PNEUMATICS AND HYDRAULICS

1.MAGNITUDES, PRINCIPLES AND PROPERTIES

1.1 Fundamental qualities

1.2 Properties of Fluids

1.3 Fundamental Principles

2.CIRCUITS COMPONENTS
2.1 Compressors

2.2 Distribution and treatment

2.3 Probes and signal sensors

2.4 Operating and control elements: valves

2.5 Actuators
3. BASIC PNEUMATIC CIRCUITS

3.1Circuits with single acting cylinders

3.2 Circuits with double acting cylinders

4. SIMULATION AND ASSEMBLY OF CIRCUITS
5. APPLICATIONS

1. MAGNITUDES, PRINCIPLES AND

PROPERTIES.
Pneumatics is the branch of mechanics that studies the properties of gaseous, fluids and
hydraulics is the study of liquid fluids.
 Pneumatic and hydraulic technologies use and harness the energy capabilities of these
fluids to produce work and motion, transforming manual processes into automated ones.

Pneumatic systems are suitable for small forces and rapid movements.
Hydraulics is suitable for high forces both in linear actuators and motors, and allows precise
control of speed and stopping.
The main difference between pneumatics and hydraulics is the use of air.

1.1 Fundamental qualities

The fundamental qualities of fluids are pressure, flow and work.
Pressure is the ratio of the force exerted on a surface and its area.

There are three types of pressures:

● Atmospheric pressure exerted by atmospheric air on earth surface, measured with

a barometer.
● Absolute pressure value relative to zero.
● Relative or Gauge pressure applied by the compressor to the fluid.

Flow rate is the amount of volume of fluid passing through a cross-section multiplied by the
velocity. From this we can deduce the law of continuity.

Power and Work is the work carried out by a fluid can be expressed as the pressure
multiplied by the change in volume, its unit is the watt.
The work carried out by a fluid can be expressed as the pressure multiplied by the change in
volume.
To calculate it is also necessary to know the stroke or travel of the cylinder.

1.2 Properties of Fluids

In a fluid, the forces formed by molecules allow it to flow and fill the container that contains it
completely and in the case of the gasses.

Compressed Air: It has a high compressibility, low viscosity and fills the entire container
 Advantages Disadvantages

-It is very abundant -it needs to be prepared before use

-It is easy to transport and store -Working forces are limited
-It is safe, no danger in fire -It is noisy due to air leaks
- It is insensitive to temperature variations
-Speed and force be easily adjusted
-Working speed is high
-It does not pollute

Hydraulic Fluids: They are barely compressible, pressure is transmitted almost

instantaneously and equally in all directions.

Advantages Disadvantages

-they allow you to work with high forces. -Fluids can be expensive
-Working speed can be control -Pressure drops occurs
-Fluid are easily recoverable -Produces pollution
-Facilities are compact

1.3 Fundamental Principles

Ideal gas laws:

Boyle-Mariette’s law: The product of the pressure and the volume in the initial state is
equal to the product of both magnitudes in the final state
Gay-Lussa’s law: The ratio of the pressure to the temperature in the initial state is equal
to the two magnitudes in the final state.
Charles law: The ratio of the volume to the temperature in the initial state is equal to the
ratio of the two magnitudes in the final state.
General gas law: The ideal or perfect gas equation is applied.

2.CIRCUITS COMPONENTS
A pneumatic circuit consists of working and control elements. The working elements are
compressors, ducts, filters, dryers, silencers.
Control elements are sensors and valves. Pneumatic circuits can be open, the compressed
air is used at the point of application or closed, and have a return line to collect the fluids.
2.1 Compressors
It is a machine that takes air at atmospheric pressure and propels it by raising its pressure,
they are installed outdoors or in special installations, and can be powered either electrically
or thermally. They are differentiated by their flow rate or by their compression ratio.

2.2 Distribution and treatment

The distribution network consists of the piping system. The diameter of the pipes depends
on the flow rate, the working pressure and the length. Its function is to maintain a suitable
pressure level in the pneumatic circuit
2.3 Probes and signal sensors
These elements are distributed around the pneumatic circuit and have the function of
sensing information about the position or some physical property of other elements. They
can be pneumatic, electric and of proximity. They work at low pressures and therefore have
a low power consumption. They are located all along the circuit.

2.4 Operating and control elements: valves

Valves are responsible for controlling the pressure and flow of compressed air

• Control or spool valves: govern where and in which direction the air is to flow.

• Blocking valves: close the air passage in one direction of flow.

Flow control valves: They can only reduce the air passage cross-section.

Pressure relief valves:act based on the pressured of the circulating air.

