Aircraft Systems
Powerplant
Reciprocator Engines – It is used for training aircrafts and general aviation. The basic
premise of reciprocating engines is that they transform chemical energy (fuel) into
mechanical energy. Through the combustion process, this conversion occurs within the
engine's cylinders. Spark ignition and compression ignition are the two most common
reciprocating engines.
Combustion - When the spark plugs ignite the mixture, it truly starts to burn. After that,
it burns away from the pins until it's all gone. This method of combustion guarantees
that the temperature and pressure build-up is smooth and that the expanding gases
supply the most force to the piston at the proper time during the power stroke. We must
employ a propulsion system to generate thrust to propel an airplane or a miniature
rocket into the air. We'll go over the basics because the combustion is vital for aviation
and rocket power. A chemical reaction in which a material reacts quickly with oxygen to
produce heat is combustion.
Inside the reciprocator engine, pistons, vacuums, pumps, and air filters are
found.
Cylinder of the Engine – A four-stroke part of the engine creates mechanical
energy and makes the aircraft fly. A repeating process.
1. Intake Stroke - It begins when the piston begins to descend. The intake valve
opens, and the gasoline and air mixture are pulled into the cylinder.
2. Compression Stroke - When the intake valve closes and the piston begins to
return to the top of the cylinder, the process starts. When the fuel-air mixture is
ignited, this portion of the cycle is employed to get a lot more power out of it.
3. Power Stroke - When the mixture of fuel and air is ignited, it begins to combust,
resulting in a controlled explosion. The cylinder's pressure rises dramatically, forcing
the piston away from the cylinder head and generating the power propels the
crankshaft forward.
4. Exhaust Stroke - Burnt gases out of the cylinder with this device it is to push the
combustion process. The process begins when the exhaust valve is opened and the
piston begins to move back toward the cylinder head.
Propeller – It is connected to the crankshaft of the engine. The propeller is a
revolving airfoil subject to induced drag, stalling, and other aerodynamic effects.
It produces the necessary thrust to propel the aircraft through the air or to drag it
in some situations.
Fixed Pitch Propeller - A fixed-pitch propeller has a fixed blade angle. The
manufacturer determines the propeller's pitch, which cannot be modified. The
pitch setting of a fixed-pitch propeller is neither suitable for cruise nor climb
because it only achieves the best efficiency at a specific combination of airspeed
and rpm. As a result, each performance category suffers a little. When low
weight, simplicity, and cost are required, a fixed-pitch propeller is utilized.
Control Speed Propeller - Propeller can modify pitch on the ground while the
engine is not running but not in flight using a propeller with blades that cannot be
adjusted while the engine is not operating. A ground-adjustable propeller is
another name for it. A controllable-pitch propeller with a governor that maintains
a constant rpm despite changing air loads is a constant-speed propeller. It's the
most common form of propeller that can be adjusted in pitch. A constant-speed
propeller is more efficient than other propellers because it allows you to choose
the most efficient engine rpm for the given conditions.
Camshaft – It is use to make the pair valves in the cylinder works. The intake
and exhaust valves of the cylinders are actuated by a revolving shaft with
irregularly shaped disks attached to it. Gears or chains drive a separate camshaft
from the crankshaft, for each row of cylinders.
Turbine Engines – Most used in commercial aircrafts. Gas engine which can
automatically and the system compresses air to high pressure, then combusts fuel in
the air stream to raise both pressure and temperature, and then expands the high-
pressure exhaust gases through a turbine.
Induction System - This mechanism pulls in air from the outside, mixes it with fuel, and
then delivers the mixture of fuel and air to the cylinder, where it burns.
Mixture of Fuel to Air = 1 molecule:15 molecules
The more combustions and exchange of gases the faster the engine of aircraft.
Carburetor System – The carburetor is a component of the engine's induction system,
and it's in charge of bringing air and fuel together and combining them.
Venturi - By restricting the fluid in a cone-shaped tube, a Venturi is a mechanism
that speeds up the flow of the liquid. The liquid must increase its velocity to
reduce its pressure and create a partial vacuum. The force of the fluid returns to
the ambient or pipe level when it exits the constriction.
