AUXILIARY POWER UNIT (APU)
INTRODUCTION
Page 2: APU Location
The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is located in the unpressurized tail cone area of the aircraft.
It is a self-contained unit that can provide both electric and pneumatic power.
The APU allows the aircraft to be powered and to operate without a need for external ground support equipment.
Page 3: APU Outputs
The APU is a single-spool gas turbine engine that provides shaft drive power to an accessory gearbox.
The gearbox drives a generator and is connected to the APU starter.
In general, the APU generator can provide power to the aircraft electrical system and the APU can provide bleed air to either
operate the air conditioning packs or to operate the engine starters.
Page 4: APU Provides
While on the ground, the APU can supply electrical power to the electrical system and supply bleed air to operate both packs
and the engine starters.
Page 5: Takeoff Bleed Air Use
During takeoff, the APU can supply bleed air for the packs in order to avoid a thrust reduction that normally occurs when the
engines supply bleed air for the packs.
This enables improved performance for takeoff when required.
Page 6: In Flight Bleed Air Use
In flight, the APU bleed air may be used to supply the packs and start the engines.
The APU bleed air can supply two packs up to 15,000', but is limited to supply only one pack from 15,000' to 20,000'. Variations
in these maximum altitudes exist at different ISA temperatures.
The details for the use of in-flight APU bleed air for pack or engine starter operation are provided in the Limitations section of
your Flight Manual.
Page 7: Takeoff & Flight Electrical Use
The APU can also be operated during takeoff and flight to provide electrical power to one side of the electrical system when
dispatch with an inoperative engine generator is required.
Page 8: Maximum Use of Electrical Power
In flight, the APU generator can provide electrical power up to the maximum certificated aircraft altitude of approximately
FL390.
Page 9: Electronic Control Box
Automatic control of the APU is provided by an Electronic Control Box (ECB).
The ECB is a full-authority electronic controller that provides control logic for these functions:
Page 10: APU Starter
The APU is started with a DC powered electric starting motor that can be powered by normal electrical power or by the aircraft
batteries when normal power is not available.
The starter is controlled by the ECB and will only operate when the air intake "flap" is fully open and both the APU Master
switch and Start pushbutton are ON.
Page 11: Normal Power for APU Start
On the ground, normal electrical power for APU start can be provided by an engine driven generator or by an external power
source.
In flight, normal electrical power for APU start can be provided by an engine driven generator, and with normal power, the APU
can be started throughout the entire aircraft environmental envelope.
Page 12: Battery Power for APU Start
On the ground or in flight without normal electrical power, the APU can be started by use of aircraft battery power.
However, the maximum altitude for an in-flight battery start is approximately 25,000'.
Page 13: APU Inlet Air Flap
Inlet air for APU combustion is provided through an automatic operating "flap" located at the bottom of the aft fuselage.
The flap opens for APU operation and closes when the APU is shut down.
The "flap" is electrically powered and controlled by the ECB.
While open, the flap allows external air to flow to the inlet of the APU compressor.
Page 14: APU Exhaust
After the air flows through the APU combustion section, the APU exhaust is delivered straight out of the end of the aircraft.
Page 15: APU Fuel Supply
APU fuel is supplied through a Low Pressure Fuel Valve in the left side of the fuel system.
Fuel pressure to the APU is normally provided by a Main Boost Pump, however an APU pump will automatically operate when
Main Boost pump pressure is not available.
The fuel flow to the APU is controlled by the ECB.
Page 16: APU Oil Supply
The APU has it’s own oil lubrication system.
If the oil quantity is low, an advisory is displayed on the ECAM APU system display page.
Page 17: APU Controls
Most of the APU controls are on the Overhead Panel of the flight deck.
Externally, there is an APU Shut Off pushbutton and APU FIRE warning light located in front of the nose gear well. We’ll describe
the external controls later...
For now, let's look close at the flight deck APU controls and indicators.
Page 18: APU Master and Start
The APU Master Switch and Start Pushbutton switch are located on the APU control panel shown here.
These are the switches you will normally use to start and shutdown the APU.
Page 19: APU Bleed Switch
An APU BLEED pushbutton switch is installed on the Air Conditioning panel. It is used to control the supply of APU bleed air to
the pneumatic system.
With the APU running and the APU BLEED selected ON, the engine bleeds are closed.
Therefore, this switch is normally OFF while the engines are running, unless the crew intends to provide APU air to the packs.
