8 cubic foot of air per minute and will evacuate
a system to about minus 29 inches of mercury, that is, below
standard sea-level pressure.

LEAK DETECTOR
The continued operation of an air-conditioning system depends
upon the system maintaining its charge of refrigerant, and all
the charge can be lost to even a tiny leak.
Naturally a small leak of a colourless, odourless gas is difficult
to find, and without the aid of a leak detector, it would be
almost impossible.
The simplest of leak detector is a soap solution. A relatively
thick solution of soap chips and water is applied with a
paintbrush to any part of the system where a leak is suspected.
Bubbles will indicate the presence of a leak.
The most acceptable type of leak detector for aircraft air-
conditioning servicing is an electronic oscillator that produces
an audible tone.
The presence of Refrigerant will cause the frequency to increase
to a high-pitched squeal. This type of detector is recommended
because it is both safe and sensitive.
A good electronic leak detector can detect leaks as small as one-
half ounce per year.
Name and explain how the below diagram work
TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM

It is designed to automatically modulate actuator motors which

control valves.
It comprises of:
- A duct temperature sensor
- A cabin temperature sensor
- A temperature selector
- Automatic control unit
These components are electrically interconnected to form a
resistance bridge circuit which only is in balance when cabin air
temperature is at the selected value.
If bridge circuit is out of balance by a resistance change in
either of the sensing elements due to temperature variation or by
varying the selector switch setting, an error signal is produced
which is fed to an amplifier stage of the control unit.
The amplified signal is then fed to the actuator motor (TCV
Actuator) which position’s the valve to adjust the airflows and
so correct the temperature change until the bridge circuit is
restored to a balanced condition
This re-balancing is achieved by the heat sensor sensing the
new air temperature changing its resistance and balancing the
bridge.
When the bridge is balanced, the actuator stops moving and the
temperature control valve is held at its new position
Low temperature and high temperature limit control devices are
also provided and ensure that upper limits and lower limits of
supply air temperature are not exceeded.
 AIRCRAFT PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM

What are the 4 modes of controlling cabin pressurization?

1. Selective pressurise mode

2. Isobaric mode
3. Constant differential pressure mode
4. Un-pressurised mode

Briefly explain the operation of the safety valve

incorporated in the system

There are 2 main parts to the pressure regulator are:

The head complete with:
1. reference chamber,
2. isobaric and
3. differential control systems and
The base complete with:
1. outflow valve actuator diaphragm and
2. balance diaphragm
The balance diaphragm extends outwards from the baffle plate
to the outer face of the outflow valve, creating an air chamber
between the fixed baffle plate and the outer face of the outflow
valve.
Cabin air flowing into this chamber through holes in the side of
the outflow valve exerts a force against the outer face of the
valve that tries to open it.
This force is opposed by the pilot spring around the valve pilot
which tries to hold the valve closed.
The actuator diaphragm extends outwards from the inner face of
the outflow valve to the head assembly, creating an air chamber
between the two.
Air from the head and reference chamber section exert a force
against the inner face of the outflow valve assisting the pilot
spring to hold the valve closed.
The position of the outflow valve controls the amount of cabin
air that is allowed to flow out of the pressure vessel(cabin) and
it is this that controls the cabin pressure.
The position of the outflow valve is determined by the amount
of the reference chamber pressure (cabin air pressure) acting
internally on the outflow valve in comparison to the cabin air
pressure acting on its outer face.

THE ISOBARIC CONTROL SYSTEM

The isobaric control system incorporates an:
1. evacuated capsule,
2. a rocker arm and
3. a spring-loaded metering valve.

One end of the rocker arm is connected to the head by the

evacuated capsule (bellows) while the other end of the arm
holds the metering valve closed against a passage in the head.
The metering valve spring tries to push the metering valve
open. An adjuster control acts on the rocker arm and adjusts
both the metering valve spring tension and the evacuated
capsule
When the cabin air pressure increases enough for the reference
pressure to compress the evacuated capsule the rocker arm
pivots about its fulcrum. The metering valve opens an amount
proportional to the compression of the capsule.
Reference air pressure exhausts to atmosphere through the
atmospheric chamber
Cabin pressure acting on the outflow valve overcomes the pilot
spring pressure and the outflow valve opens. Excess cabin
pressures exhaust through the open outflow valve.
When the reference pressure and the cabin pressure equalise,
the metering valve closes, and the evacuated capsule expands to
its original size. The reference pressure and pilot spring
pressure overcome the cabin pressure and the outflow valve
closes

DIFFERENTIAL CONTROL SYSTEM

The differential control system within the cabin pressure
regulator incorporates: a rocker arm, a spring-loaded metering
valve and a diaphragm One end of the rocker arm connects the
diaphragm to the valve head
The diaphragm forms a pressure sensitive face between the
reference chamber and the atmospheric chamber. It is set to the
differential pressure limit of the aircraft
Atmospheric pressure acts on one side of the diaphragm and
reference pressure acts on the other. The other end of the rocker
arms supports a spring loaded metering valve which is held
closed under spring pressure
When reference chamber pressure increases to the differential
pressure set above the decreasing atmospheric pressure it
collapses the diaphragm
The rocker arm pivots about its fulcrum and opens the metering
valve
Air flows from the reference chamber to the atmospheric
chamber through the open metering valve
This reduction in reference pressure opens the outflow valve
which allows excess cabin pressure to exhaust to atmosphere
Cabin pressure reduces until the differential pressure is regained
and the diaphragm re-sets itself This closes the metering valve
which in turn allows the outflow valve to close under pilot
spring and reference pressure
AIRCRAFT OXYGEN SYSTEMS – ATA 35
State the possible cause of the following Airconditioning
/Pressurization system malfunction

MALFUNCTION CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE

PACK TRIP GENERALLY AN PACK

AIRCONDITIONING TEMPERATURE
PACKAGE OVERHEAT TOO HIGH

BLEED TRIP BLEED AIR FROM ENGINE OVERHEAT

SHUT OFF

SUPPLY DUCT SUPPLY DUCT MIXING VALVE OR

OVERHEAT OVERHEATED PACK FAILURE

RAPID TOO MUCH AIR EXITING MAJOR HOLE IN

DEPRESSURIZATION CABIN THE AIRCRAFT

EXPLOSIVE ALL AIR EXITING STRUCTURAL

DEPRESSURIZATION AIRCRAFT CABIN FAILURE

SINGLE PACK LOW PRESSURIZATION INOP PACK OR

OPERATION CAPABILITIES PACKS