Float Chamber - A float chamber is a device that allows a system's liquid supply
to be automatically controlled.
Fuel Discharge Nozzle - The float chamber's increased air pressure forces fuel
through the discharge nozzle and into the venturi. The maximum fuel flow
required by the engine and the available fuel inlet pressure determines the jet
size. The fuel is discharged into an ambient air pressure chamber within the
nozzle assembly through this jet.
Throttle Valve - The throttle valve controls the flow of the fuel-air mixture. The
throttle valve is adjusted from the flight deck by the throttle.
Fuel Injection Systems - The fuel is pumped directly into the cylinders or just ahead of
the intake valve in a fuel injection system. The fuel injection system's air intake is similar
to that of a carburetor system, with an additional air source inside the engine cowling.
Fuel Pump - fuel can be loaded, stored, monitored, and delivered to the engine
using this system.
Fuel Control Unit - The fuel control unit functions as a computer, calculating the
amount of fuel required to provide the operator with the required power.
Fuel Manifold Valve- transfer metered gasoline to the engine's six cylinders.
The valve receives fuel pressure from a diaphragm that pushes upward, allowing
all fuel to flow through a screen and into the valve's six ports.
Ignition System - Magnetos, spark plugs, high-tension leads, and an ignition switch
make up the ignition system, which produces a spark that ignites the fuel-air
combination in the cylinders.
Magnetos - Fuel manifold valves transfer metered gasoline to the engine's six
cylinders. The valve receives fuel pressure from a diaphragm that pushes
upward, allowing all fuel to flow through a screen and into the valve's six ports.
Spark Plugs – It is to maintain combustion pressure within the engine, a device
for sending an electric current from an ignition system to the combustion
chamber of a spark-ignition engine to ignite the compressed fuel/air mixture by
an electric spark.
Ignition Switch - An ignition switch controls all components in an aircraft's
ignition system. The type of magnetos used and the number of engines on the
plane determine the switch used. One terminal of the ignition switch is linked to
the primary electrical circuit between the coil and the breaker contact points. The
switch's other end is attached to the aircraft's ground structure.
Detonation - In the combustion chamber of a cylinder, detonation is an uncontrolled,
explosive igniting of the fuel-air combination. It creates high temperatures and
pressures, which, if not addressed, can cause the piston, cylinder, or valves to fail
prematurely. Detonation can cause engine overheating, roughness, or loss of power in
less severe circumstances.
Causes of Detonation:
Lower Grade Fuel
High Power, Lean Mixture
Steep Climb, Little Cooling
Cooling System - Air enters the engine compartment through vents on the front of the
engine, cowling and cooling it. This air is directed through baffles to fins attached to the
engine cylinders and other engine elements, where it absorbs the heat generated by the
engine. The hot air is expelled from the engine, cowling's lower, aft part through one or
more apertures. The air-cooling system is less effective during ground operations,
takeoffs, go-arounds, and other periods of high-power, low-airspeed operation. On the
other hand, high-speed descents might provide a lot of air and cause the engine to
overheat, causing temperature swings.
Why Does Engine Heat?
The cylinders' burning fuel generates a lot of heat, primarily released through the
exhaust system. To keep the engine from overheating, a lot of the residual heat must
be eliminated or dissipated. Otherwise, the excessively high engine temperatures might
result in engine failure, excessive oil consumption, detonation, and catastrophic
damage to the engine, as well as a loss of power.
Exhaust Systems - The burned combustion gases are ejected overboard, the interior is
heated, and the engine exhaust systems defrost the windscreen. Exhaust tubes, a
muffler, and a muffler shroud are part of an exhaust system. The exhaust gases are
forced out of the cylinder and into the atmosphere via the exhaust pipe system and the
exhaust valve. Outside air is channeled through a shroud around the muffler and
brought into the air inlet for cabin heat. The departing exhaust gases heat the muffler,
which heats the air around it. The cabin is then heated and defrosted by ducting the hot
air.
