APU 320 Finished

AUXILIARY POWER UNIT - APU - A320
FUNCTION, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND

ASSOCIATED MAINTENANCE PRACTICES
1. LOCATION AND ACCESS
• Generally located in a special fireproof unpressurized tail
compartment, and accessed by opening one or two hinged
cowlings depending on the aircraft’s size and type
2. FUNCTION/PURPOSE
• Provides a sustainable and reliable source of PNEUMATIC and
ELECTRICAL POWER only
• Very useful in flight in case of emergencies
• Very useful on ground before flight
• Useful sometimes during ground maintenance checks
especially when performing operational checks.
• Note:
APUs should never be operated when the aircraft is inside the
hangar.
The generator fitted on the APU has the same rating as the
one fitted on any of the aircraft engines.
3. CONSTRUCTION
• APUs are TURBOSHAFT engines that run at constant speed/RPM
• They are made up of the basic constructional elements of any
gas turbine engine (COMPRESSOR – COMBUSTION CHAMBER –
TURBINE), in addition to IGVs or VSVs (Inlet Guide Vanes or
Variable Stator Vanes) plus all other elements (accessory
gearbox, fuel pump, ELECTRIC starter……..etc)
• APUs have their independent oil and fuel systems
• There is of course an air intake leading to the compressor inlet
• There is of course an exhaust outlet
APU OUTLET
APU OUTLET
APU INLET / R/H SIDE
APU INLET / BOTTOM
APU INLET / TOP
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AIR INTAKE FLAP ACTUACTOR
3. CONSTRUCTION (CONT’D)
• Note 1:
APU compressors are mostly of the centrifugal type.
This permits a smaller engine length and higher pressure rise per
stage.
• Note 2:
APUs can have a separate LOAD COMPRESSOR driven by an
extension shaft , this section is known as the load section and
delivers air to the aircraft’s pneumatic system via what is known as
the “LOAD CONTROL VALVE”, or it can be without a load section
where it just delivers air (bleed air) from the main operating
compressor to the pneumatic system via a “BLEED AIR VALVE”
• Note 3:
APUs do not provide any thrust to the aircraft, but you can see their
exhaust pipes at the tail.
3. CONSTRUCTION (CONT’D)
• Note 4:
The combustion chamber of an APU is of the REVERSE FLOW
type, i.e. the flow from the compressor is turned and then fed
into the turbine section.
This type of combustion chamber construction helps to make the

engine shorter in design.
Types of APUs used on the A320
• Two series/types of APUs can be found on
A320
• THE APIC APS 3200 (MEA)
AND
• THE HONEYWELL 131-9A

• Important Note:
Whenever there is a low demand on
the APU, some of the air is dumped
along with the exhaust gases.
If no demand, then all air is dumped

overboard
A320 APU CONTROL AND INDICATING
• MOST APU CONTROLS AND INDICATING PANELS
ARE LOCATED IN THE COCKPIT OF THE AIRCRAFT
• THEY PROVIDE MEANS TO OPERATE AND MONITOR

THE APU’s OPERATION
• THEY ALSO PROVIDE MEANS TO ISOLATE THE UNIT

IN CASE OF FIRE
A320 APU GROUND CONTROL AND INDICATING
• THE APU GROUND CONTROL PANEL IS LOCATED
NEAR THE NOSE GEAR DOOR.
• In case of an APU FIRE warning on the ground, a

loud horn will sound in the nose wheel well
Associated with the horn, a red APU FIRE light will
come on, on the external power control panel . It is
possible to do an EMERGENCY shut down of the
APU from this panel by lifting the guard and pushing
the APU SHUT OFF P/BSW.
4. APU CAPABILITY
APU are excellent machines but they cannot always provide full
capability at all altitudes, this is mainly due to operational
restrictions and ambient conditions (air density).
5. APU OPERATION AND CONTROL
The operation of the APU is controlled and monitored by an ECB or
ECU (Electronic Control Box or Electronic Control Unit).
This component may be located in the cargo compartment behind a

wall panel or in the avionics compartment on a special rack
The ECB performs three major functions:

1. It controls and monitors APU starting and shutdown procedures
2. It controls and monitors the APU during operation and delivery
demands
3. It protects (emergency shutdown) the APU in case of malfunctions
or abnormalities
4. It controls the intake flap actuator
5. It controls the operation of the valves and vanes (load control,
bleed, surge, IGVs or VSVs)
6. SYSTEM REPORTING AND TEST
• Using the MCDU, you can have access to
the Centralized Fault Display System
(CFDS) fault messages of the APU system.
Specific Built-In Test Equipment (BITE)
tests are available as well.
7. MOST COMMON MAINTENANCE PRACTICES ASSOCIATED
WITH APUs
a) Starting an APU for maintenance purposes

b) Oil quantity check and servicing
c) Replacement of filters (Fuel and Oil)
d) Electric starter brushes check and starter
replacement (red pop-up pin)
e) Deactivation of intake flap actuator (MEL
item)
f) Load control valve replacement
a) APU basic starting procedure for most modern aircraft
i. Press the master P/B switch “in” (blue ON light comes on)
ii. Wait for a few seconds and then press the start P/B switch
“in” (the blue ON light come on as well)
iii. The starter is energized and the APU starts to rotate
iv. When the APU reaches a certain RPM (45-55 % depending
on the model of the APU), the starter disengages and
ignition stops
v. Once the APU reaches a high RPM (95-100 % depending on
the model of the APU), the blue ON light on the start P/B
switch goes out and the GREEN AVAIL light comes on
“NOW YOU CAN START USING THE APU”
Note:
If for any reason there’s an automatic shutdown
initiated by the ECB as a protective measure,
the FAULT light (amber) comes on
What you see on the
APU page (ECAM)
Note:
The APU page

automatically comes on
if aircraft is using
ground electrical power
or power from the
engine.
In any other case you
have to press the APU
button to see it.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

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AUXILIARY POWER UNIT - APU - A320

FUNCTION, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND

This type of combustion chamber construction helps to make the

• THE APIC APS 3200 (MEA)

• THE HONEYWELL 131-9A

If no demand, then all air is dumped

• THEY PROVIDE MEANS TO OPERATE AND MONITOR

• THEY ALSO PROVIDE MEANS TO ISOLATE THE UNIT

• In case of an APU FIRE warning on the ground, a

This component may be located in the cargo compartment behind a

The ECB performs three major functions:

a) Starting an APU for maintenance purposes

“NOW YOU CAN START USING THE APU”

The APU page

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