Page 20: APU GEN Switch
The APU GEN pushbutton switch is located on the Electrical Panel and is normally left in the ON position. It is used to control
the APU generator.
The APU generator will not automatically go online if this switch is ON.
The External power and Engine Generator power must be removed in order for the APU generator to go on line.
Page 21: APU Fire Switch
The last APU control item in the flight deck is the guarded APU Fire Push Button Switch.
This switch can shut down the APU and arm the squib to dispense agent to fight an APU fire.
The details of this switch will be described in the Fire Detection and Protection module.
Page 22: APU Indications
The APU indications are displayed on the ECAM APU page.
The ECAM APU page automatically displays when you start the APU.
The normal indications are: EGT and compressor RPM, APU bleed air configuration, APU generator operation, and the position
of the APU air intake flap.
Page 23: APU Fuel & Oil Indications
There are also indications for abnormal conditions, such as low oil quantity.
We’ll show these more as we describe normal APU operation.
Page 24: Ground Safety
Before we finish this Introduction to the APU, let’s discuss the Ground Operation Safety that is provided with the APU.
Because of these features, the APU can operate without crew supervision in the flight deck while on the ground.
Page 25: APU Fire Detection & Shutdown
First, the APU is equipped with Fire Detection, Fire Warnings, and automatic shutdown.
These warnings are provided both in the flight deck and by the nose gear.
If a fire is detected, the APU will not only shut down, but on the ground, the APU fire extinguisher is automatically discharged.
We will demonstrate the Fire Detection shutdown later.
Page 26: Completes the Introduction
This completes the introduction to the A320 Auxiliary Power Unit.
You should be familiar with the APU operation and with the location of the controls and indicators.
OPERATIONS
Page 2: APU Start - Normal Power
We will now demonstrate a start of the APU when the aircraft is parked and has normal electrical power provided from an
external source.
Page 3: External Power is ON
We assume that you have configured the aircraft with normal electrical power, the EXT PWR blue ON light is illuminated, and
you have just performed your preflight walkaround inspection.
Page 4: Select the Master Switch First
OK, you're back on the flight deck.
The APU start requires you to select two switches on in sequence.
First; turn on the APU MASTER SW.
Verify that the blue ON light illuminates in the switch and that the ECAM APU page is automatically displayed.
Page 5: Watch the FLAP OPEN Appear
Watch the ECAM APU page.
When the APU air inlet flap is full open, the green FLAP OPEN indication will appear.
If the Flap does not open, the APU will not start.
Page 6: Select the START Pushbutton
Next, to initiate the APU start sequence, press the APU START pushbutton.
Note: If you push the APU start button before the Flap is open, the start sequence will not begin until the flap is fully open.
The blue ON light illuminates in the APU START switch to indicate to the crew that the automatic APU start sequence has
begun.
Page 7: Observe the Start
The Starter comes on first, then the ignition and fuel are sequenced to on.
At 60% N, the starter cuts out and shortly thereafter the ignition is automatically de-energized.
You can observe the APU spool up on the ECAM APU page by watching the N (RPM) and EGT rise.
Page 8: AVAIL and APU AVAIL Come On
When the N of the APU reaches about 95%, the blue ON light in the APU START pushbutton will extinguish and the green AVAIL
light will come on.
The illumination of the green AVAIL light occurs simultaneously with an AVAIL indication on the ECAM APU page and an APU
AVAIL memo on the E/WD. These indications inform the crew that APU operation is normal and both electrical power and bleed
air from the APU are now available.
Page 9: Reselect APU Page
Normally the ECAM automatically displays the next expected page as you complete a task. Therefore, in a normal sequence of
events, once the APU operation is normal, the ECAM DOOR/OXY page will automatically replace the ECAM APU page after
about 10 seconds. This normal sequence of ECAM pages allows the crew to verify the closing of the aircraft doors before
pushback. However, if you want to continue to view the APU parameters, you will need to select the ECAM APU page. So, press
the APU switch on the ECAM control panel.
Page 10: Turn OFF the External Power
OK, notice the displayed items on the ECAM APU page, especially the generator displays.
Ensure the APU GEN switch is selected to ON. Notice that all parameters are normal, but the APU generator is not online. The
APU generator will not automatically pick up the electrical loads. You must turn off the higher priority electrical source for the
APU generator to come online.
To accomplish this, you must turn off the External Electrical power by pressing the EXT PWR switch.
Page 11: APU or External Power?
When the APU generator is powering the aircraft, the display on the ECAM APU page displays as shown.
