Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

Air Conditioning Systems

- Air conditioning is more than just the cooling of air. A complete air-conditioning system
for an aircraft should control both the temperature and humidity of the air, heating or cooling it
as is necessary. It should provide adequate movement of the air for ventilation, and there
should be provision for the removal of cabin odors.

Bleed Air Systems

- Temperatures at high altitudes in which aircraft operate can be well below 0 °F.
Combined with seasonally cold temperatures, this makes heating the cabin more than just a
luxury. Pressurized aircraft that use air cycle air conditioning systems mix bleed air with cold air
produced by the air cycle machine expansion turbine to obtain warm air for the cabin. Aircraft
not equipped with air cycle air conditioning may be heated by one of a few possible methods.

- Some turbine-powered aircraft not equipped with air cycle systems still make use of
engine compressor bleed air to heat the cabin.

- The bleed air is mixed with ambient air, or cabin return air, and distributed throughout
the aircraft via ducting.

NOTE: The regulation state that it is reasonable to pressurize the cabin to a value which
corresponds to an altitude of 8,000ft. (2400meters)

Shutoff Valve

- The air-conditioning shutoff valve, often called the pack valve, is used to control the
flow" of air into the system. It can either shut off the air flow or modulate the flow of air to
provide that which is needed to operate the air-conditioning package.

3 types of cooling device used on Aircrafts

1. Heat exchanger
2. Vapor-cycle machine
3. Air-cycle machine

Primary Heat Exchanger

- The primary heat exchanger is a radiator through which cold ram air passes to cool the
hot bleed air from the engines. As the cold ram air passes over the radiator's fin-like tubes,
bleed air passing through the tubes is cooled. The flow of ram air through the heat exchangers
is controlled by move-able inlet and exit doors, which modulate in flight to provide the required
cooling. In many aircraft, the heat exchangers are sized to provide most, if not all, of the
necessary cooling in flight. In the ground there is not enough air passing through the cooling
doors, so fans called pack fans provide adequate airflow to cool the heat exchangers.
Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

System Layout (Principle layout of the air conditioning system)

1. The air supply comes from the pneumatic system.

2. The air conditioning system starts after the pack valve.
3. The air is cooled by 2 (two) more identical packs. Basic temperature and humidity
regulation are carried out in this area of the system.
4. The air conditioning system then mixes cooled air with hot air to give the desired
temperature in the conditioned apartments.
5. The air conditioning system also supplies the necessary cooling of panels, batteries, and
electronic racks by ventilating them with air.
6. Finally, the conditioned air is distributed to the compartments.
7. The cabin and flight compartments are pressurized to supply a pressure corresponding
to all flight altitudes.
8. This is regulated by the outflow valve.

➢ The air conditioning packs, the valves and the mixing unit are located in the center wing
box area.
➢ The air conditioning controls are located on the overhead panel in the cockpit. You will
also find the indication displays in the cockpit.
➢ The pack and zone controllers are located in the avionics compartment.
➢ The low-pressure ground connectors are located on the lower fuselage, accessible by a
door.
Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

Water Separator

- A dehumidifier that extracts moisture from the air to prevent freezing.

Air Cycle Machine

- The cooling requirements are low, some or all of the hot bleed air from the engines
can be by passed around the ACM (the compressor and turbine) if warm air is needed in the
cabin. There could be no purpose in cooling all the air if warm air is called for by the
temperature controls. This outlet air from the primary heat exchanger may be routed directly to
the inlet side of the secondary heat exchanger in some systems to provide additional cooling.

Cooling Pack System

Aircraft Cabin
Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

Return Air System

- After the supply air circulates the aircraft cabin for about 2 to 3 minutes, it enters the
return air grilles that are located in the sidewalls near the floor.

- Modern aircraft use 50% bleed air (fresh air) and 50% recirculated air (return air).
Since the fresh air at high altitude only has a relative humidity of 5%, introducing 50% return
air can increase the relative humidity inside the aircraft cabin to about 10% to 20%.

Airconditioning Flow

➢ System Overview ➢ Cooling Cycle

➢ Air Distribution ➢ Recirculation
➢ Compartments ➢ Ventilation
➢ Mix Manifold ➢ Equipment Cooling
➢ Pack and Airflow Control

Cabin Airconditioning

Three Plane Zones

➢ Flight Deck: Fresh Air
➢ FWD: Fresh Air & Recirculated Air
➢ AFT: Fresh Air & Recirculated Air
➢ Electronic Equipment Cooling: Cool with Fan
Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

Ram Air and Ground Supply

- On some aircraft types you find an emergency ram air inlet that can supply fresh
ambient air to the mixing unit when all packs fail during flight.

- When you open the emergency ram air inlet during flight, it guides fresh ambient air
into the mixing unit via a check valve. In the mixing unit, the air is mixed with the recirculated
cabin air and distributed to the different aircraft zones.

- The emergency ram air inlet has an electrical actuator which extends the inlet flap into
the ambient airflow.

- When the aircraft is on the ground you can supply conditioned air to the mixing unit
from an external air-conditioning unit via a ground connector port. This means that, on the
ground, it is not necessary to use the packs to get conditioned air.

On-Ground Preconditioned Air (PCA) Units

- (PCA) systems provide the aircraft cabin with conditioned air at the park position. As a
result, the parked aircraft no longer needs to run their auxiliary turbine for air conditioning.
Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

Aircraft Heaters

- Aircraft heaters provide heated air to aircraft operating in cold climatic conditions. They
can be operated on aircraft and helicopters that are heated via the cabin door or window.

