FUEL SYSTEMS

If there is any conflicting information, your FCOM shall be the overriding

reference.

Please read the footnote at the end of this page.

Q1. What is the total fuel capacity of the A320?

A1. Total Fuel capacity of the A320 :-

In Volume : 23,858 Lts.

6302 UsG

In Weight : 18,728 Kgs

41,285 lbs

Q2. What is the type of fuel used for A320?

A2. Jet A-1.

Q3. What is the normal fuel feed sequencing?

A3. The Normal Fuel Feed sequencing is as follows :-

(a) The Center Tank

(b) The Inner Tanks : Each inner tank empties down to 750 Kgs.

(c) The Outer Tanks : Fuel transfers into the Inner Tanks.

Q4. During gravity feed, which tank fuel is used?

A4. Wing Tank.

Q5. Why gravity feeding is not possible from center tank?

A5. The Center Tanks are not fitted with suction valves. Therefore, gravity
feeding is not possible from the Center Tank.

Q6. What is the maximum fuel imbalance between the left and right
wing tanks (outer + inner) for the A320?

A6. Max. allowed wing fuel imbalance :-

Heavy Tank Content Max Allowed imbalance

Full 1320 Kg

4000 kg 1450 Kg

2350 Kg 2350 Kg

(Empty on other side)

Q7. How will you know that center tanks are supplying engines?

A7. “CTR TK FEEDG” appears in Green on the E/WD if at least one Center
Tank pump is energized.

Q8. When there is a fuel in center tank with wing tanks full, why do you
get CTR TK FEEDG memo during engine start {MODE SEL at AUTO}?

A8. With MODE SEL P/b at AUTO, the Center Tank pumps run at engine start
for 2 minutes, this is why the CTR TK FEEDG Memo comes on.

Q9. What happens to the center tank pumps when SLATS are extended
after engine start, when there is a fuel in center tank with wing tanks
full (mode selector at AUTO)?

A9. When Slats are extended after engine start with MODE SEL P/b at AUTO,
the Center Tank pumps are switched off.
Q10. If all criteria for center tank fuel usage have been met, when will
the center tank pumps resume supplying after takeoff?

A10. After the Slats have been retracted.

Q11. After takeoff, “CTR TK FEEDG" appears on the E/WD. When did the
center tank fuel begin feeding the engines?

A11. After Slat Retraction.

Q12. How can you know that the cross feed valve is fully open?

A12. On the Overhead FUEL panel,

OPEN Light comes on in Green when the valve is fully open.

On the ECAM FUEL page,

The X-feed indication is Green In-Line showing valve open.

On the E/WD,

FUEL X FEED Memo appears in Green if FUEL X FEED valve P/b s/w is ON &
X FEED valve is not fully closed.

Q13. How will you detect a fuel leak?

A13. A Fuel leak may either be detected by :-

(a) The sum of FOB and F.used significantly less than FOB at departure, or
decreasing, or

(b) Passenger observation (Fuel spray from engine or wing tip), or

(c) Total Fuel quantity decreasing at an abnormal rate, or

(d) A Fuel imbalance, or

(e) A Tank emptying too fast (leak from engine, or a hole in tank), or

(f) A Tank overflowing (due to a pipe rupture in a tank), or

(g) An excessive fuel flow (leak from engine), or

(h) A Fuel smell in cabin

(i) The destination EFOB turns to Amber on the F.PLN (or on the FUEL PRED)
page, or “DEST EFOB BELOW MIN” appears on the MCDU scratchpad.

If visibility permits, a visual check from the cabin may enable identification of
the leak source.

Q14. When and how the fuel is normally transferred from the outer to
inner wing tanks?

A14. The Transfer valves automatically open when the inner tank fuel
reaches the low level (about 750 kg), thus permitting fuel to drain from the
outer to inner tanks. When open, the valves are latched open. They will
automatically close at the next refuel operation. (MODE SEL at REFUEL
position).

Q15. What are the indications when fuel from outer tank gets
transferred to inner tank?

A15. On the ECAM FUEL Page,

The Transfer valve indication in Green shows open position.

On the E/WD,

OUTER TK FUEL XFRD appears in Green if at least one transfer valve is open
in one wing tank.

Q16. During the descent “OUTER TK FUEL XFRD" appears. What causes
this memo to appear?

A16. The transfer valves automatically open when the inner tank fuel reaches
the low level (about 750 kg). The 750 kg value is based on a level aircraft
attitude with no acceleration. During steep descents or
accelerations/decelerations, the transfer valves may open with more than
750 kg of fuel in each inner tank and the low level warning may be triggered.

