All you have to know about

air motors
1.

Why choosing

an air motor ?
Why choosing an air motor ?
Why choosing an air motor ?

SAFETY

No heat,
Pas spark, …
NO RISK !
Why choosing an air motor ?

SAFETY

No hydraulic
fluid:
No leakage
No pollution
No risk of fire
No recycling required
Why choosing an air motor ?

SAFETY

No risk of
“air-hammer” effect
in case of jamming
Why choosing an air motor ?

SAFETY

Not sensitive
to electromagnetic
phenomenon
Why choosing an air motor ?

EFFICIENCY

For a given power,

air motors are 4 to 6 times
smaller and lighter
than electric motors
Why choosing an air motor ?

FLEXIBILITY
Torque (load)

Stall torque Infinite operating speed

and torque span

Easy power adjustment

Free speed

Possibility of progressive
Speed or immediate start
Why choosing an air motor ?

FLEXIBILITY

1 Infinite possibility of “stop

& go” cycles
0
No sensitivity to stall
Time
FLEXIBILITY

No electrical qualification required

No risk for operators
No need for dangerous connections
Easy to install
Easy to use
Easy rotation direction c
FLEXIBILITY

Can be use (almost) anywhere

Harsh Damp area High or low Atex area
environment temperature
(dust)
 RELIABILITY

Simple et robust design

• No break down due to strong resistance, the air motor
simply “stalls” without damage whereas the electrical
motor heats up and trips.
• A frequent “start/stop” cycle doesn’t make demands on the
air motor. There is no peak of intensity as for an electrical
motor.
• An air motor can operate continuously without problem
and without heating up.
• Starting is guaranteed through our « kit start »
(mechanical vane positioning in the motor)
Why choosing an air motor ?

COMPÉTITIVENESS

Low installation costs

Low operation costs

Low maintenance costs

2.

How does it work ?

 ?
How does it work

Gear pneumatic
air vane motor

Pneumatic Planetary
air vane motor geared reduction
 Pneumatique part : Description
?
How does it work

Cylinder =
Compression
stator
chamber

Vane (blade)

Air injection point Rotor

 Functioning step 1
?
How does it work

F1 = P 1 x S1

Compression
chamber C1

F = Force
P = Pressure
S = Surface
 Functioning step 2
?
How does it work

P1 > P2  F1 > F2
F3 = P 2 x S2 S2 > S1  F3 > F2
F1 + F3 > F2
F1 = P 1 x S1

F2 = P 2 x S1

Compression
chamber C1
Compression
chamber C2

F = Force
P = Pressure
S = Surface
 Functioning step 3
?
How does it work

F3 = P 2 x S2

F1+F3+F5>F2+F4
F4 = P 3 x S2
exhaust
F1 = P 1 x S1

Compression
F2 = P 2 x S1
chamber C1

F5 = P 3 x S3

Compression Compression
chamber C3 chamber C2

F = Force
P = Pressure
S = Surface
 Torque and speed
?
How does it work

• For a given pressure there is a “trade

off” between speed and torque.
Torque
N.m • When torque = 0 (no load applied to the
T max Stall torque motor), speed is maximum (free speed)

• When the load applied increases

torque increases and speed
T1 decreases.

Free speed • When the load exceeds the maximum

T0
possible torque of the motor, it stalls.
S0 S1 S max Spped That maximum torque is the “stall
rpm torque”
• An air motor is totally flexible

Torque is inversely proportional to speed

 Working point and power
• Power is the product of speed multiplied by
torque
Torque Optimum Working Power 𝐓𝐱𝑺 P = Power (in watt)
N.m Point (Pmax) W 𝐏= T = Torque (in Newton meter)
Stall torque
𝟗 , 𝟓𝟓 S = Speed (in round per minute)
P max
• When torque = 0 (no load applied to the motor),
speed is maximum (free speed), but Power = 0

T* • When the load applied increases torque

increases and speed decreases. Power
increases up to a maximum called the optimum
working point where Power is maximum

S* Free speed Speed

rpm • When speed = 0 (stall torque) Power = 0
Torque @
Pmax

Power is maximum
when speed is roughly half the free speed
 Air Consumption
?
How does it work

Consumption
l/min

Speed
rpm

Air consumption depends on speed

It is maximum at free speed
 Stall torque and starting torque
?
How does it work

The
Thestarting torque
stall torque is the
is the
torque
torquegenerated
generatedby bythe
the
Torque
motor
motorwhen
whenitan is increasing
blocked and
N.m
supplied with pressurized
load “stops” it. air.
Stall torque
ItItdepends also on pressure
is the maximum torque
Starting
torque
but
thatmay
the vary
motor depending
can provide.on
the position firstly
It depends of the onvanes.
For that reason,
pressure. It canwe alsoalways
vary
consider
with the the minimum
“braking speed”. If
starting
the loadtorque.
increases quickly,
The
the minimum
moment of starting
inertia torque
can
isincrease
lower withthereversible
stall torque.
Speed motors.
The stall torque is usually
rpm
equal to twice the torque at
maximum power
 Réduction part
?
How does it work

