Aircraft engine generates thrust, but how it generates electricity for the craft e.g. for cabin and cockpit?

Question

An aircraft gets its power from its engine(s) (Thrust). I just want to know how that engine produces electricity for the aircraft? I am very well aware of Gas Turbines mechanism and how they generate electricity through Generators at power stations; but don't understand how this would be in the case of an aircraft get engine cause aircraft engine's main duty is to provide thrust.........

Answer 1

An accessory drive which is connected to the main shaft of the engine provides electrical power via an electrical generator. Each engine has one and so does the APU (auxiliary power unit). So 3 in total. An aircraft needs to have at least 2 of those generators working to be able to dispatch for a flight. The APU ( a little turbine engine inside the tail of the airplane) provides compressed air (bleed air) to the engines which turns the turbines to start the engines. The fuel for the APU comes from the fuel tanks in one of the wings. If an aircraft is totally shut down, a DC battery is used to start the APU. The engines (and APU) provide two essencial things - electrical power AND bleed air (for airconditioning, pressurisation of the cabin etc)

Answer 2

Attached to the engine, or actually a part of it, is the accessory gearbox. To this is attached things like tach-generators, sensors, but most importantly here, a starter-generator. A handy little (well, biggish) item that is dual featured, in that when you put battery power to it, it acts as a starter, just like in your car, but once it reaches a certain rpm, set several percentage points above the rpm at which the turbine can sustain itself, it becomes a generator. This generator (one on each engine) replenishes the battery after start, and provides power for the systems while in flight.
Yes, the main point of the engine is to provide thrust, but it also provides electrical power, heat for the cabin, heat for the deicing systems, and powers the hydraulic systems to operate the gear, flaps, control boosting. The hydraulic pump is also attached to the accessory gearbox. Took me a minute to remember that, as I mostly fly helicopters, and the hydraulics come off the main transmission on them. That way, if you lose the engine, you don't lose hydraulics.

Answer 3

The Accessory gearbox has all the things attached to it that the engine and aircraft needs. The air turbine starter to start the main engine and the generator as well. The answer-er above is quite correct and describes the operation better than I. Here are some engine manufactures web sites you might be able to see the AGB hanging below the engines in some of the pictures.

Answer 4

A small plane produces electrical power the same way a car does. An alternator or generator is hooked to the engine, and produces electricity.

Large aircraft usually have a separate gas-driven generator to provide some power even when the engines aren't running.

Some older small aircraft that don't have engine generators have air-driven generators mounted underneath or above their airframe to power lights for night flight.

Answer 5

Thrust for an airplane can't be generated devoid of an accelerating fluid mass. in spite of the indisputable fact that, rotary wing aircrafts may well be viewed as an exceptions because of the fact of its unique balancing and alignments of the 4 aerodynamic forces (carry, Thrust, Drag and Weight). despite if we are able to evaluate the lifting rigidity of a helicopter as thrust is a distinctive question!

Answer 6

Its main duty is indeed providing thrust, but that doesnt mean that it cannot do anything else. Let us say, the main duty of the wings is to provide lift, but that doesnt prevent it from being a storage for fuel in most aircrafts.

In the confined spaces of an airframe, its best if each space occupant is utilized to the maximum. So engines provide both thrust and electrical power.

Answer 7

A mechanical device called an altenator. It "leaches" off the engine thrust to power itself.really all it is is a glorified pice of copper wire. in this case alot of it, and a magnet. the power created is converted and stored threw a transformer and stored in power cells.where it can then be distributed as needed.

Answer 8

Power take-offs are used just the same as they are used on petrol engines, generators are connected by gearing to the the engine main shaft.