Aircraft Pressurization System

Modern commercial aircraft  typically cruise at altitudes tens of thousands of feet above sea level. Two reasons drive this choice, the first being that aircraft can save on fuel, and therefore operating costs, because an aircraft can fly more efficiently at higher altitudes. Secondly, by climbing to higher altitudes, bad weather and turbulence can simply be flown right over. To fly at these altitudes however, an aircraft’s cabin must be pressurized to ensure the comfort and easy breathing of the occupants.

In the typical pressurization system, the aircraft’s cabin, flight compartment, and baggage compartments are all incorporated into a sealed unit that contains air at a higher pressure than the outside atmospheric pressure. On turbine-powered aircraft, bleed air from the engine compressor section is used to pressurize the cabin, while older models may use superchargers to pump air into the sealed fuselage. Piston-powered aircraft may use air supplied from each engine turbocharger through a sonic venturi or flow limiter.  An outflow valve allows the air’s exit from the fuselage to be regulated as well, ensuring a constant and consistent flow of air through the pressurized area.

A cabin pressurization system will usually maintain pressure equivalent to 8,000 feet above sea level at an aircraft’s maximum cruising altitude. A control system in the cockpit allows the pilot to adjust the aircraft’s interior pressure to match with the exterior pressure. This difference, called differential pressure, must not grow too high, as it can cause damage to the aircraft if it does. Multiple instruments inside the cockpit let the pilot or pilots know if they are within safe ranges of pressure or are exceeding them, with controls connected to the aircraft’s pressure safety valves that allow the pilots to vent pressure if the need arises.

Other systems are installed to ensure cabin pressurization is maintained evenly in the aircraft. Apertures like windows and doors are especially vulnerable to depressurization (they are, after all, holes in the fuselage), and so have multiple layers of safety systems and reinforcements to ensure they maintain safe pressure levels. Windows, for instance, are constructed from multiple layers of glass and stretched acrylic material and sealed around their edges to prevent leakage.

At Fulfillment By ASAP, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the aircraft pressure systems and parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@fulfillmentbyasap.com or call us at 1-920-785-6790.

1. tom riddle
2. Posted on July 9, 2019
aviation

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