ATA 21 .
Air conditioning and
Pressurization
Introduction
The air conditioning system regulates the flow and temperature
of air into the cockpit, cabin, toilets, baggage compartment and
nose cone for conditioning purpose.
The air conditioning system consists of: - Environmental Control
Unit (ECU), - Temperature Control System (TCS), - distribution
system, - ventilation system. The system is supplied with hot air
coming from the common feeder duct of the bleed air system.
• The hot air enters the conditioning system via two cockpit
temperature control valves and two cabin temperature control valves.
These valves control the amount of air directed to the ECU, and hot
air by-passing the ECU. Cold air generated by the ECU is mixed with
hot bleed air inside the cockpit and cabin ducts to obtain the desired
air temperature. Cold air from the ECU is also supplied to the gaspers
and used for cockpit avionics cooling. The cockpit and cabin
temperature control valves are controlled in automatic or manual
mode from the AIR CONDITIONING overhead panel.
Are Airconditioning and pressurization
important?
The pressurization system regulates the cabin pressure depends on:
-aircraft altitude,
-aircraft vertical speed,
-the maximum differential pressure supported by the system.
Both systems have an automatic mode and a manual mode, allowing the
pilot to control directly the valves.
Why is it important?
• Aircraft temperatures are generally kept at between 22°C and 24°C,
about the same air temperature maintained in most office
environments, with the extremes of the range reaching 18°C and
27°C. Such temperatures might seem reasonable, but it is important
to bear in mind that passengers rarely move when flying so work up
little body heat of their own, hence the overwhelming sense of
coldness.
• Human body feels uncomfortable at lower atmospheric pressures and
lower oxygen levels. So as an air plane goes higher, its interior is
pressurized. The air used for pressurization also carries sufficient
oxygen (oxygen is a constituent of air). Other than pressure and
oxygen, another aspect of comfort is temperature and humidity
which is taken care of by conditioning the air used for the
pressurization with the help of an air conditioning system (pack).
The Conditioned Air Production Process:
• The aircraft ECS and pressurization systems use bleed air to provide
conditioned air to the cabin with sufficient pressure and flow to
maintain cabin pressurization and a temperature controlled
environment throughout the operating envelope of the aircraft.
• To convert the hot compressed bleed air into conditioned air suitable
for the cabin, a majority of aircraft uses two “Packs”, (larger jumbo
aircraft use 3) that each contain a pneumatically operated
refrigeration machine called an “Air Cycle Machine”, or ACM.
So how does it work?
Boeing 767–300ER Pack Schematic
1. At the beginning of the process, engine bleed air is routed through the ACM,
where first it flows through the primary heat exchanger to be cooled.
2. It then enters a compressor, where it is compressed (1). This raises its
temperature and pressure.
3. It then travels through the secondary heat exchanger for another heat
extraction (2).
4. It then enters the primary ACM turbine (3) where more energy is extracted to
power the ACM compressor, and the “Pack” heat exchanger fan.
5. Upon exiting the primary ACM turbine, the air expands and cools. The moist
supercooled air is mixed with a small quantity of hot bleed air to to melt any
ice crystals that formed. It then passes through a water separator (4) to remove
the condensed water vapor.
6. That water is ducted away and sprayed on the heat exchangers to increase
their cooling efficiency.
7. The pneumatic air then makes one last pass through the secondary ACM
turbine (5), to extract more thermal energy to power the ACM compressor.
8. Finally it goes through a secondary expansion phase (6).
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNIT (ECU)
The purpose of the environmental control unit is to generate the cold
air required for cockpit and passenger cabin air conditioning. The ECU
is mainly composed of:
- a dual heat exchanger (primary and secondary),
- - a heat exchanger jet pump and associated valve,
- - a turbocooler,
- - a condenser,
- - a water separator,
- - an atomizer,
- - a turbine outlet temperature control valve.
Dual Heat exchanger
• The dual heat exchanger is a single unit containing two independent
heat exchangers: a primary exchanger and a secondary exchanger.
The primary exchanger supplies air to the compressor of the
turbocooler and the secondary exchanger supplies air to the turbine
of the turbocooler. It is located in the forward servicing compartment.
Heat exchanger jet pump
The jet pump is an injector located downstream the heat exchanger
cold side. It increases the ram air flow through the heat exchanger.
Heat exchanger jet pump valve
• The normally closed jet pump valve controls the bleed air to the dual
heat exchanger jet pump. It opens automatically when increased ram-
air flow is required (e.g. low airplane speed).
Turbocooler
• The turbocooler is a single stage compressor and turbine. The
turbocooler operates in conjunction with the heat exchangers and the
water separator. The purpose of the turbocooler is to cool engine
bleed air
By-pass valve
• Only airplanes below serial number 56 are equipped with by-pass
valve. The turbo-compressor is automatically by-passed by air coming
from the primary heat exchanger in order to keep a comfortable air
flow entering the cabin at high altitude.
Condenser
• Associated with the water separator, the condenser removes
moisture from bleed air in the ECU system
Water-separator
• The water separator separates and collects the water droplets formed
in the condenser. The water is then routed to the atomizer
Atomizer
• The atomizer receives water from the water separator and discharges
it as a fine mist. The mist is directed to the secondary exchanger inlet.
The evaporating mist lowers the ram air temperature and contributes
to the cooling process
