Wednesday, April 18, 2018

A General Guide On Aircraft Engine Accessories

By Paul Robinson


For an aircraft to fly, it needs to produce a forward and upward force. The opposing forces are gravity and drag due to friction. The aircraft engine is responsible for producing this forward force which is known as thrust. The wings of planes use this thrust to provide the upward lift needed to attain flight heights. The following discussion will help you understand aircraft engine accessories.

There are several types of engines based on the mode of operation. Each type has its advantages and limits which apply to different situations. The most common types are the turbojet and turboprop engines. They fall under reaction engines. Another category is the piston engines. They are similar to the automotive engines but were replaced due to their weight issues.

The motivation has been the desire to fly planes at much higher altitudes which means covering larger distances. The fuel use has also been significantly improved. Latest advancements include the ramjets and the electric aircraft engine. Research is still being done as there are no limits in the design and production of better parts and accessories.

Turbojets and turboprops are grouped under reaction engines. Their cycle begins at the air inlet where the air is inhaled and compressed through multistage compressors. The inlet duct is an essential accessory that optimizes the air flow to prevent energy losses. After compression, the air is combined with fuel and delivered to the combustion zone. This is assisted through the use of pipes and carburetors. A spark plug or burner ignites the mixture to give out streams of gases.

A basic aeroplane engine has three distinct parts namely the compressors, the combustion zone and the turbines. Other components include the nozzle and afterburners. Several systems are used to assist in the optimum functioning of the machine with some like the ignition, control, lubrication systems and many more. A turbojet uses fans to draw in air, and the exit jet provides thrust while a turboprop has a propeller or rotor attached to the drive shaft and provides the required thrust.

In the first region, you will find components that relate to compressors. These include blades, rotors, suction ducts, intercoolers and many more. Air compression is done at several stages. There are also gears and bearings that help in transmitting and receiving mechanical motion. Due to compression, the air tends to become very hot, and a cooling system is used to reduce the intake air temperature. The combustion zone is the next stage from there.

The carburettor is where compressed air is combined with the fuel awaiting ignition. Other parts like the injectors, burners, fuel pumps, tappets and sensors assist in the smooth operation of the combustion process. The next stage is the expansion process. The hot gases are allowed to expand in the turbines and released to the atmosphere at the nozzle point. Manifolds, conduits, afterburners and the nozzle, are some of the significant components found in this region.

Other parts include the alternator, mountings and supports, oil filters and turbochargers. They are dependent on the configuration of the engine and the designs of manufacturers. Each power source has its manuals that show the number and details of each accessory used.




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