Q17. What is the “Fuel Recirculation System"?

A17. Some of the fuel supplied to each engine goes from the high pressure
fuel lime in that engine, through the IDG heat exchanger (where it absorbs
heat), to the fuel return valve, and to the outer fuel tank. This operation
ensure the IDG cooling when the oil temp. is high or when at low engine
power. The fuel recirculation system moves the warm fuel from the IDG
cooling system back to the related wing tank.

Q18. If the fuel pumps in the left fuel tank were OFF, how would the APU
obtain fuel?

A18. A special fuel pump supplies fuel for APU startup when fuel feed
pressure is low (due to loss of tank pumps or loss of normal AC electrical
supply). This pump normally runs off the AC ESS SHED bus, but runs off the
AC STAT INV bus if the AC ESS SHED bus fails.

Q19. When do you get FAULT light in MODE SEL p/b for FUEL?

A19. Amber Fault Light come son in the MODE SEL P/b and ECAM caution
comes when the Center tank has more than 250 kg of fuel and the left or
right wing tank has less than 5000 kg.

Q20. What care do you have to take when applying “GRVTY FUEL
FEEDING" Procedure?

A20. While applying “GRAVTY FUEL FEEDG” procedure, care should be

taken to avoid Negative G Factor.

Q21. During flight an ECAM caution of FUEL L INNER TK LO TEMP is

triggered. What are the crew actions?

A21. In Flight,

FUEL L INNER TANK LO TEMP

This is for crew awareness. Consider descending to a lower altitude and/or

increasing Mach to increase TAT.

Q22. How about crew actions if same caution is triggered but in outer
tank?

A22. Same as above.

Q23. What is the meaning of ECAM caution titled as FUEL AUTO FEED
FAULT?

A23. The AUTO FEED FAULT indicates that the Automatic fuel feeding
sequence is not working properly. The warning comes on when :-

(a) Fuel in one wing < 5000 Kg and in Center tank > 250 Kg.

(b) CTR TK Pumps running after Slat extension or LO Level in the center
tank.

Q24. If CTR TK PUMPS keep running after slats extension, which ECAM
will be triggered?

A24. FUEL AUTO FEED FAULT warning would be generated.

Q25. On FUEL ECAM page, if you see FOB half boxed in amber, what is
the meaning?

A25. An Amber half box appears around FOB when the quantity shown is not
all usable. (Inter-cell transfer valve failure or loss of center tank pumps).

Q26. On FUEL ECAM page, if you see an amber line appearing across
the last two digits for FOB, what is the meaning? Which procedure has
to be applied?

A26. An Amber line appears across the last two digits when the FQI is
inaccurate. In case the FQI is in degraded mode, the ECAM FUEL page must
be called on ECAM lower display to determine which tank is affected.

The loss of accuracy resulting from the loss of FQI normal mode is as follows
:-

Wing outer cell affected : +20 Kg, -200 Kg

Wing inner cell affected : +/- 110 Kg

Center tank affected : +/- 130 Kg

All tanks affected : +390 Kg, -750 Kg

Q27. On FUEL ECAM page, if you see fuel quantity indication boxed in
amber, what is the meaning?

A27. The Outer indication is boxed amber if both transfer valves fail to open
when inner at low level.

The Center tank indication is boxed amber if both Center tank pumps are
failed or switched off.

Q28. On FUEL ECAM page, if you see an amber line appearing across
the last two digits for fuel quantity, what is the meaning? Which
procedure has to be applied?

A28. An Amber line appears across the last two digits when FQI s inaccurate.
In case the FQI is in degraded mode, the ECAM FUEL page must be called
on ECAM lower display to determine which tank is affected.

The loss of accuracy resulting from the loss of FQI normal mode is as follows
:-

Wing outer cell affected : +20 Kg, -200 Kg

Wing inner cell affected : +/- 110 Kg

Center tank affected : +/- 130 Kg

All tanks affected : +390 Kg, -750 Kg

Q29. Is refueling possible if the aircraft batteries are the only source of
power?

A29. The aircraft can be refueled only when Battery power is available.

Q30. FOB on FUEL ECAM Page is boxed amber when quantity shown is
not fully usable. When can this happen?

A30. This can happen when :-

(a) The center tank pumps have failed

(b) Both transfer valves fail to open when inner cell at low level.

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