Construction and operation of aircraft fluid systems - Coursework Example

The turbine engine and the pneumatic power generation component are integral. Largely, the engine component is responsible to the pneumatic power generation. The constructional design of the power generation component takes into consideration the needs to regulate pressure and temperature. Normally, bled air conditions depend on the engine functioning conditions. Critics contend that bleeding the air from the engine can lead to engine suffocation consequently leading to mechanical breakdown. The pneumatic compressor bleeds air from the engine in various stages, a low-pressure port, intermediate and high-pressure port.

The compressor has a check valve, which prevents air from moving to low pressure port during bleeding. By design, the low-pressure port is always open, but the shut valve may close it if the engine is a critical condition. The pneumatic power system in aircraft is a secondary power. By design, bleed air is tapped from one or more points along the engine compressor to provide pneumatic power. To achieve the requirement drive shafts, from the engine’s high pressure shaft, drive an accessory gear box on which are mounted generators and hydraulic pumps as well as engine’s own accessories. . The pneumatic power system has several functions in an aircraft.

These functions are air conditioning and pressurization. In aircrafts for civil transport, bleed air is useful in extracting the secondary source of power. The users of the pneumatic power system are air conditioning system and pressurization systems. By design, the air pressure in the aircraft cabin should be at a pressure equivalent to 8000 feet or less and this requires a constant supply of air. It follows therefore that the pneumatic power systems must supply the required pressure in the aircraft.

Moreover, the oxygen used in the aircraft requires replacement at constant intervals. Normally, the contaminant level should be under check to avoid suffocation in the aircraft. To control this process, the aircraft requires a source of air pressure that can aid the sucking of the contaminated air and replacing it with fresh air. The pneumatic power systems provides effective high pressure used in the above requirement. The process of air conditioning passes through numerous stages ranging from sucking the contaminated air, filtering as well as supplying the fresh air alongside a maintained temperature.

The pneumatic power systems drive the ice protection systems. Dangerous icing conditionings are no longer a threat to the modern aircraft because of the modernization of the aircraft components. However, critics have several reasons behind the need to protect aircraft from icing conditions. Some of the reasons adduced against this factor include possibility of accidents resulting from the accretion of ice on the lifting surface of aircraft. The major cause of engine intake icing is the special flow conditions present and most aircraft have at least some provision for de icing in this region of the frame.