A320 Powerplant Notes
A320 Powerplant Notes
(b) Compressor
(d) Turbine
(e) Exhaust
A2. N1 is the low pressure compressor/turbine and fan rotational speed expressed in
percentage.
A3. N2 is the high pressure compressor and turbine rotational speed expressed in percentage.
A4. EPR is short for Engine Pressure Ratio. The EPR instrument provides a readout of the
ratio of the turbine discharge total pressure to the compressor inlet total pressure.
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Q5. What do you mean by EGT?
A5. EGT is short for Exhaust Gas Temperature. This is the temperature of the gases escaping
at the exhaust of an engine, the temperature atthe outlet from the turbine is usually measured
by suitably positioned thermocouples.
A6. A Hot Start is one of the starting malfunctions in a Jet Engine. During starting if the
temperatures inside the combustion section get hot enough to cause internal damage to the
engine, a Hot Start is said to have occurred.
A7. A Hung Start is one of the starting malfunctions in a Jet Engine. During start, if the EGT
becomes higher than what would be expected for the RPM at which the engine has stabilized,
which itself is lower than the self-sustaining speed, a Hung Start is said to have occurred.
A8. Light up in an engine is indicated by the increase in EGT, thus, if there is no rise in EGT,
it indicates a no light up.
A9. FADEC is short for Full Authority Digital Engine Control. FADEC, also called the
Electronic EngineControl (EEC), is a digital control system that performscomplete engine
management.
A10. Two.
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A11. The following are the functions of FADEC:-
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A13. The following happens during Auto start on ground:
*Ignition starts
-When N2 > 43 %
*Ignition stops
Q14. What are the conditions when ECAM of ENG START FAULT" can come for an
engine during auto-start?
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(a) ENG IGNITION FAULT: the engine does not start within 20 seconds that follow the
ignition start
(b) NO N1 Rotation
(c) STALL
Q15. What happens during AUTO Start on ground, if FADEC detects a hot start, hung start
or no light up?
A15. The FADEC will immediately shut off fuel and turn off ignition. After any start attempt
that is not successful, a dry crank automatically occurs. At the end of the dry crank sequence,
the start valve is closed.
Q16. During engine start, if the amber FAULT light illuminates on the ENG MASTER
panel. What could have gone wrong? What does this light indicate?
A16. The amber FAULT light comes on, and a caution appears on ECAM, if there is:
(c) A disagreement between the HP fuel valve position and its commandedposition.
A17. After any start attempt that is not successful, a dry crank automatically occurs. This auto
dry crank sequence is initiated by the FADEC and is what the E/WD message means.
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Q18. What happens after Dry Crank sequence during Auto start?
A18. At the end of the dry crank sequence, the start valve is closed.
Q19. Will FADEC always perform second start if first attempt is aborted by it?
A19. No.
Q20. During Auto-Start usually one igniter is on. Do you remember any situation during
auto start when both igniters come on? What is that?
A20. If the automatic start fails, the FADEC energizes both igniters at the same time during
thesecond attempt at an engine start.
Q21. What happens when N2 > 43% during AUTO start of the engine?
When N2 > 43 %
*Ignition stops
A22. Above 50% N2, the FADEC would not run an abort sequence if a start aborts on the
ground.
A23. This sequence is under the full authority of the FADEC, which controls:
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The start valve
The igniters
The FADEC:
cranks the engine crank after the start abort in order to clear out fuel vapors
Q24. When can you say that engine start sequence is over?
N1 about 21.4 %
N2 about 57.8 %
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EPR about 1.01
Q25. What does the FADEC control during Manual engine start?
A25. The FADEC has limited authority over manual starting controlling:
The opening of the start valve when the ENG MODE selector is set to IGN/START and
the MAN
The position of the HP fuel valve and the operation of both igniters, when the master
switch is turned ON
The closing of the start valve at approximately 43 % N2, and, on the ground, the cutting off
ofIgnition.
The FADEC makes a passive survey of the engine during the starting sequence (up to 50 %
N2).
A26. During a manual start, the start valve is opened by switching on the ENG MAN START
P/b to on.
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Q27. What takes place when you push the MAN START button during manual start of
engine?
Q28. What happens when you select Master Switch to ON, in Manual Start?
When N2 > 43%, start valve closes and if on ground, ignition stops.
A29. No.
Q30. How do you carry out dry cranking cycle, if required manually?
A30. The flight crew can manually select cranking by setting the ENG MODE selector to
CRANK and theMAN START pushbutton switch to ON (MASTER switch OFF).
Q31. During a manual start, are the automatic start interruption and auto-crank functions
available?
A31. No.
Q32. During a manual start of the #1 engine, does the ENG MAN START pushbutton have
to be depressed to close the start valve?
A32. No.
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Q33. Due to a tailwind of greater than 10 knots the crew should select the Manual Engine
Start procedure. Give examples of other conditions that may require a Manual Engine Start.
-Engine stall, Engine EGT over limit, LO START AIR PRESS, or No N1 rotation, or Hung
start.
-An engine with a reduced EGT margin, in hot conditions or at a high altitude airfield
Q34. During an engine start sequence, the gray background on N2 disappears at about 57%.
