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Old 06-23-2011 | 09:13 PM
  #24  
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From: In the green room
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Originally Posted by Surprise
On a related note, why do the hydraulic pumps on the A320 always sound like they're dying after shutdown? Or single engine taxi?

But I rode in the back on Alaska the other day and was quite comfortable.
That noise you hear is the hydraulic PTU (power transfer unit). It is not a primary source hydraulic pump. It functions basically when there is ( I think...Since I am Boeing now...and brain-dumped bus) approximately 500 psi difference btw the green and yellow hyd systems. It transfers power from one hyd system to the other system to boost the lagging side pressure. Anytime one engine is shutdown and the other is operating, you will hear the PTU operate (unless the yellow pump is electrically operated or the PTU shut off). Hence the reason you hear it during one engine taxi or shutdown. It sounds like somebody sawing on the aircraft hull.
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