PPRuNe Forums

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)
-   Tech Log (https://www.pprune.org/tech-log-15/)
-   -   IDG oil purpose (https://www.pprune.org/tech-log/389648-idg-oil-purpose.html)

mutt 24th September 2009 09:00

SNS3Guppy..... Can i suggest that you read TopBunks original message again. I believe that you might have taken him up incorrectly. :ok:

Mutt

john_tullamarine 24th September 2009 10:00

General systems information is great for the tech log

As a note, we don't control the nature of tech discussion in Tech Log. So long as the thread is vaguely Tech in nature, at least, it is fine. The filtering system relies on those who aren't interested not reading the thread ...

Some questions may get a "better" technical answer in the Engineers' Forum but that is not the point. As I see it, the main and underlying aim of Tech Log is the educational value for those coming up behind us old pharts ...

Those who seek the black and white of the maintainers' point of view are always free to frequent and/or post in the Engineers' Forum.

SNS3Guppy 24th September 2009 10:34


Can i suggest that you read TopBunks original message again. I believe that you might have taken him up incorrectly.
Mutt, I read it correctly the first time; however, I disagree with his comments, hence my own.

TheChitterneFlyer 8th October 2009 23:02

Just to add my 'two-penneth'... the CSD oil cooler is actually an air exchange cooler and not a fuel/oil exchange cooler. You're confusing the engine oil system with that of the CSD Oil Cooling System. The engine oil is cooled by fuel; or conversely, the fuel is heated by the engine oil system. Which makes more sense don't you think? If the CSD was disconnected it wouldn't then provide any heating to the fuel system!

Just a retired Flight Engineer's perspective... it would appear that you flying chaps could do with a little technical expertise up there. You see what happens when we let you loose on your own!

Happy days... now, where's my Gin & Tonic?

TCF

Microburst2002 9th October 2009 10:20

IDGs must be treated with respect.

A few years ago we had IDG temp advisories in the ECAM, or where they apparently spurious intermittent cautions? Anyway, after those everything was normal. We wrote it in the Tech Log. It occurred again in the flight next day and I asked the engineers. They said the IDG was OK and that they had refilled with oil. They checked again and everything was OK. Again they refilled.
In the first occurrence I asked the captain if we should disconnet the IDG. In the second occurrence I strongly suggested the captain to do it. He decided not to. He did not want to lose a GEN.
Later on I asked the engineers if oil consumption was normal and they said it wasn't. "So IDG is not OK" I replied. But they did all checks and it was OK.

A few days later the whole engine was lost during cruise because of the IDG. The crew was unable to disconnect it with the pushbutton and it did a mess in the gear box.

So if your IDGs are drinking oil like kosacks drink vodka... beware!

compressor stall 24th November 2011 18:47

A320 family CFM engines IDG oil...
 
CFMs for the oil cooling by the fuel...

The fuel recirculation system returns the warm fuel from the fuel cooled IDG oil cooler to the wing tank. The FADEC stops the recirculation system if:
- the fuel temperature increases to a high level
- the fuel flow rate to the engine is at a high level
- the engines have a gravity fuel feed only
- the fuel level in the wing tanks is low
- the fuel goes into a vent surge tank.

There is also a thermocouple in the IDG limiting the oil coming in thought the cooler that's temperature dependant. I seem to recall between 70-85°C it's open, but can't find the reference at the moment though

grounded27 24th November 2011 18:56


IDGs must be treated with respect.

A few years ago we had IDG temp advisories in the ECAM, or where they apparently spurious intermittent cautions? Anyway, after those everything was normal. We wrote it in the Tech Log. It occurred again in the flight next day and I asked the engineers. They said the IDG was OK and that they had refilled with oil. They checked again and everything was OK. Again they refilled.
In the first occurrence I asked the captain if we should disconnet the IDG. In the second occurrence I strongly suggested the captain to do it. He decided not to. He did not want to lose a GEN.
Later on I asked the engineers if oil consumption was normal and they said it wasn't. "So IDG is not OK" I replied. But they did all checks and it was OK.

A few days later the whole engine was lost during cruise because of the IDG. The crew was unable to disconnect it with the pushbutton and it did a mess in the gear box.

So if your IDGs are drinking oil like kosacks drink vodka... beware!
Sounds like you had a gearbox issue, hard to diagnose, not much tech support on this from the mfgr's often. They don't expect it to ever happen!?! The LAME's most likely did their job's by the book!

Down...2 greens 24th November 2011 21:33

On a related topic: on the A320 (CFM engines) the IDG oil is cooled by fuel under certain conditions (e.g. low thrust). Is any cooling provided at other times? I had an idea there was also a fan air heat exchanger, but can't find any mention of it in the current manuals.

grounded27 25th November 2011 02:59


That's not the single most ignorant comment I've ever read here, but it's very close.

You think systems knowledge and understanding is ridiculous, then?

I'm alive thanks to systems knowledge and understanding, several times over.

I'm very familiar with the school of thought that suggests one need no nothing beyond annunciators and ECAM messages...but I also strongly disagree. I don't think you can ever know enough about your airplane.

I also strongly believe that one who enters the forum asking an honest question deserves to get an honest answer, and not ridicule for asking.
No one should be ridiculed for asking a question. I think though the diverse answers above are all clear but both elaborate and concise. If I was tasked with operating an engine witn a CSD/IDG I would want to know why if given an abnormal indication it may fail (usually low oil quantity) but more importantly how to react, tasked with troubleshooting the more common IDG It's inner workings may be more helpfull. Once off wing the details of it's failure are more important in helping to look for the reason it failed. Everyone envolved has a different function, the guy who break's the machine down has little care about a simple "fail" indication, The guy who see's the fail light should not concern himself with the inner workings when he has an aircraft to fly, only react as the manufacturer and company tells him to. Too much thought can be dangerous, knowledge is an asset.

bcgallacher 25th November 2011 07:50

IDG cooling is more usually Air/oil - the increase in temperature on a disconnected IDG or CSD is caused by heat soak from the still running engine,there being no oil circulation on the dead IDG.

HAWK21M 27th November 2011 07:51

Cooling.Lubrication.Heat transfer.

FE Hoppy 27th November 2011 13:36

THE CSD part of an IDG uses the oil as a hydraulic fluid to drive a hydraulic motor the output of which is summed with the geared rotation to maintain a constant output speed to the generator.

Can you obtain an ATP these days with no knowledge of CSDs?

The oil is also used for the cooling and lubrication of the entire device.


All times are GMT. The time now is 22:12.


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.