On this frame, you can select the EXT PWR switch on and off to observe the display change on the ECAM APU page.
Page 12: Select the APU Bleed to ON
To turn on the APU bleed air, press the APU BLEED pushbutton. Notice that the blue light in the switch comes on when the
switch is ON.
The selection of APU BLEED to ON provides APU air to the system.
A check valve is installed in the output of APU bleed air to ensure that another source will not backpressure the APU.
Page 13: E/WD and ECAM Displays
With the APU BLEED on, you can view the bleed operation on the ECAM APU page.
When the APU BLEED switch is ON and bleed air is available, the APU bleed valve will open and the APU AVAIL memo is
replaced with APU BLEED.
On this frame, you can select the APU BLEED switch on and off to observe the display change on the ECAM APU page.
Page 14: Continue with Preflight
OK, we have the APU electrical power and bleed air supplied to the aircraft.
You can continue with your other preflight duties.
Page 15: APU Bleed on for Takeoff
Normally you will keep the APU operating until after the engines have been started.
In some cases the crew may keep the APU operating for takeoff to provide bleed air to operate the packs. In this case, you
would leave the APU BLEED switch ON.
This situation allows for a no engine bleed takeoff when improved takeoff performance is required.
For today, we will demonstrate shutting down the APU after engine start...
Page 16: APU Can Ingest Engine Exhaust
Recall the location of the APU air inlet.
You may consider turning off the APU bleed air as soon as possible after engine start to avoid ingesting engine exhaust gases,
which could find their way into the air conditioning system.
Page 17: APU Cool Down Cycle
Since the APU is equipped with an automatic cool down cycle, if APU bleed air has been in use prior to shutdown, the APU will
continue to operate for 60 to 120 seconds to allow for proper cooling.
In any event, you will normally turn off the bleed air before turning off the APU. This action will close the APU bleed valve and
the engine bleed valves will open to continue the supply of bleed air to the pneumatic system.
Page 18: APU Bleed Switch to OFF
So, turn off the bleed air by selecting the APU BLEED pushbutton switch to OFF.
As soon as the switch is turned OFF, the APU BLEED memo on the Engine Warning Display changes to APU AVAIL.
The display on the ECAM APU page indicates the closure of the APU bleed air valve.
Page 19: Master to OFF Starts the Timer
The APU is equipped with an automatic cool down cycle. If the APU Bleed air was in use before shutdown, the next step may or
may not shut down the APU immediately depending on the required operating time for cooling of the APU hot section. Select
the APU MASTER switch to OFF and notice that it’s blue light extinguishes and the AVAIL light in the Start pushbutton also goes
out. Depending on the cool down cycle, the APU will shut off at the appropriate time, which could be after a delay of 60 to 120
seconds.
Page 20: Interrupt the Shutdown
During the cool down cycle, the APU AVAIL memo remains in view. If you change your mind and want to interrupt the
shutdown cycle for continued APU operation, you can select the APU MASTER switch back to ON as long as the APU AVAIL
memo is in view.
Page 21: No Bleed - Immediate Shutdown
If APU Bleed was not in use prior to selecting the APU MASTER switch to OFF, the APU will immediately shutdown. When the
APU begins to shutdown, the APU AVAIL memo blanks. On completion of shutdown, the FLAP OPEN indication on the ECAM
APU page blanks to indicate the flap is closed.
Page 22: APU Battery Start
We will now demonstrate an APU start when the aircraft is not normally powered.
While the procedure is basically the same, the indications will be reduced since the aircraft only has battery power, and the
ECAM is not operating.
Page 23: Master Switch On / Battery Start
Assuming the EXT PWR light is out, and only the Battery power is on, select the APU MASTER switch to ON.
Observe the ON light illuminates in the switch.
You have to assume the APU flap is opening, because there is no ECAM display.
Page 24: Starts with Battery Power
Select the APU START switch to ON and observe the blue ON light illuminates. The APU will start with no other indications.
When the RPM of the APU reaches 95%, the START ON light goes out, and the AVAIL light comes on. At this time the APU
generator will automatically come online and the ECAM will be powered. After about 10 seconds the ECAM APU page will
appear and you can adjust the brightness of the ECAM display as necessary on the ECAM control panel.
Page 25: DOORS Page Comes ON
Remember, that after about 10 seconds, the ECAM DOOR/OXY page automatically replaces the ECAM APU page.
This completes our demonstration of an APU battery start.