• Vane air motors generate very high rotation speeds at maximum

power (> 10,000 rpm)

• Most of applications require lower speeds and higher torques

• To get required speeds at Pmax (without loosing efficiency)

we use planetary reduction gear boxes

• Output shaft can be straight or 90°

 Planetary reduction
?
How does it work

• Decreases speed

• Proportionally increases torque

• Output efficiency is ≈ 100%

• Very compact

• Reduction ration = Z1 / Z2 + 1
• Z1 = nb of teeth of the ring gear
• Z2 = Nb of teeth of the sun gears
 Reduction, torque et speed
?
How does it work

Torque Power
N.m W

P* Reduction ratio 1:1

Reduction ratio 1:2

T* Reduction ratio 1:3

T*

T*
Speed Speed
rpm S* S* S* rpm

Changing reduction modifies the Torque /

Speed ratio without changing Power
 Output shaft load
• There are two possible output
shaft loads
• Radial load (Fr)
• Axial load (Fa)

• The output shaft load impacts

bearings service life
Fr

• The maximum radial load depends

on the axial load and vice versa
Fr (N)

Fa
###

0
0 ##
pour 100 millions de tours Fa (N)
(charge appliquée à la moitié de la longueur de l'axe)
 Air motor control
?
How does it work

• Controlling air flow will impact mainly

speed
• Air flow can be controlled by reducing air
Torque
N.m supply or by reducing air exhaust

• Air supply reduction:

• Reduces speed
• Decreases air consumption
• Reduces starting torque
45 50
40 0l 0l • May impact functioning stability
0
l/ m /m /min
in
in

• Air exhaust reduction

Speed • Reduces speed
rpm • Keeps a good starting torque
• Keeps stability

Air input flow impacts more speed than torque

 Air motor control
?
How does it work

• Controlling pressure will impact mainly

torque
Torque • Air pressure can be controlled by a
N.m pressure controller placed upstream from
6b the motor
ars
5b •
a rs Air pressure reduction:
4b
• Reduces torque
a rs • Impacts mainly stall torque
• Can be used as a torque limiter

Speed
rpm

Air input pressure impacts torque more than speed

 Connection
?
How does it work

For a non reversible motor

Pressure regulator
3/2 Valve

Air filter
Non reversible
motor

Silencer

Air flow control

Air lubricator
 Connection
?
How does it work

For a reversible motor

Pressure regulator
5/3 Valve
Air filter
Reversible
motor

Air lubricator
Air flow control
Silencer
 ?
How does it work

LUBRIFICATION

• 50 mm3 per m3 (3,4 drops)

• Lubrication unit should be placed

less than 5 meters upstream from
the motor

• Oil viscosity : 40 – 380 cst

• Example : A motor needs 1200 liters of air per minute

Oil quantity should be (in drops) :
1200/1000 x 3,4 = 4 drops per minute
(60mm3/minute)
 Lubrifiaction
?
How does it work

CONNECTI
ON
• Too small and/or too long pipes will generate
pressure drop and performance decrease

• Recommendations are made in the catalogue

and users’ manual for less than 5 meters
long pipes

• Pipes and fittings size should be increased

for longer lengths

• Note that exhaust pipes should be larger to

carry expanded gas
 ?
How does it work

NOISE REDUCTION

• Noise is easy to manage with air motors

• Noise is due to air exhaust and increases with speed

• A simple way to reduce it is to use silencers:

• No silencer and standard exhaust : Noise > 90 dB
• Collected exhaust : 80 dB < Noise < 90 dB
• Collected exhaust and silencer : Noise < 80 dB

When using a silencer, make sure that it can

carry the air flow !
!
How does it work

? MAIN OPTIONS Lubrifiaction

Oil free motors
For very specific applications
Requires extra care for air filtering
Requires more frequent maintenance
ATEX certification
II 2 GD c IIC T6 to T4
Kit start
Mechanical system to ensure 100% start of the motor even after a long
idle period
Exhaust collector
To collect exhaust air and filter it or bring it away from application
environment
Torque limiter
To limit torque at a certain and precise value
Speed control
Integrated and user friendly exhaust limiter to control motor speed
Stainless steel motors
For specific environment / application
3.

How to choose

Your Modec air motor ?