What does this indicate?
A34. This indicates that the start sequence has been completed.
Q35. FADEC takes care of start abort or recycle of engine starting but only on ground and
that too in Auto-Start.
True / False?
A35. True.
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ENG Mode selector to IGN/START
ENG MAN START p/b ON
At Max Motoring (min. 20% N2) select ENG Master switch ON
Fuel and ignition will begin when ENG Master selected ON
o Three consecutive cycles: 2 cycles of 2 min each, followed by a third cycle of 1 min.
For IAE:
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No running engagement of the starter, when N2 is above 10 % on ground, and 18 % in
flight.
N1 about 21.4 %
N2 about 57.8 %
Q39. If a thrust lever is set between two detents, what is the rating limit?
A39. When a thrust lever is set between two positions, the FADEC selects the rating limit
corresponding to the highest mode.
EAI selected on
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EIU data failed
Q41. On ground, after engine start, how would the PF select continuous ignition on the
engine?
A41. On the ground after the engine is started, because ignition cuts off automatically, the
flight crewmust switch the ENG MODE selector to NORM then back to IGN/START to
turn on continuousignition.
A42. The range of N1 60-74 % is the Keep-out zone. When on ground at low speed (less
than or equal to M 0.1), the Electronic Engine Computer(EEC) protects against fan flutter. In
so doing, the EEC prevents the engine from being stabilized in this zone.
A43. If no EPR is available (either sensed or computed) the affected FADEC will
automatically revert toN1mode.An automatic reversion to rated N1 mode occurs in the event
of loss of sensed EPR. This occurswhen P2 (engine inlet total pressure) and/or P5 (LP
turbine exit total pressure) engine parameters are not available.
A44. In the Rated N1 Mode, EPR indications are lost. N1 Mode indication is displayed in
Blue on E/WD. The N1 rating limit, corresponding to the thrust lever position, and the N1
thrust limit modearedisplayed in blue.
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Q45. What is UN-RATED N1 Mode?
A45. . If no EPR is available (either sensed or computed) the affected FADEC will
automatically revert to N1 mode.An automatic reversion to unrated N1 mode occurs in the
event of loss of computed EPR due tothe loss of T2 (engine inlet total air temperature) or
ambient pressure (ambient pressure enginesensor) engine parameters.
A46. In the Un-Rated N1 Mode, the N1 rating limit, N1 TLA and maximum N1 indications
on ECAM E/WD are lost.
A47. In the Un-Rated N1 Mode, the N1 rating limit, N1 TLA and maximum N1 indications
on ECAM E/WD are lost
A48. When one thrust lever is in the CL detent and the other one out of detent, the LVR
ASYM"amber message comes up on the FMA until both levers are set in the CL detent (only
with both engines operative).
A49. LVR CLB: Flashes white (3rd line on the FMA) if the thrust levers are not in CL
position while the aircraft is above the altitude of thrust reduction with both engines running.
LVR MCT: Flashes white (3rd line on the FMA) if the thrust levers are not in MCT position
after an engine failure (with speed above green dot).
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Is regulated according to:
Ambient conditions
Is selected:
In flight, when the flaps are retracted (FLAPS lever at zero position)
Is selected in flight, when the flaps are extended (FLAPS lever not at zero position)
(a) When A/THR active: In the auto thrust mode (A/THR function active), the FMGC
computes the thrust, which is limited tothe value corresponding to the thrust lever position
(unless the alpha-floor mode is activated).
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(a) When A/THR is just armed and not active: In these conditions, each engine is controlled
by the position of its thrust lever. The pilot controls thrust by moving the thrust lever between
IDLE and TOGA positions. Each positionof the thrust lever within these limits corresponds
to an EPR.
Q53. Is there a mechanical connection between the thrust levers and the engines?
A53. No.
Q54. Which igniters are working when performing a manual start of an engine?
A54. Both.
A55. Engines will start, regardless of the thrust lever position; thrust will rapidly increase to
the corresponding thrust lever position, causing a hazardous situation, if thrust levers are not
at IDLE. Moreover, an ENG START FAULT ECAM warning will be triggered.
Q56. If no FLEX TEMP is set, then only TO/GA power can be selected?
A56. Yes.
Q57. If the thrust levers are set in the idle detent, is Alpha floor protection still available?
A57. Yes.
Q59. You are just about to take off. You have not inserted a FLEX temperature. Can you still
takeoff ? How?
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A59. Yes, by selecting TO/GA power.
Q60. What happens if you hold the instinctive disconnect push buttons for more than fifteen
seconds on THR LEVERS?
A60. If the flight crew pushes and holds one instinctive disconnect p/b for more than15 s, the
A/THR system is disconnected for the remainder of the flight. All A/THRfunctions
including ALPHA FLOOR are lost, and they can be recovered only at thenext FMGC
power-up (on ground).
A62. The minimum oil pressure limit is 60 psi. The digital oil pressure indication pulses, if
the oil pressure exceeds 390 PSI (increasing), or 386 PSI(decreasing).
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Q64. What are the EGT limitations of an engine?
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