What

is Fluid Power?
At the end of this video, you should be able to:
Dene uid power
Iden;fy common applica;ons of uid power
List benets and limita;ons of hydraulics and pneuma;cs

Dening Fluid Power

Fluid Power is the use of a conned pressurized
uid to transmit force or mo;on.

Source: http://www.drpulp.com/

Source: http://pressurewasherreviewsguide.com/

Source: Autocar Handbook, 13th ed, 1935

Fluid Power is Signicant

100 Quads
(Quadrillion BTUs)
of energy each
year

2-3 Quads used

to drive fluid
power machines
21% efficient
5% efficiency
improvement
saves $8b/year
2012 Energy Flow, Source: US Energy Informa9on Administra9on
Fluid power data: ORNL/NFPAReport: ORNL/TM-2011/14, Dec. 2012

Fluid Power is Everywhere

Source: http://www.nordpower.com/
Source: http://www.mts.com
Source: http://www.awdirect.com/

Source: http://www.cat.com

Source: http://www.toro.com/
Source: Wikipedia Commons

Source: http://www.wikipedia.org

Why Fluid Power

High force
density
High power
density

Force per weight much higher than

electric motors

Power can be released quickly

High bandwidth

Fluid power systems can move at high

speeds

Precise control

Because oil is stiff, enables precision

motion

Power can be
piped

Flexible hoses enables power to be

snaked around corners and across joints

275,000 pounds!

How They Compare

Hydraulics
High pressure means
high force
Oil is s;, can achieve
precise control
Oil is toxic
Leaks are messy

Pneuma@cs
Springy air makes
control challenging
No return line (exhaust
to atmosphere
Air is free

Fluid Power Applica@ons

Automotive
Aerospace
Construction industry
Lawn and garden
Agriculture
Robotics
Rescue

Biomedical
Mechanical testing
components / materials
structure

Manufacturing
steel
injection molding

Applica@ons:
Tes@ng Equipment

Advantages / Disadvantages / Challenges

Advantages:
Power/Force
Density
Hydraulic vs.
Electric

Precise Control
Flexibility
Robust
Low-cost

Disadvantages:
Leakage
Non-linear
Fire Hazard
Contamina;on
Eciency

Challenges:
Compact Energy
Storage
Compact Power
Sources
Eciency
Noise / Vibra;on
Leakage

Both motors produce 1200 lb-]

torque at 400 RPM.