APU-Physics Project

[Guest RhinoCargo]

Hello, I am an adult returning to school, and I am presently taking phyics. Recently, we were presented with the assignment of writing a report on the "phyics" of a device of our choosing,to be completed by the first of March. I decide to pick the APU ,being an avid flight simmer and hopes of a future in aviation I thought it was the natural choice. I have found a few sites;However,they are very vague,and I am looking for a indepth analysis , and a few close ups to back up my thoughts . So, instead of asking the librarian, I thought I would ask thos who share the same passion as I. If you have any great stories or sites that might have well constructed formula of presentation for such a unit(APU) please share them with me. Thank You. Best Wishes, Robert

[Guest glnflwrs]

Robert, APU stands for auxiliary power unit, as you probably know, and that term is as diversified as any other general term you could choose. The one common factor is all APU's provide an additional source of "power" to a reliant system. On a Boeing 737 there is a turbine driven APU in the tail cone that uses a small jet turbine engine to turn alternators and compressors to supply 110 Volt 400Hz electrical power as well as compressed air to the aircraft while on the ground. The electrical power is used for lighting, air conditioning, galley appliances, cockpit radios, and other requirements when the plane is not running the main engines. The APU is not able to provide the same amount of power the engines supply but meets most nonflight requirements. The compressed air from the APU is used to start the main engines. The main engines can be started with air from the APU, or electrical power from the APU or a ground unit. On the Space Shuttle Orbiter Vehicles the three APU's are powered by hydrogen which reacts with water to generate electrical current. This power then drives hydraulic and pneudraulic pumps, is conditioned to provide 440 VAC, 400HZ, and 250 VDC to the Orbiter systems. These APU's are different than the 737's though because they stay running during launch and flight and are required for almost all of the shuttles routine operations. On an offshore oil rig you will find APU's that hardly ever run, but must start immediately when needed to provide fire fighting capabilities, evacuation services, emergency radio systems, lighting, and alarm sirens. They are either piston driven auto types engines or jet turbines that will run on either natural gas or gasoline/jet fuel.Now, what type of APU are you looking to write about?Glennformer USAF Aircraft ElectricianPrincipal Electrical Instrument/Controls Designer PriPilot SEL

[michal 44]

APU is simply a small turbine engine...Michael J.

[Guest AAL109]

No true Michael,As Glenn pointed out an APU can be ANY source of auxillary power. Why I even have one connected to my computer called a UPS.As Glenn also pointed out, the APU can provide power by a mechanical or chemical means. He also mentioned offshore platforms. That just happens to be my area of work. On oil platform complexes you can find giant turbo-generators (a generator powered by a turbine engine) or motor-generators powered by internal combustion type engines (I have seen them be up to 12 cylinder diesels of the type that are used in locomotives.Any device which proveds power either in the absence or failure of main power can be called an APU.

[michal 44]

yeah but how does it apply to his question ?. The original question clearly applies to the world of aviation. I never heard of aircraft APU being anything but a turbine.Michael J.

[Tom Allensworth 1,532]

Michael, not quite. Remember the extending propeller driven electricity generators that would deploy in emergencies on WWII era a/c and later models as well? :)EDIT: However, I think all of the answers so far do not define the salient question; what about APU's are you focusing on for you physics paper? There are probably 1,000 different ways you could approach the topic appropriate for a focus on the physics of the beast. What in particular is of interest to you?

[michal 44]

I agree Tom. The problem as stated above is poorly defined. Is the main interest in APU itself or is it its power-generation (electricity, pneumatics, hydraulics) qualities ? Also it sounds to me more like an 'engineering' topic - yes, there is a LOT of physics here but so is in a glass of wine ..Michael J.

[michal 44]

There is a very good book "Jet aircraft power systems". Amazon has it for $6.0 (used). You might also find it in your library.Michael J.

[Splash_One 0]

I can see it now... ----------------------------[small]Robert ********APU ReportMr. John HancockFebruary 6, 2004[/small]

Auxillary Power Units

APU is simply a small turbine engine...

cloud>----------------------------------------MLA style report was what I was aiming at... a seven word report! :-lol That'd be hilarious :D :-lolP.S. - gotta love the sound of the APU!

