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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

49-00-00 PB 001 CONF 16 - AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER - GENERAL - DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

1. General

A. Function of the Auxiliary Power System In order to permit A/C ground operation independent of electric
and pneumatic ground power, the A/C is equipped with an auxiliary power system. The A/C thus can
be powered up autonomously, allowing the operator to service airports without adequate ground
power facilities. In-flight availability of the auxiliary power system permits A/C operation under MMEL-
conditions and under ETOPS.

B. System Capabilities The gas turbine engine (the APU), which is used as the systems power source, is
equipped to supply 115VAC for operation of the A/C electrical systems. It also supplies pneumatic
power to permit main engine start (MES) and environmental control system (ECS) operation.

C. APU Supplier The APU, fully designated 131-9 (A), is supplied by the AlliedSignal Aerospace Company -
Engines.

2. Component Location

A. Tailcone

(Ref. Fig. Power Plant - Component Location SHEET 1)

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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

B. Cockpit

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (Flight Deck) SHEET 1)
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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (ECAM System) SHEET 1)
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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (Maintenance System) SHEET 1)
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C. Avionics Compartment/Aft Cargo Compartment

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (Avionics Compartment/Aft Cargo Compartment) SHEET 1)

3. System Description

A. Power Plant (Ref. 49-10-00)

The power plant is installed in the rear fuselage aft of the passenger compartment. It occupies the
tailcone, the rearmost portion of the fuselage. The tailcone has been fitted with a fireproof
compartment to house the APU. Peripheral systems are installed both in the APU compartment as well
as to the front and rear of it. Doors permit access to all components of the power plant.

B. Engine (Ref. 49-20-00)

The engine supplies:
· pneumatic power,
· electrical power, and
· cooling air.
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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

To fulfill these requirements, the engine consists essentially of a power section to generate shaft
power. A load compressor is flanged to this shaft to generate pneumatic power. The same shaft also
drives a gearbox. A generator is attached to this gearbox to generate electrical power. A fan to provide
cooling air is also attached to the gearbox.

C. Engine Fuel and Control (Ref. 49-30-00)

The APU system receives fuel from the A/C APU fuel supply system (Ref. 28-22-00). Incoming fuel is
metered by the fuel control unit (FCU) and delivered to the flow divider assy. From there it is routed
via 2 fuel manifolds to the fuel nozzles, located in the combustion chamber.

D. Ignition and Starting (Ref. 49-40-00)

The APU is fitted with a DC starter motor, which draws its power from the electrical system battery
bus. It turns the engine to such speed that self-sustained engine operation becomes possible. The fuel-
air mixture in the combustion chamber is ignited by the ignition system, also fitted to the APU.
Electrical power to the ignition system is supplied through the ECB.

E. Air (Ref. 49-50-00)

The engine is equipped to provide 2 separate air sources:
· pneumatic power (bleed air) for main engine start (MES) and the environmental control system (ECS),
· cooling air for ventilation of the APU compartment and cooling of the APU lubrication system.

F. Engine Controls (Ref. 49-60-00)

In order to start, control its performance and to shut off the auxiliary power system, manual and
automatic controls are provided. Manual control of the APU is possible through the crew interfaces in
the cockpit. Automatic control is accomplished through the ECB.

G. Indicating (Ref. 49-70-00)

The ECB monitors the operation of the auxiliary power system. It transmits operation information to
the A/C indicating and recording systems ECAM, CFDS and AIDS. It also records system faults in its
internal memory. Display of subject data is in the cockpit on the CFDS monitor.

H. Exhaust (Ref. 49-80-00)

The APU exhaust system serves to duct the engine exhaust overboard. Its secondary purpose is to
reduce the exhaust noise level. In order to minimize aerodynamic losses during APU operation, the
duct is designed sufficiently large in diameter. Also, exhaust discharge takes place at the very aft end
of the A/C, where a low pressure area exists during flight. Thus it is also assured that exhaust gas does
not re-enter the APU air intake system.

