Auxiliary Power Unit Airplane

The apu is a compact self contained unit that provides compressed air for engine starting on the ground.

Auxiliary power unit airplane.

How an auxiliary power unit works. Pneumatic power for cabin air conditioning systems. Unlike the aircraft s main engines the apu outputs almost no thrust. The apu auxiliary power unit is the power unit contained on an aircraft which can provide electrical and pneumatic air power.

Others can produce 28 v. The primary purpose of an aircraft apu is to provide power to start the main engines. With more than 95 000 apus produced and more than 36 000 in service today honeywell has a large apu installed base and is poised for further growth. The unit provides compressed air for air conditioning while the airplane is on the ground and at limited altitude in flight.

Auxiliary power units are usually found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft apus generally produce 115 v alternating current ac at 400 hz rather than 50 60 hz in mains supply to run the electrical systems of the aircraft. An auxiliary power unit or apu allows an aircraft to operate autonomously without reliance on ground support equipment such as a ground power unit an external air conditioning unit or a high pressure air start cart. The auxiliary power unit apu is a small gas turbine engine mounted in the tail cone of an aircraft to provide autonomous electrical and mechanical power for the following.

The auxiliary power unit safir 5k g mi is designed to supply air to engine starters and environmental control systems to drive the ac generator and to supply power to hydraulic systems. It also features a dual speed sensor exhaust gas temperature sensor oil and fuel signaling filter contamination and signaling of low oil levels. The gpu ground power unit is connected by the ground crew when the aircraft arrives at the gate an provides electrical power only. Another version of the gpu is fep fixed electrical power.

The airborne auxiliary power is obtained from a gas turbine auxiliary power unit apu. The auxiliary power unit is an actual turbine engine more appropriately called a turboshaft engine. Most of the power produced is used to run an electric generator and provide pneumatic air pressure. In airliners apu s are usually located at the very rear of the aircraft below the tail.