How
to choose
Your air motor
?
Define the work Check air pressure
to be done and flow available

• What is the torque required for • See on the catalogue the

your application ? performances at 4, 5 and 6 bars
• Starting torque
• Stall torque
• Operating torque

• What is the speed required for

your application ?
• Free speed
• Operating speed
 How
to choose Remember:
Your air motor
?
𝐓𝐱𝑺 1. Calculate the power required
𝐏=
𝟗 ,𝟓𝟓 2. Choose the right power range motor
Torque
N.m
Stall torque 3. Plug the application working point on the
curve
Air pressure ajustement •If the point is above the Torque / Speed
Air flow ajustement curve, the motor can do the job
T1
T2 • If it is below, the job can be done

4. Adjust air flow to keep torque and

decrease speed, or air pressure to keep
speed and decrease torque
S1 S2 Free Speed
speed rpm
 How
to choose Remember:
Your air motor
?
When several possibilities exist…

Choice depends on several factors

such as :
Torque • Energy efficiency
N.m
• Power reserve
• Starting torque
• Stall torque
Mo

• Air consumption
tor

• …
1

Mo
to
r3
T
Mo
tor
2

S Speed
rpm
How
to choose Remember:
Your air motor
?
Looking for efficiency :

• Get the maximum power

Torque Power
from the motor
N.m W • Get the smallest possible motor
P2= and save money and space
Mo

Pmax • Optimize the ratio

to

P1 power / Air consumption

r1

P2 = Pmax > P1
 Motor 2 is
T
Mo the best choice
tor
2

S1 S2 Speed
rpm
 How
to choose Remember:
Your air motor
?
Looking for a power reserve :

Torque Power • Be able to face a load increase without too

N.m W much speed reduction
• Keep power if load fluctuates
Mo
tor

• For the initial torque T, P2 > P1 and motor 2

P’1 seems to be the best choice
1

P2
P1 • When the torque increases from T to T’
T’ P’2
• With motor 1, the speed reduces from S1 to
S’1 and the power increases from P1 to P’1
T Mo
tor
2 • With motor 2, the speed reduces from S2 to
S’2 and the power decreases from P2 to
P’2
S’2 S’1 S1 S2 Speed
rpm
P’1 > P1
P’2 < P2
P’1 > P’2
 Motor 1 is the best
 How
to choose Remember:
Your air motor
?
Looking for a starting torque :
Torque Power
N.m W • Make sure that air motor will start
with a given load
Mo
to

Strating Pmax For the given application torque (T),

r1

torque P2 P2 > P1 motor 2 seems to be the

required P1 best choice

Motor 2 cannot provide the required

starting torque
T Mo
to r2
 Motor 1 is
S1 S2 Speed the best choice
rpm
 How
to choose Rappel:
Your air motor
?
Torque Power
N.m Stall torque motor 1 W Looking for a maximum torque :
Mo

• Make sure that air motor will

to

stop at given load

r1

Pmax
Maximum
torque P1 For the given application torque,
allowed P2 motor 1 has a better efficiency
(P1>P2). But motor 1 may reach a
Stall torque higher torque than the maximum
motor 2 allowed.
T Motor 2 will stall before reaching
Moto
r 2 the maximum torque allowed

S2 S1 Speed  Motor 2 is the best choice

rpm

!
Use the torque limiter if you want
a precise limit
How
to choose Rappel:
Your air motor
?
Torque Power
N.m W Looking for a reduced air
consumption :
Mo

• Sometimes, air availability is

to
r1

critical
• Air consumption depends on
speed
C1
For the given output speed and
C2
torque, the pneumatic part of
T motor 1 will run at a fastest speed
Mot than motor 2, consuming
or 2 therefore more air.

S Speed
rpm
 Motor 2 is
the best choice
 Other possible criteria
How
to choose
Your air motor
?
Life expectancy
Choosing an « oversized » motor and decrease air
pressure and/or flow will increase its life expectancy

Constant speed
When a constant speed is required, one should
choose a motor with a high reduction ration (gear
ratio) and power reserve

Motor size and weight

If space or weight is a constraint, one should choose
a motor working as closely as possible to its working
point
 Power
Torque W Air cons.
N.m l/min

+ Low air consumption + Power reserve

+ Low blades wear + High start & stall
& tear torques compare to
operating torque
• Unstable speed + Stable speed
• No power reserve + Low gearbox wear
• Low start & stall & tear
torques comapre to
operating torque + Compactnes • High air
• Gearbox wear & + Efficiency consumption
tear + Balanced wear & tear • Blades wear & tear

Speed
rpm
 Environment constraints
How
to choose
Your air motor
?
Extreme temperatures
• Modec air motors can be used from -30°C to +150°C. However,
one needs to pay attention to air dryness when temp is very low.

Specific atmospheres
• Our motors work in humid, corrosive, explosive, radioactive,
dusty … atmospheres
• All Modec air motors can be ATEX II 2 G/D c IIC T6/T4 certified

Clean environment
• No rejection : Exhaust collectors and filters
• Lubrication free motors

Liquid environment
• Our motors can be made waterproof on request

Supply with specific gases

• Contact us in that case
We’ll make you eager to work

With us