I. Oil (Ref. 49-90-00)

The APU oil system lubricates and cools the power section, load compressor, gearbox and AC-
Generator. This system is made up of:
· an integral wet-sump lubrication system with an APU mounted oil cooler,
· an oil level, high oil temperature and low oil-pressure monitoring system. The Electronic Control Box
(ECB) 59KD monitors these parameters.
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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

4. Power Supply

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Power Supply – Sheet 1/2)

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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Power Supply – Sheet 2/2)

5. Interface
A. Fuel Supply
Fuel is supplied to the APU by the A/C APU fuel supply system (Ref. 28-22-00 and 28-29-00).

B. Pneumatic Power Pressurized air generated by the APU is fed into the A/C pneumatic power distribution
system (Ref. AMM D/O 36-12-00-00).

C. APU Fire Protection The APU and most of its peripheral subsystems are installed in the APU
compartment, a designated fire zone. This compartment therefore is equipped with a fire detection
(Ref. 26-13-00) and fire extinguishing system (Ref. 26-22-00).

D. Electrical Power The APU is equipped with a 115VAC electrical power generator, which feeds into the
A/C electrical power distribution system (Ref. AMM D/O 24-23-00-00).

6. Operation/Control and Indicating

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Operating Envelope/APU Performance)
The APU system operates independently of the other engine systems, in the conditions of operation
shown below:
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A. Normal Conditions of Operation (APU not essential)

(1) Ground Operation.
The APU will:
· supply bleed air for the Main Engines Start (MES) on the ground in an altitude range between -305 m (-
1 000 ft.) and 4 298 m (14 100 ft.) at -54 DEG C to +55 DEG C (-65 DEG F to +130 DEG F),
· supply bleed air for the air conditioning of the passenger compartment and the cockpit,
· supply shaft power to a 90 kVA generator while the air conditioning is necessary.

(2) Flight Operation.

The APU will:
· supply bleed air in flight up to an altitude of 6858 m (22500 ft.),
· supply shaft power to a 90 kVA generator.
If an increase in input to the aircraft systems is necessary, the supply of the electrical power has priority
over the supply of bleed air.

(3) An electric DC motor starts the APU:

· in ground operation conditions, the APU is started by the aircraft batteries or Transformer Rectifier Unit
(TRU) or a combination of both,
· a start in flight is possible up to an altitude of 11 900 m (39 000 ft.) with the use of TRUs. A start in flight
is possible up to an altitude of 7 630m (25 000 ft.) with the use of the aircraft batteries only.

B. Operation in Icing Conditions

The APU will safely operate in ground icing conditions and during a subsequent flight in icing conditions,
with it operating as an essential unit. It can be started in climb and flight after APU operation in icing
conditions on the ground.

C. Control and Monitoring

The ECB 59KD controls and monitors the APU operation. The Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) of the ECB is
connected to the CFDS (Ref. AMM D/O 31-32-00-00) . The components that control and monitor the
system are divided into two interfaces:
· Flight Crew Interface,
· Maintenance Interface.
(1) Flight Crew Interface
(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (ECAM System) SHEET 1)
The APU Flight Crew Interface is made up of different overhead panels, and the ECAM system in the center
of the instrument panel.
(a) APU Control Panel 25VU includes:
· the MASTER SW 14KD which energizes the APU circuits and is also used for a manual shutdown
of the APU system. Part of the MASTER SW is a blue 'ON' annunciator light and an amber 'FAULT'
annunciator light.
· the APU START pushbutton 2KA which controls the APU start. Part of the START switch is a blue
'ON' annunciator light which comes on during the start procedure. The other part consists of a
green 'AVAIL' annunciator light which comes on when the APU speed reaches 95 % rpm, and the
blue 'ON' annunciator light goes off.
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A320 / ATA 49 AIRBORNE AUXILIARY POWER

(b) Air conditioning panel 30VU includes:

