The Air Conditioning System supplies the aircraft cabin with a continuous, temperature controlled, supply of fresh air. The air-conditioned supply of air is distributed into three independent, automatically controlled zones, the Cockpit, Forward Cabin, and Aft Cabin.

 

The Air Conditioning System is supplied with hot air, from the pneumatic system, which is cooled by two independent Air Conditioning Packs. The hot pneumatic air first passes through the Pack Flow Control Valves, then through the Air Conditioning Packs. The fresh air from the Packs is mixed in the Mixer Unit with re-circulated Cabin air.

 

The conditioned air from the Mixer Unit is temperature regulated by the Hot Air Regulating Valve and Trim Air Valves, which use hot pneumatic air, tapped upstream of the Packs.

 

The Air Conditioning System is controlled automatically by two Pack Controllers, one for each Pack, and a Zone Controller.

 

The Air Conditioning System is controlled by switches located on the overhead Air Conditioning and Ventilation Panels.

 

The Air Conditioning System's operation is displayed on four ECAM Pages, the Conditioning Page, the Bleed Page, the Cabin Pressurization Page, and the Cruise Page.

 

The Air Conditioning System's operation is displayed on four ECAM Pages, the Conditioning Page, the Bleed Page, the Cabin Pressurization Page, and the Cruise Page.

 

A Ram Air Inlet Flap is located just forward of each Pack and a Ram Air Outlet Flap is located just aft of each Pack.

 

The Packs are supplied with regulated hot pneumatic air by their respective Pack Flow Control Valve. The regulated air from the Pack Flow Control Valve enters the Pack's Primary Heat Exchanger, where it is cooled by external air from the Ram Air Inlet.

 

The cooled air from the Primary Heat Exchanger enters the Compressor section of the Air Cycle Machine where it is compressed to a higher pressure and temperature. From the Compressor the hot air is cooled again by the Main Heat Exchanger, using external ram air.

 

After the air leaves the Main Heat Exchanger, and before it enters the Turbine, it passes through a Re-heater and Condenser, which converts any moisture in the air into water droplets. The water droplets are collected by the Water Extractor, and then sprayed into the Ram Air Inlet, to increase the cooling efficiency of the Main and Primary Heat Exchangers.

 

After water removal the air passes through the Turbine section of the Air Cycle Machine, where it expands, powering the Compressor and Cooling Fan. The removal of energy during expansion cools the air further, and it is then ducted to the Mixer Unit for distribution to the cabin.