De La Salle University - Dasmarinas

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Technology Department

Assignment No. 1

GALERO,Hennesey INTC225L
Mr. Danilo Reyes
Lourice S. Industrial Electronics 2
Pneumatics and Electro-
EST31 Pneumatics

P
I. WHAT IS PNEUMATICS?

The principles of pneumatics are the same as those for hydraulics, but
pneumatics transmits power using a gas instead of a liquid. Compressed air is usually
used, but nitrogen or other inert gases can be used for special applications. With
pneumatics, air is usually pumped into a receiver using a compressor.

The receiver holds a large volume of compressed air to be used by the

pneumatic system as needed. Atmospheric air contains airborne dirt, water vapor, and
other contaminants, so filters and air dryers are often used in pneumatic systems to
keep compressed air clean and dry, which improve reliability and service life of the
components and system. Pneumatic systems also use a variety of valves for controlling
direction, pressure, and speed of actuators.

Another advantage of pneumatics is that it allows using vacuum for picking up

and moving objects. Vacuum can be thought of as negative pressure — by removing air
(evacuating) from the volume between two parts, atmospheric pressure outside the
volume pushes the parts together. For example, attempting to pick up a single sheet of
paper or a raw egg presents a challenge with conventional grippers. But with a vacuum
pneumatic system, evacuating a suction cup in contact with a sheet of paper or eggshell
will cause atmospheric pressure to push the paper or egg against the cup, allowing it to
be lifted.

II. APPLICATIONS OF PNEUMATICS AND ELECTRO-PNEUMATICS

Factory automation is the largest sector for pneumatics technology, which is

widely used for manipulating products in manufacturing, processing, and packaging
operations. Pneumatics is also widely used in medical and food processing equipment.
Pneumatics is typically thought of as pick-and-place technology, where pneumatic
components work in concert to perform the same repetitive operation thousands of
times per day.

But pneumatics is much more. Because compressed air can have a cushioning
effect, it is often called on to provide a gentler touch than what hydraulics or
electromechanical drives can usually provide. In many applications, pneumatics is used
more for its ability to provide controlled pressing or squeezing as it is for fast and
repetitive motion. Moreover, electronic controls can give pneumatic systems positioning
accuracy comparable to that of hydraulic and electromechanical technologies.
 Pneumatics is also widely used in chemical plants and refineries to actuate large
valves. It’s used on mobile equipment for transmitting power where hydraulics or
electromechanical drives are less practical or not as convenient and in on-highway
trucking for various vehicle functions. And of course, vacuum is used for lifting and
moving work pieces and products. In fact, combining multiple vacuum cups into a single
assembly allows lifting large and heavy objects.

We are surrounded by systems based on pneumatics. Below are some examples.

 Air brakes on buses and trucks are formally known as compressed air brake
systems. These systems use a type of friction brake in which compressed air
presses on a piston, and then applies the pressure to the brake pad that stops the
vehicle.
 Exercise machines can be built on pneumatic systems. A pneumatic cylinder
creates resistance that can be adjusted with air pressure.
 Compressed-air engines, also called pneumatic motors, do mechanical work by
expanding compressed air. Usually the compressed air is converted to mechanical
action by rotary or linear motion.
 Pressure regulators are valves designed to automatically stop the flow of a liquid or
gas when it reaches a certain pressure.
 Pressure sensors are used to measure the pressure of gases or liquids.
 Inflatable structures, such as balloons, bouncy castles, or blow up figures are
inflated with a gas – air, helium, nitrogen, or hydrogen. The pressure of the gas
keeps the structure inflated.
 Cable-jetting is a technique used to put cables into ducts. Compressed air is
inserted and flows through the duct and along the cable.
 A pneumatic bladder is an inflatable bag technology that can be used to seal drains
and ducts to contain chemical gases or spills, to stabilize cargo within a container,
or to float an artificial coral reef. They can be used in medical research, and have
other applications as well.
 Pneumatic cylinders use the power of compressed gas to produce a force.
 Pressure switches close an electrical contact when a certain amount of pressure
has been reached. The switch can be set up to make contact either when the
pressure rises or when the pressure falls.
 Barostat systems maintain constant pressure in a closed chamber. They can be
used for medical purposes.
 Pneumatic tires are created with compressed air to inflate and form the body of a
tire on a bike, car, or other vehicle.
 A handheld jackhammer is a tool that combines a hammer and a chisel, and is
usually powered by compressed air.
 III. EXAMPLE PROBLEMS - PNEUMATIC CYLINDER CALCULATION

Single Acting Cylinder

The force exerted by a single acting pneumatic cylinder can be expressed as

F=pA
= p π d2 / 4 (1)
where
F = force exerted (N)
p = gauge pressure (N/m2, Pa)
A = full bore area (m2)
d = full bore piston diameter (m)
Example - Single Acting Piston
The force exerted by a single acting pneumatic cylinder with 1 bar (105 N/m2) and full
bore diameter of 100 mm (0.1 m) can be calculated as

F = p π d2 / 4

= (105 N/m2) π (0.1 m)2 / 4

= 785 N

= 0.785 kN
Double Acting Cylinder

The force exerted by double acting pneumatic cylinder on outstroke can be expressed
as (1). The force exerted on instroke can be expressed as
F = p π (d12 - d22) / 4 (2)
where
d1 = full bore piston diameter (m)
d2 = piston rod diameter (m)
Example - Double Acting Piston
The force exerted from a single acting pneumatic cylinder with 1 bar (105 N/m2), full
bore diameter of 100 mm (0.1 m) and rod diameter 10 mm (0.01 m) can be calculated
as
F = p π (d12 - d22) / 4
= (105 N/m2) π [(0.1 m)2 - (0.01 m)2] / 4
= 778 N
= 0.78 kN

 in stroke capacity is reduced compared to outstroke capacity - due to the rod and
reduced active pressurized area.