POE Fluid Power Problems
Answer all questions below in your engineering notebook. Use the DGUESS method as
needed to solve the problems.
When using the Gas Laws formulas convert to absolute values:
Temperature: K = ᵒC + 273; ᵒR = ᵒF + 460
Pressure: psia = psig + 14.7 psi
Flowrate and Flow Velocity
1. What is the flow rate in gallons per minute of a pump spinning at 1500 rpm with a
displacement of 2.75 cubic inches? (Q = 17.86 gpm)
2. A flowmeter attached to the main line in a hydraulic system measures the flow rate at 15 gpm.
The line has an inside diameter of 2 inches. What is the flow velocity in the meter? Use 1 gallon
= 231 in3. (v = 1102.9 in/min)
Pressure
3. How much pressure does a 150-pound woman exert on the floor when she balances on one
heel? The area of her heel is 0.625 square inches. (P = 240 psi)
4. An object has a base that is 4 square inches. It also exerts a pressure of 22 pounds per
square inch. What is the weight of the object? (W = 88 lbf)
5. A force of 100 lbf is applied to the input cylinder of the hydraulic press in Figure 2.
a. What is the pressure in the system? (P = 7.96 psi)
b. How much force can the output cylinder lift? (900.3 lbf)
c. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? (AMA = 9)
Boyle’s Law
6. A cylinder is filled with 40 in3 of air at a gauge pressure of 60 psi. The cylinder is compressed
to 10 in3. What is the resulting absolute pressure? (P = 298.8 psia)
Charles’ Law
7. An expandable container is filled with 28 in3 of air and is sitting in ice water that is 0 °C. The
container is removed from the icy water and then heated to 95 °C. What is the resulting volume?
Use K = C + 273 to convert to absolute temperature. (V2 = 37.7 in3)
Gay-Lussac’s Law
8. A 300 in.3 sealed air tank is sitting outside. In the morning, the temperature inside the tank
is 17 °C, and the pressure gauge reads 120 psi By afternoon, the temperature inside the tank is
expected to be close to 32 °C. What will be the absolute pressure be at that point? (141.7 psia)
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems
9. A dental hygienist uses a pump to move a patient’s chair up and down. Together, the chair
and patient exert a downward force of 510 pounds. The chair is attached to a large piston with
an area of 189.3 in2. To move the chair, the pump applies force to a small piston with an area of
13.7 in2. What force must the dental hygienist exert on the small piston to lift the chair and the
patient? (F = 36.9 lbf)
10. A pneumatic system produces 100 lb/in 2 of gauge pressure. A cylinder is needed to press
an adhesive label onto a product. It has been determined that 5 lb of force is optimal to
complete this task.
a. What is the required area of the pneumatic cylinder? (0.05 in2)
b. What is the required diameter of the pneumatic cylinder? (0.25 in)
2 3
11. The gauge pressure of a pneumatic cylinder reads 20 lb/in when the volume is 30 in . The
2
cylinder is compressed until the gauge reads 60 lb/in .
a. What is the absolute pressure before the cylinder gas is compressed? (34.7 psia)
b. What is the absolute pressure after the cylinder gas is compressed? (74.7 psia)
c. What is the volume in the cylinder after the gas is compressed? (13.9 in3)
12. A hydraulic lift system uses two 3-inch diameter cylinders. Workers must determine how
much the system is capable of lifting before they can decide on safety limitations. The system
runs at a gauge pressure of 2000 lb/in2.
a. What is the area of each piston? (7.07 in2)
b. How much is the system capable of lifting? (F = 28,280 lbf; each piston can lift 14,140 lbf)
3
13. The air temperature in a 28 in container with a free-sliding piston is initially measured at
45 °F. The temperature is raised to 200 °F.
a. What is the initial absolute temperature reading? (505 ᵒR)
b. What is the absolute temperature reading after the temperature is raised? (660 ᵒR)
c. What is the volume in the cylinder after the temperature is raised? (37 in3)
14. A flowmeter is attached to a hydraulic line that measures 12 gpm. The line has an inside
diameter of 1.5 inches.
a. What is the flow rate measured in in.3/min at the meter? (2772 in3/min)
b. What is the area of the inside diameter of the line? (1.77 in2)
c. What is the flow velocity where the fluid passes the meter? (1566 in/min)
15. A hydraulic press is used to press-fit together two components in an assembly process. The
system must generate at least 775 lb of force to make the press. The piston at the input cylinder
is pushed with a force of 250 lb and has an area of 30 in2. The output can use up to 15 cylinders
that are 30 in2.
a. How much mechanical advantage is required to gain the necessary force? (MA = 3.1)
b. How many output cylinders must be incorporated into the design? (4)
16. A 60-ft3 compressor tank container has a gauge pressure of 160 lb/in 2 and a temperature
of 70 °F. After some time, the temperature decreases to 40 °F. Find the final pressure in the
tank. Assume standard atmospheric pressure.
a. What is the initial absolute temperature reading? (530 R)
b. What is the absolute temperature reading after the temperature decreases? (500 R)
c. What is the absolute pressure of the system before the temperature decreases? (174.4
psia)
d. What is the absolute pressure of the system after the temperature decreases? (164.8 psia)
e. What is the flow rate in gpm of a 2.50 cubic inch pump operating at 1100 rpm? (11.90 gpm)