Types of Aircraft Heaters

➢ Exhaust Shroud Heater

➢ Electric Heating System
➢ Combustion Heating

Exhaust Shroud Heater

- The most common type of heater for small single-engine aircraft is the exhaust shroud
heater. A sheet metal shroud is installed around the muffler in the engine exhaust system, and
cold air is taken into this shroud and held against the muffler so it can absorb some of the heat
that is being wasted. This air is then routed into the cabin through a heater valve in the firewall.
When the heater is not on, this air is directed overboard. This type of heater is quite economical
for these small aircraft, as it requires no energy other than that which is otherwise wasted.

Electric Heating Systems

- An electric heating device is used to heat the aircraft. Electricity flowing through a
heating element makes the element warm. A fan to blow air over the elements and into the
cabin is used to transfer the heat. Other floor or sidewall elements simply radiate heat to warm
the cabin. Electric heating element heaters require a significant amount of the aircraft’s
generator output, which is better dedicated to the operation of other electrical devices. For this
reason, they are not very common. However, their use on the ground when powered by a
ground electrical power source preheats the cabin before passengers board and does not tax
the electrical system.

Combustion Heaters

- An aircraft combustion heater is used on many small to medium sized aircraft. It is a

heat source independent from the aircraft’s engine(s), although it does use fuel from the
aircraft’s main fuel system. Combustion heaters are manufactured by a few different companies
that supply the aviation industry. Most are similar to the description that follows. The most up
to date units have electronic ignition and temperature control switches.
Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

MIDTERM REVIEWER

Ice Control Systems

➢ Under certain atmospheric conditions, ice can build rapidly on airfoils and air inlets. On
days when there is visible moisture in the air, ice can form on aircraft leading edge
surfaces at altitudes where freezing temperatures start. Water droplets in the air can be
supercooled to below freezing without actually turning into ice unless they are disturbed
in some manner. This unusual occurrence is partly due to the surface tension of the
water droplet not allowing the droplet to expand and freeze. However, when aircraft
surfaces disturb these droplets, they immediately turn to ice on the aircraft surface.

Two Types of ice encountered during flight

1. CLEAR (Ice) – Clear ice forms when the remaining liquid portion of the water drop
flows out over the aircraft surface, gradually freezing as a smooth sheet of solid ice.
2. RIME (Ice) – Forms when water drops are small, such as those in stratified clouds or
light drizzle.

Two basic Hazards

1. The resulting malformation of the airfoil that could decrease the amount of lift.
2. The additional weight and unequal formation of the ice that could cause unbalancing of
the aircraft, making it hard to control.

Icing effect

➢ Ice buildup increases drag and reduces lift.

➢ Causes destructive vibration and hampers true instrument readings.
➢ Radio reception is hampered, and engine performance is affected.
➢ Cause engine failures and structural damage.
➢ The worst case is that ice on the wing breaks off during takeoff due to the flexing of the
wing and goes directly into the engine, leading to surge, vibration, and complete thrust
loss.

Ice and rain protection systems used on aircraft keep ice from forming on the following airplane
components:

➢ Wing leading edges

➢ Horizontal and vertical stabilizer leading edges
➢ Engine cowl leading edges
➢ Propellers
➢ Propeller spinner
➢ Air data probes
➢ Flight deck windows
Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

➢ Water and waste system lines and drains

➢ Antenna

Ice Detector system - Ice can be detected visually, but most modern aircraft have one or
more ice detector sensors that warn the flight crew of icing conditions.

Ice Prevention – Several means to prevent or control ice formation that are being used in
aircrafts today:

1. Heating surfaces with hot air

2. Heating by electrical elements
3. Breaking up ice formations, usually by inflatable boots
4. Chemical application - typically based on ethylene glycol or isopropyl alcohol to prevent
ice forming and to break up accumulated ice on critical surfaces of an aircraft.

Location of Ice Method of Control

Leading edge of the wing
Leading edges of vertical and horizontal
stabilizers
Windshield, windows
Heater and engine air inlets
Pilot and static air data sensors
Thermal pneumatic, thermal electric,
chemical, and pneumatic (deice)
Thermal pneumatic, thermal electric, and
pneumatic (deice)
Thermal pneumatic, thermal electric, and
chemical
Thermal pneumatic and thermal electric
Thermal electric

Propeller blade leading edge and spinner Thermal electric and chemical
Carburetor(s) Thermal pneumatic and chemical

Lavatory drains and portable water lines Thermal electric

Reviewer for Aircraft Environmental Systems

ANTI ICING SYSTEM

Wing and Horizontal and Vertical Stabilizer Anti-Icing System

- The wing leading edges, or leading-edge slats, and horizontal and vertical stabilizer
leading edges of many aircraft make, and models have anti-icing systems installed to prevent
the formation of ice on these components.

Common Anti-icing systems

➢ Thermal Pneumatic
➢ Thermal Electric
➢ Chemical Anti-Icing

Thermal Pneumatic

- Thermal systems used for the purpose of preventing the formation of ice or for deicing
airfoil leading edges usually use heated air ducted spanwise along the inside of the leading
edge of the airfoil and distributed around its inner surface.

- Sources of heated air, including hot air bled from the turbine compressor, engine
exhaust heat exchangers, and ram air heated by a combustion heater.

Wing Anti-Ice (WAI) Systems

- Thermal wing anti-ice (WAI or TAI) systems for business jet and large-transport
category aircraft typically use hot air bled from the engine compressor.

Thermal Electric

- Anti-ice is used on most air data probes, such as pitot tubes, static air ports, TAT and
AOA probes, ice detectors, and engine P2/T2 sensors.

- Transport category and high-performance aircraft use thermal electric anti-icing in

windshields.

Chemical Anti-Icing

- Anti-icing is used in some aircraft to anti-ice the leading edges of the wing, stabilizers,
windshields, and propellers. The wing and stabilizer systems are often called weeping wing
systems.