Aircraft Pneumatic

Systems

Pneumatic system
A fluid power system that uses a
compressible fluid, air to transmit
power.

purpose
For major functions

To perform the same type of operations

performed by hydraulic systems
Used to operate
Landing gear
Flaps
Brakes
Doors
Driving pumps ,starters and water injection pumps

For emergency

As a back up system to be used when hydraulic

(other main) system fails

To operate emergency devices

advantages
Air is universally available
Is inexhaustible
Air is compressible-can be used to store

pressure
No return lines, reservoirs and hand
pumps are required - simple and light in
weight.
Relatively Free from temperature problems
No fire hazard
Minimum contamination

disadvantages
Air is highly compressible-energy is
lost compressing the air
Water might condense when air is
compressed
This water might freeze when
temperature and pressure are very
low
Needs water (moisture) separator

components

Source of compressed air

Air bottle
Relief valve
Control valve
Check valves
Restrictors

Water separator
Filter
Shuttle valve
Chemical drier
Lines and tubing

Source of compressed air

Multi-stage piston compressor
Engine bleed air
Vane type air pump

Multi stage piston

compressor
Air is compressed with piston type
compressors with many stages
used to recharge high pressure
bottles with compressed air
The drive shaft is driven with the
engine or electrical motors

Vane type pump

Consists of sliding vanes in a rotor that is

eccentrically mounted in a cylindrical

housing.
Rotation of the rotor creates a low
pressure chamber to suck air and ,traps
the air between the vanes and compresses
the air in the chamber whose volume
decreases with the rotation of the rotor.
Is widely used for low pressure systems.

Types of vane type pump

Wet
dry

Wet type pump

Uses vanes made of steel
Lubrication is obtained by engine oil
flowing into the compressor through
the mounting flange
The air should pass through an oil
separator before it can be used for
the desired purpose.

Dry type pump

Uses vanes made of carbon
Does not need a lubricant
The vanes provide the required
lubrication
The vanes are breakable
can be easily damaged

Dry type pump

Wet type
pump

Jet engine bleed air

Air is bled (tapped) from the
compressor section of a jet engine or
an auxiliary power unit.
The pressure is regulated and
supplied to user systems.
Widely used for medium pressure
systems.

Air bottle
Is used for storage of compressed air
at system pressure in high pressure
systems
Has two valves
Charging valve
Compressed air source can be connected
here to charge the cylinder on ground

Control valve
acts as a shut of valve until the air is
required for use.

Relief valve
Prevents damage to the system by limiting

the pressure in the system.

Has a valve that is closed by a spring at
normal pressures.
The excess pressure overcomes the spring
force opening the valve and the surplus air
is exhausted into the atmosphere.
The valve remains open until the pressure
returns to normal

Relief
valve

Control valve
A shut off valve that is used to
control the flow of compressed air
between the source and the system.

control valve

Control
valve

Check valves
Are used both in hydraulic and
pneumatic systems.
Is a one way flow control valve

Check valve

filters
Micronic filters are widely used to
protect the system from dirt and
dust.
Consists of
Ports
Filter element
Micronic type-cellulose, replaceable
Screen type-wire mesh ,cleanable
A relief hole

Filter-micronic
type

Filter
-screen
type

restrictor
Is a flow control valve that reduces
rate of airflow
Reduces speed of operation of an
actuating unit

Has a wide inlet and a narrow outlet

to reduce rate of flow.

restrictor

Variable restrictor
Is similar to the restrictor except that
the dimension of the outlet can be
adjusted for desired performance.

Variable restrictor

Shuttle valve
Is used to direct either normal
operating pressure or alternate
emergency pressure for actuating a
unit.

Moisture separator
Removes moisture from the air.
It uses deflector baffles in the path of the

compressed air to force it into a sharp

turn.
The air makes a sharp turn and leaves the
separator while the water condenses on
the baffles to be collected on the bottom
of the separator.
A dump valve opens to dump the collected
water when the pump is not operating.

Moisture
separator

Air out

Heater blanket

Air in
Dump valve
solenoid

Chemical drier
Removes the moisture left after the
air passes through the moisture
separator.
Consists of a cartridge that contains
a desiccant.