2.5 Actuators
These are the elements responsible for converting the energy in the compressed air into
useful energy.
Cylinders: can be single acting or double acting.
SINGLE:
DOUBLE:

• Motors: They are used when it is difficult to use electric motors, for example, in explosive
or high temperature environments or for almost instantaneous starts and stops.

3. BASIC PNEUMATIC CIRCUITS

To understand the graphical representation and operation, it is also necessary to understand
the movement and application of compressed air.

• circuit analysis:
1. Identify the elements of the circuit. The compressed air production elements are named 0.
X and the actuating elements 1.0, 2.0, etc. Valves and other elements are named according
to the actuator on which they operate.
2. Explain the operation at rest. In this case, the piston rod position of cylinder 1.0 is set to
reverse; valves 1.2 and 1.3 are not pressed and valve 1.1 is in the position that allows
compressed air to enter through ports 1 and 2 and exhaust through ports 4 and 5.
3. Explain its operation when working. The aim is to explain the operation of the circuit in all
the states in which it can be acted on like valves 1.2 1.3.

• circuit design:

1. Select the required actuators, both quantity and type.

2. Select the valves that are to control the circuit, both spool valves and block valves, and
select the type of control for each valve.
3. Study the regulation of the speed of the actuators and the force required, selecting the
appropriate flow control and pressure relief valves.
4. Select the elements for the production, distribution and processing of compressed air.
5. Identify, number and position all the elements of the circuit

3.1Circuits with single acting cylinders

-Direct control of an SA cylinder: This causes air to enter the cylinder chamber and the
piston to travel forward. When the lever is released, the 3/2 valve is returned to its initial
position by the spring, engaging the exhaust and causing the cylinder to return to its initial
position.

- Direct control from two positions of one SA cylinder: We use a circuit with a selector
valve when we need a circuit to be activated from two different points. Each valve is to be
positioned at the point from which the single acting cylinder is to be activated.
- Two-handed control of an SA cylinder: A safety feature on many machines is the two-
handed control, which prevents trapping and cutting. It will only activate the output if both
inputs are activated.

- Conditional control of an SA cylinder: In this case, two 3/2 valves are placed in series,
one with push-button control and one with roller control. The push-button-controlled valve
cannot be activated if the roller-controlled valve is not actuated.

3.2 Circuits with double acting cylinders

Double acting cylinders are most used because both speed and force can be controlled on
the forward and reverse stroke.

- Indirect control of a DA cylinder: Therefore, 4/2 or 5/2 valves with pneumatic control are
used, which ensure a continuous air flow. Air enters the two-cylinder chambers through ports
2 and 4, allowing the piston rod to perform the forward and reverse strokes. Flow control
valves are installed in the relevant compressed air line for this purpose.

- DA cylinder stroke detection: As in the electrical circuits, limit switches are fitted, which
in this case are 3/2 valves with a sensor or roller control. On this occasion, an automatic
circuit has been designed in such a way that, when the rod reaches the end of the forward
stroke, it activates the 3/2 valve with roller return, which results in the return stroke. Two limit
switches are fitted when one needs to detect both forward and return end of stroke.

- Control of two cylinders from distinct points: In the following circuit, the cylinders carry
out both forward and return strokes.
Automatic circuit with two DA cylinders: Another widely used circuit is that of several
cylinders operating sequentially. In the following circuit, the sequence is A+, B+, A-,B-.

4. SIMULATION AND ASSEMBLY OF

CIRCUITS
Throughout the unit we have studied pneumatic and hydraulic circuits using a graphical
representation of their elements. Therefore, simulator programmes are often used to design
and study these circuits. Below you can see various free online pneumatic and hydraulic
simulators.

• Portaleso online Simulator:

Basic valves and cylinders are available. It allows the operation to be simulated and the
diagram with the standardized symbols to be printed out. When the circuit is operating, the
active line changes color to indicate the passage of compressed air.
• CNICE’s online Simulator:
It has fewer components but allows 3D simulation. It also indicates the direction of the
compressed air and the movement of some valve and cylinder elements can be seen.

5. APPLICATIONS
The applications of pneumatics and hydraulics are numerous and varied in many areas of
industry. Its wide field of application is in energy-intensive industrial processes and for
control and precision in movements. In general, applications can be divided into three broad
groups:
• Mobile applications: used for transport, lifting, drilling, heavy material handling, vehicle
control and drive.
• Industrial applications: the power and control provided by pneumatics and oleo-
hydraulics are indispensable in specialized industrial process machinery, in actions such as
positioning, driving, controlling and machining.
• Automotive and aeronautical applications: these energies have been used in a wide
variety of applications from the earliest days of automotive development. This use has been
extended to the aeronautical industry, where it is used in a wide variety of processes.