SECTION 13 - D

Engine Air System

Section 13 - D Engine Systems

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ENGINE AIR SYSTEMS

Apart from supplying the airflow for combustion, and hence creating power from the engine, there are
internal air circuits required in order to keep the engine operating efficiently.

There are flows for equalising pressures throughout the various components, pressurisation of oil seals,
cooling of internal parts and pressurisation of fuel Start Injector Manifold. Further, some of the control
items in the engine systems require air pressure for operation.

Certain customer services such as the cabin heater use the hot air resulting from compression. Figure 15
gives a general view of the air supply circuits.

P2 Air for Aircraft Systems

• Compressor Bleed Valve Control
• Start Fuel Injector Ventilation
• FCU Acceleration Controller
• Leigh Ice Detector
• Cabin Heater
P1`
Air
Bleed
Valve

P0 Air

P1` Air

Internal Air System

• Pressurisation
• Cooling
• Balance of Forces

Figure 15 – Air Supply Circuits

There are three air pressures in the engine. They are known as –

P0 – Ambient Air Pressure

P1` – Axial Compressor Pressure

Used for bearing pressurisation, cooling and maintaining required balance of forces within the engine.

P2 – Centrifugal Compressor Pressure

Used to control the compressor bleed valve, to ventilate the fuel start injector manifold, for cooling of hot
parts, supply control pressure for the FCU acceleration system, supply cabin heater and the Leigh ice
detector.

Section 13 - D Engine Systems

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COMPRESSOR BLEED VALVE

Engine Stall Margin

Refer to Figure 16. This graph shows the various operating lines of the engine. The ‘surge line’ is shown
in red and the engine ‘operating line’ with no bleed valve operation is shown in magenta.

It can be seen that at low compression ratios the magenta ‘operating line’ is close to the red ‘surge line’
with the obvious problem of engine surge.

In order to keep the engine from surging at low power, a bleed valve is fitted to leak air from the front of
the centrifugal compressor. There are two operating lines and these are shown in two green lines on the
graph. The solid green line is the operating line with no ‘off-set’ and the broken green line is the operating
line with the ‘off-set’ selected.

Compression
Ratio
P0 to P2
Operating Line - Bleed Closed

Operating Line - Bleed Open but not Offset

Engine Surge Line

95% Ng
Bleed Offset

85% Ng

Operating Line with Bleed Valves Offset

Air Flow

Figure 16 – Engine Stall Margin

The bleed valve is fitted to the engine to provide an air leak between the axial compressor and the
centrifugal compressor and prevents surging of the axial compressor. This may occur at low Ng (below
85% Ng). This surging is caused by the air slowing down at the centrifugal compressor inlet by cramming
effect. At low Ng the axial compressor output is greater than the centrifugal compressor.

At Ng above 85% when hovering IGE with a strong tailwind the exhaust gases deflected to the engine
intake may be recycled in the engine resulting in a partial stall of the axial compressor.

To remedy this surge problem the bleed valve allows P1` air to escape to atmosphere at the lower
operating range of the engine. The valve is operated by a spring and P2 air and is open until the Ng is
approximately 85% (28,200 RPM). It is then closed.

In a downwind hovering situation there is a tendency for hot exhaust gases to re-circulate into the engine
intakes. This has the effect of reducing the mass flow (less dense air) and can lead to surging. In order
to overcome this problem the bleed value can be opened by means of a button on each collective lever.
This will delay the closing of the bleed valve until 95% Ng (31,500 RPM). This is known as ‘off-set’
selection.

Note - Downwind hovering with bleed valve in normal position is prohibited.

The bleed valves are always off-set for take-off and landing.

Section 13 - D Engine Systems

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Cockpit indications
BLEED

OFFSET

34∝ Panel - White BLEED light will illuminate whilst bleed valve is open.

Green OFFSET light when ‘off-set’ selected.

Control is by a push-button on each Collective. Push and release for ‘off-set’. Push and release again for
‘normal’

P2 Air Supply For

Normal Valve Operations

P1’ Air Outlet

P2 Air
P2 Offset
Ventilating
Valve

Electrical Connection
P2 Air
For Offset Operations

P0 Air

Compressor Bleed Valve Offset Threshold Solenoid

Figure 17 – Compressor Bleed Valve

Section 13 - D Engine Systems

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Bleed Valve Operation

Refer to Figure 18. The system is shown with the bleed valve open and ‘off-set’.

The bleed valve is controlled by the ‘pressure detector’, which compares pressure values P0 and P2.

One of the ‘off-set’ buttons has been operated and the solenoid valve has been energised open.

At low Ng values the bleed valve is open under the action of a return spring the setting of which is higher
than the opposing P2 pressure which is reduced by the leakage created by the ‘normal venting valve’.
When the bleed is open the white BLEED light is illuminated.

When the Values of P2 and P0 correspond to the closing threshold (85% Ng when not ‘off-set’) the
normal venting valve closes and stops the leakage of P2 air.

If in the diagram, the bleed valves were not selected to ‘off-set’, the P2 pressure would now increase in
the bleed valve and close it. The white BLEED light would now go out.

With the bleed valve off-set, the normal venting valve will close at 85% Ng but the solenoid valve is
energised by means of the ‘off-set’ button. This allows the P2 pressure to leak through the ‘off-set venting
valve’. When engine speed reaches 95% Ng, the logic relay opens, the solenoid valve is de-energised
and the ‘off-set venting valve’ is closed thus allowing pressure to build and close the bleed valve.

Whenever the bleed ‘off-set’ is selected, the green OFFSET light will illuminate.

1PP6 2PP6

Collective
OFF-SET Bleed OFF-SET Button
Buttons
‘ON’
Solenoid
Valve
Energised Off-set
‘Open’ Venting
Valve

Opens When
NG > 95% P0
Normal
Logic Circuit Venting
Bleed
Valve P0 P2
Valve
+ BLEED Pressure
Detector
Micro
OFFSET
Switch

34 Alpha Panel
Indicator Light P2 Pressure

P1

P0 Pressure

Figure 18 – Compressor Bleed Valve Operation

Section 13 - D Engine Systems

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 INTENTIONALLY BLANK

Section 13 - D Engine Systems

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