Farooq Khan

Task 1 P1 (I) Explain the physical principles (i.e. the scientific laws) involved in an aircraft hydraulic power circuit. Hydraulics systems use an incompressible fluid such as oil or water, to send forces from one location to another. Hydraulics work on the principle of pressurised fluid forcing mechanical action. According to Pascals law, an increase in pressure anywhere within a system of fluid creates an equal increase at every other point in a system furthermore it allows the transfer of forces through the hoses and pipes of a hydraulic system. (ii) Describe how fluid flow is produced in a hydraulic system. A hydraulic system transmits its power through means of fluid flow under pressure. The rate of flow of the oil through the system into the actuating cylinder will determine the speed with which the piston rod in the actuating cylinder. Also the piston is regulated by oil under pressure; the oil is in contract with both sides of the piston head but at different pressures. (iii) How is the direction of the hydraulic fluid changed, so that components and actuators (cylinders and pistons) can move backwards and forwards? Pumps can charge accumulators, which use compressed gas to store energy and to maintain pressure on the system furthermore actuators change the direction of hydraulic fluid flow through selector valves, selector valves will allow fluid flow into different paths. A selector valve directs fluid under system pressure to the location where its needed.

Task 2-P2 (i) Describe the types and properties of three different hydraulic fluids used in aircraft. There are 3 different types of hydraulic fluids that are used in an aircraft hydraulic system these fluids are; vegetable oil, mineral oil and synthetic oil. Vegetable oil is another fuel for either diesel engines or for heating oil burners. Vegetable oil also known as pure plant oil or straight vegetable oil is extracted from plants totally for use as fuel. Mineral oils are colourless, almost tasteless, water-insoluble and oily liquids. They are complex hydrocarbon mixtures consequent from crude oil. Synthetic oils have much appeal; they are non-flammable and work over a wide temperature range. One such synthetic oil is known as skydrol.

Farooq Khan

(ii) The contamination of a hydraulic system should be avoided at all costs! (a) Explain how an aircraft's hydraulic system may be contaminated. (b) What could be the effects of contamination? (AB) An aircrafts hydraulic system can be seriously contaminated by poor maintenance practices that introduce large amounts of external contaminants. The effects of contamination could lead to many things such as cylinder drift, jerky steering, slower performance, shorter service intervals and higher operating costs.