A320 - Cabin cooling capabilities on ground -

Hot day operation

ATA: 21-00 FIN: Ref: 21.00.00121

A/C Type: A320 Topic: First Issue Date: 06-OCT-2015
Part Number: Last Publication 06-OCT-2015
Date:
Supplier:
Linked Articles: ISI 21.00.00122 Linked
ISI 21.00.00123 Documentation:
ISI 21.00.00124
ISI 21.00.00125

Purpose of this Article:

The purpose of this article is to provide information about

the A320 cooling capabilities on ground during hot and
humid conditions in the summer months

Engineering Support
First Issue Date: 06-OCT-2015
Model: Last Publication Date: 06-OCT-2015
Manufacturer:

Applicability: A320

Description

This article provides information regarding the A320 cabin cooling

capabilities on ground during hot and humid conditions in the summer
months.

The cabin cooling performances on ground are as per the aircraft standard
specification provided that the scheduled maintenance is performed.

In case of operation in extreme temperatures it is recommended to use a

low pressure ground cart.
Solution / Recommendation

1. Cabin cooling performance on ground

In order to cover various hot weather conditions that can be encountered 3

cases are considered:
1) 38°C/45% relative humidity (standard aircraft specification)
2) 38°C/95% relative humidity
3) 50°C/20% relative humidity (assumed to be the extreme case)

1.1. Standard specification – Cooling performance on ground

38°C/45% relative humidity level

Starting with a passenger compartment heat soaked to 38°C (100°F) the

air conditioning system shall cool the compartment to a mean
temperature of 27°C with a maximum humidity of 60 % in 30 minutes
under the following conditions:
- Sea level altitude
- Outside air temperature 38°C
- Ambient relative humidity 45 %
- zero wind
- Packs supplied from the APU
- All exterior doors and windows shut
- Window blinds closed
- Minimum electrical loads
- No passengers on board

The graphs provided in figure 1and figure 2 of attached document show

the cabin pull down performance (cabin temperature versus time) under
the following conditions:
- cabin lights ON during pull down, boarding and taxiing
- Cabin window blinds and doors closed during pull down
- 164 passengers loaded
- Boarding rate 10 Pax/minute
- Cabin windows blinds opened during boarding phase
- Heat transfer through open doors during boarding is not
considered.

Cabin pull down performance for the two following APU models available
for the A320 aircraft, HONEYWELL 131-9 (figure 1) and APIC APS3200
(figure 2), are shown.
Differences between the two APU’s are explained by the total flow
delivered by the APU which is fixed by the APU Electronic Control Box
(ECB) which varies on ground from about 0.97 kg/sec to
1.05 kg/sec

NOTE: If the APU is capable of delivering more airflow than the airflow
limits fixed by the ECB when the ECS demand to the APU is 100 %, more
airflow will be discharged into the air distribution system.

1.2. Cooling performance on ground 38°C/95% relative humidity

level

The graphs provided in figure 3 and figure 4 show the cabin pull down
capabilities at 38° C and 95 % relative humidity. The same conditions as
in paragraph1.1 above are taken into account.

To summarize, starting with a cabin which is heat soaked to 38° C, cabin

lights OFF, the air conditioning system will cool the compartment to a
temperature of around 20°C after 60 minutes, and to a temperature of
around 22°C with cabin light ON and IFE ON (after 60 minutes)
1.3. Cabin pull down capabilities on ground 50°C/20 % relative
humidity level

The graphs provided in figure 5 and figure 6 show the cabin pull down
capabilities at 50°C and 20% relative humidity. The same conditions as in
paragraph 1.1 above are taken into account.

To summarize, starting with a cabin which is heat soaked to 50° C, cabin

lights OFF, the air conditioning system will cool the compartment to a
temperature of around 29°C after 60 minutes.

© Airbus SAS, 2015. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.The technical
information provided in this article is for convenience and information purposes only. It shall in
no case replace the official Airbus technical or Flight Operations data which shall remain the sole
basis for aircraft maintenance and operation. These recommendations and information do not
constitute a contractual commitment, warranty or guarantee whatsoever. They shall not
supersede the Airbus technical nor operational documentation; should any deviation appear
between this article and the Airbus or airline's official manuals, the operator must ensure to
cover it with the appropriate document such as TA, FCD, RAS. Access to WISE is supplied by
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