· the APU BLEED air switch 5HV which opens and closes the bleed load valve. Part of the switch is
a blue 'ON' annunciator light and an amber 'FAULT' annunciator light.
(c) Electric panel 35VU includes:
· The APU GEN switch which disconnects the electrical load from the APU generator during
operation of the APU. Part of the switch is a white 'OFF' annunciator light and an amber 'FAULT'
annunciator light.
(d) Fire panel 20VU includes:
· the APU FIRE pushbutton switch 1WD which starts the APU shutdown procedure when a fire
warning is indicated,
· the APU AGENT push switch which operates the fire extinguisher. Part of the switch is a white
'SQUIB' annunciator light and an amber 'DISCH' annunciator light,
· the TEST switch for the continuity test on the APU fire warning loops, and the cartridge, of the
fire extinguisher bottle.
(e) The indicating system (Ref. AMM D/O 49-70-00-00) supplies the flight crew with data on the APU
system configuration during flight operation. The data is supplied on two display units as memo messages
and system diagrams. The system page (lower ECAM display unit) indicates the data shown below:
· speed (rpm) in % of nominal speed (Ref. AMM D/O 49-71-00-00) ,
· Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) in deg. C (Ref. AMM D/O 49-72-00-00) ,
· APU bleed air pressure in psi and the position of the APU bleed valve (Ref. 49-51-00),
· AVAIL if the APU speed is above 95 % rpm,
· APU generator load in %, voltage (V) and frequency (Hz),
· the air-intake flap open indicator.
The system page is shown in these modes:
· manual mode (pushed APU button on the ECAM control panel),
· flight phase related automatic mode,
· advisory automatic mode,
· failure related automatic mode.

During satisfactory flight operation, the engine/warning page (upper ECAM display unit) indicates a memo
message if no warning is to be shown:
· APU AVAIL,
· APU BLEED.
When an unnormal operation condition occurs, the lower part of the engine/warning page indicates the
failure and the correct action to follow. Example of failure mode indicated is:
· APU AUTO SHUT DOWN,
· MASTER SW ... OFF.
When the aircraft is on the ground and the main engines have stopped, the ECAM will show any system
fault. The light in the status (STS) button comes on if class 2 faults have occurred. Operation of the STS
button selects the STATUS page and 'APU' is indicated in the lower right-hand corner of the display.

(2) Maintenance Interface

(Ref. Fig. Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (Maintenance System) SHEET 1)
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Two Multipurpose Control and Display Units (MCDUs) are installed on the center pedestal in the cockpit.
The MCDUs are at the front of the center pedestal. This equipment gives access to the APU maintenance
information, the APU interfaces with the CDFS and the AIDS.
(a) The MCDU displays the defective Line Replacable Units (LRUs) through the CFDS. This is possible
in two modes:
· NORMAL mode.
During NORMAL mode, the ECB transmits all the defects and messages continuously to the CFDS.
The MCDU displays all the defects and messages when the 'LAST LEG REPORT' is selected. The
Centralized Fault Display Interface Unit (CFDIU) identifies all the defects and messages and stores
them in memory. These are released and indicated on the MCDU when selected.
· MENU mode.
The MENU mode is available when the 'SYSTEM REPORT/ TEST' and 'APU' is selected on the
MCDU.
Figure 49-00-00-13900-16-A / SHEET 1/1 - Power Plant - Component Location
Figure 49-00-00-14000-16-A / SHEET 1/1 - Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (Flight
Deck)
Figure 49-00-00-14100-16-A / SHEET 1/1 - Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (ECAM
System)
Figure 49-00-00-14200-16-A / SHEET 1/1 - Auxiliary Power System - Component Location
(Maintenance System)
Figure 49-00-00-14300-16-A / SHEET 1/1 - Auxiliary Power System - Component Location (Avionics
Compartment/Aft Cargo Compartment)
Figure 49-00-00-19200-16-A / SHEET 1/2 - Auxiliary Power System - Power Supply
Figure 49-00-00-19200-16-A / SHEET 2/2 - Auxiliary Power System - Power Supply
Figure 49-00-00-23600-16-A / SHEET 1/2 - Auxiliary Power System - Operating Envelope/APU
Performance
Figure 49-00-00-23600-16-A / SHEET 2/2 - Auxiliary Power System - Operating Envelope/APU
Performance