Tubing and Lines

Pneumatic tubing and lines can be
Rigid tubing
Stainless steel for high pressure and/or high
temperature areas
Aluminum tubing- for medium pressure

Flexible hose

Types of systems
High pressure
Medium pressure
Low pressure

High pressure systems

Compressed Air is stored in metal bottles
Pressure range is from 1000-3000 PSI
The air bottle has two valves
Charging valve
Control valve

The bottle is light in weight

Cannot be recharged during flight
Operation is limited by small supply of bottled air
supply is reserved for emergency operation

Some aircraft use compressors to charge the

bottles during flight

Types
Full systems
Back up systems

Full systems
Some aircraft use pneumatic power
to operate flaps, doors, landing gear
and brakes.

4300-4950 PSI

1750 psi
SENSING
LINE

components
Four stage radial compressor

Driven by engine accessory drive

Unloading valve

Maintains 2900-3300 PSI

Shuttle valve

Allows ground charging by isolating the compressor

Moisture separator-removes 98% of the water

Desiccant
filter
Back pressure valve
Bottles
Isolation valve
Pressure reducer
Safety disc

components

Filter and relief valve

Pressure regulator
Compressor
Hydraulic motor
Solenoid controlled selector valve
Safety fitting
Water separator
Dump valve
Chemical drier
Pneumatic manifold
filter

Back up systems
Pneumatic systems are used as
emergency systems to extend
retractable landing gear and
application of brakes.

Medium pressure system

Generally obtains compressed air
from the compressor section of a jet
engine.
Pressure ranges from 100-150 PSI
Used for cabin pressurization and
thermal anti-icing systems

Low pressure system

Used on light reciprocating engine
aircraft
Compressed air is obtained from an
electrically driven or engine driven
pump
Pressure ranges from 1 to 10 PSI

Dry and wet type pumps

Pneumatic system for

deicing

Pneumatic system for driving

gyros

Suction driven

Pneumatic power system

maintenance
Includes
Servicing ,troubleshooting, component
installation and removal and operational
testing
Compressor lubricating oil - check daily
Filler cup must be torqued and safetied

Purging periodically, to remove water and other

contaminants
Might require removal of units and lines

Draining air bottles

Servicing air bottles
Operational check

Where does the air used in a medium

pressure system come from?

It comes from the jet engine compressor.

It comes from an air bottle that is recharged
before takeoff.
it comes from an electric driven compressor
connected to the main gearbox.
It comes from the exhaust system of a jet engine

-What is the function of the air

compressor?

The air compressor regulates air temperatureThe air compressor replaces the air pressure and
volume lost through leakage and operation.
The air compressor discharges air after it has
been used by the air conditioning system
The air compressor is not used in Pneumatic
Systems because it is a component of the Engine.

Bottled air is usually reserved for

emergency operation-

TRUE
FALSE

What is the moisture separator?

It's the Pneumatic System's pressure

sensing regulator and relief valveIt's the system that separates water from
air.
It's a component of the Pneumatic System
that acts as a back-up unit for emergency
operations
It's the component of the Pneumatic
System that separates air from the
hydraulic fluid.

What is used to prevent explosions in

the moisture separator?

A non-return valve
A by-pass valve,
A safety fitting.
There is no protection against explosions.

Pneumatic Systems using air bottles

can be operated several times before
recharging.

TRUE
FALSE

What are Pneumatic Systems used for?

Pneumatic Systems are used for brakes,

doors, pumps/ and emergency devices.

Pneumatic Systems are used for the main
control surfaces.
Pneumatic Systems are used in case of
extra engine power is needed.
Pneumatic Systems are not used in
aviation because gases become
uncompressible at high altitudes.

Which categories can Pneumatic

Systems be divided into?

High Pressure Systems and Low Pressure

Systems.
High Pressure Systems/Medium Pressure
Systems and Low Pressure Systems.
Medium Pressure Systems and Low
Pressure Systems.
Nitrogen Systems and Air Systems.

Why do Pneumatic Systems using

eternal air not need a return line?

Because they have very big reservoirs

that are filled with gas before takeoff.

Because the air they use is discharged
after use.
It is not true! They have return lines.
Because the gas when compressed
becomes very hot so that it can not be
reutilised.

Pneumatic systems employ gas

together with a liquid to transmit a
force.

TRUE
FALSE