[Guest glnflwrs]

>EDIT: However, I think all of the answers so far do not define>the salient question; what about APU's are you focusing on for>you physics paper? There are probably 1,000 different ways you>could approach the topic appropriate for a focus on the>physics of the beast. What in particular is of interest to>you?My point exactly, Tom. I wanted to let Robert know that the general term, "APU", was a very broadly applied term and he should consider narrowing his subject matter a bit to produce a narrative specific, or to diversify his research and do a general, all encompassing type "introduction to" essay.For a college student this kind of pre-project awareness can be the difference in a successful grade and an embarassing mention in front of the class. Robert asked, I related what I knew.Thanks for your support.Glenn

[Guest tinman]

>yeah but how does it apply to his question ?. The original>question clearly applies to the world of aviation. I never>heard of aircraft APU being anything but a turbine.The Canadiar CL-215 uses a non-turbine APU. It uses a little 2 cylinder gas engine that is pull-started, just like a lawnmower!

[Guest CX001]

A number of the larger allied aircraft in WWII had APUs. A good number of B-17Fs and B-17Gs had small gasoluine engines in the aft fuselage that drove generators. Not typical, though. B-24s, and B-29s had them also, and a few of the large British types had them as well. The Spruce Goose had a pretty big APU(a gasoline or diesel, i'm not sure) used to provide power and other services while the right engines weren't running. The USS Akron and USS Macon(airships) had several auxilary enignes per ship dedicated to generating power for lights, radios, etc. APUs are not intended top provide thrust, but i've heard that early 747 pilots would very rarely leave the APU on during takeoff to provide 1,000 lbs more thrust during high weight takeoffs.

[Guest RhinoCargo]

>>EDIT: However, I think all of the answers so far do not>define>>the salient question; what about APU's are you focusing on>for>>you physics paper? There are probably 1,000 different ways>you>>could approach the topic appropriate for a focus on the>>physics of the beast. What in particular is of interest to>>you?>>My point exactly, Tom. I wanted to let Robert know that the>general term, "APU", was a very broadly applied term and he>should consider narrowing his subject matter a bit to produce>a narrative specific, or to diversify his research and do a>general, all encompassing type "introduction to" essay.>>For a college student this kind of pre-project awareness can>be the difference in a successful grade and an embarassing>mention in front of the class. Robert asked, I related what I>knew.>>Thanks for your support.>>Glenn > Hello, Glenn and Tom, Thank you for your kind replies, I will follow your instructions and narrow my research down focusing on one specific area of the APU.I believe I will concentrate on the APU 's "Turbine operations" in commercial aircrafts such as: "..On a Boeing 737 there is a turbine driven APU in the tail cone that uses a small jet turbine engine to turn alternators and compressors to supply 110 Volt 400Hz electrical power as well as compressed air to the aircraft while on the ground.." Glenn There is much research to be done! Michael J.,Thank you for the reference to the "Jet aircraft power systems". Best Wishes , Robert

[Qavion 19]

"On a Boeing 737 there is a turbine driven APU in the tail cone that uses a small jet turbine engine to turn alternators and compressors to supply 110 Volt 400Hz electrical power as well as compressed air to the aircraft while on the ground."Glenn....Isn't there only one generator on a 737 and isn't it supposed to supply a nominal 115Vac?Also, what do you mean by compressors? There is only one "load" compressor (which is basically the front part of the spinning engine rotor)"The main engines can be started with air from the APU, or electrical power from the APU or a ground unit."I think you'll find that the main engines on a 737 cannot be started with electrical power from the APU ;-) (at least not on commercial 737's).Rgds.Ian.

[Guest RhinoCargo]

Hello, I justed wanted to thank thos who have given me information, and ideas about the APU,especially Glenn and Tom. I have just received my mark for my term paper on the APU and got an "A" 90% YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!:D Best Wishes , Robert