CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO
HYDRAULICS
AND
PNEUMATICS
1.1 WHAT IS FLUID POWER?
• Fluid power is the transmission of forces and
motions using a confined, pressurized fluid.
• In hydraulic fluid power systems the fluid is
oil, or less commonly water.
• In pneumatic fluid power systems the fluid is
air.
• Liquids used: petroleum oils, synthetic oils and
water
Fluid power:
The use of a fluid to transmit power from one location to an
other
Hydraulics:
The use of a liquid flowing under pressure to transmit power
from one location to another
Pneumatics:
The use of a gas flowing under pressure to transmit power from
one location to another
Cylinders and motors are also called actuators
The characteristics of incompressible fluids
are
motion, which is caused by the fluid entering the
chamber, is slow and smooth.
Because the output directly follows the motion
of the input directly, the position and speed of
the output is easy to accurately control.
The characteristics of compressible fluids are
Since compressed air tends to expand quickly,
the motion is fast
The compressed air causes the motion of the
output device to be jumpy. Therefore, it is
difficult to position objects accurately or at a
precise speed.
Hydraulics versus pneumatics
• Hydraulic systems are usually preferred for
applications that require:
–High power/ load capacity
–Precise positioning
–Smooth movement
• Pneumatic is well suited for applications that
require:
–low power/ light to moderate load capacity
–Low to moderate precision
–Quick response
Advantages of pneumatics compared to hydraulics:
– Compressed air is available in most factories and
they are easily adaptable (modified) to our need
– Pneumatic machines are relatively cheap
– No firing hazard especially in areas where
explosives are there
– They are clean
Disadvantages of pneumatics:
– If compressed air is not available, compressing air is
expensive
– Accuracy of actuators reduce due to compressibility of air
– Slower transmission of signal (due to compressibility of air)
– They are often employed for light duty
Areas of Applications
• Mining: The Caterpillar 797B mining truck(fig 1) is
the largest truck in the world at 3550 hp .It carries
400 tons at 40 mph, uses 900 g of diesel per 12 hr
shift, costs about $6M and has tires that are about
$60,000 each.
• Manufacturing: Shultz Steel, an aerospace company
in South Gate CA, has a 40,000-ton forging press that
weighs over 5.2 million pounds (Fig. 1.2). It is the
largest press in the world and is powered by
hydraulics operating at 6,600 psi requiring 24 700 hp
pumps.
Cond.
Harvesting : Hydraulic motor driven elevator
conveyor system sends harvested, husked ears
of corn to a wagon trailer.
Robotic dexterous arm: Robotic arm and
fingers that can use human tools such as
hammers, electric drills, and can even pick up
an egg
Caterpillar 797B mining truck
Caterpillar 345C L excavator
MAST Laboratory for earthquake simulation
Mercedes-Benz automatic transmission model
Forging press
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COMPONENTS OF A FLUID POWER
Hydraulic System: There are six basic components
1. A tank (reservoir) to hold the oil
2. A pump to force the oil through the system
3. A power source to drive the pump (electric, others)
4. Valves to control oil direction, pressure, and flow
rate.
5. An actuator to convert the oil pressure into force
(cylinders) or torque (motors).
6. Piping, which carries the oil from one location to
another
Basic hydraulic system with linear hydraulic
actuator
Pneumatic Systems
Again six basic components
1. An air tank for storing compressed air
2. A compressor to compress the air
3. A Power source for the compressor (electric,
others)
4. Valves to control air direction, pressure, and
flow rate
5. Actuators, similar in operation to hydraulic
actuators
6. Piping to carry the pressurized air from one
location to another
Basic Pneumatic system
Pressure
The pressure generated in hydraulic system ranges from
3MPa – 30MPa
Therefore, hydraulic systems are used to lift and move
heavy objects
Pneumatic system often operate at around 600KPa
Pneumatics systems are used to operate rotary tools and
cylinders for clamps or for pushing mechanisms
In hydraulic system, a pump must be turned on to cause
the fluid toflow.
In pneumatic system, compressed air confined in a tank is
released in to cause the fluid to flow
A compressor turned on for a short period to replenish
air in the tank when the pressure drops below a certain
level.
Basic Principles
• Fluid power is characterized by two main variables,
pressure and flow rate, whose product is power.
• Hydraulic fluid: the main purpose of the fluid in a
fluid power system is to transmit power.
Flow in a pipe
Energy in fluid power systems is transmitted by a
working fluidthrough flow pipes.
In fluid power systems, the flow of oil through
hydraulic hosesand pipes can result in energy losses due
to internal fluid friction and the friction against the walls
of the conduit.
Cont…..
Designers size the diameter and length of hydraulic
hoses to minimize these losses.
The other cause of major losses in fluid power systems
is the orifice drag of valves and fittings.
• Conduit flow properties can analyzed using basic
principles of fluid mechanics.
Units used for fluid parameters
Concept Unit
Dynamic viscosity Kg/m s
Kinematic viscosity m2 /s
Pressure N/m2 (Pa, Pascal)
Energy Nm (J, Joule)
Power J/s (W, Watt)
Force Kg m/s2
Density Kg/m3