Pneumatics

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Table of Pneumaticks, 1728 Cyclopaedia

Pneumatics, from the Greek πνευματικός (pneumatikos, coming from the wind) is the use of pressurized gases to do work in science and technology.

Pneumatics was first documented by Hero of Alexandria in 60 A.D., but the concept had existed before then.

Pneumatics is employed in a variety of settings. In dentistry applications, pneumatic drills are lighter, faster and simpler than an electric drill of the same power rating (because the prime mover, the compressor, is separate from the drill and pumped air is capable of rotating the drill bit at extremely high rpm). Pneumatic transfer systems are employed in many industries to move powders and pellets. Pneumatic tubes can carry objects over distances. Pneumatic devices are also used where electric motors cannot be used for safety reasons, such as mining applications where rock drills are powered by air motors to preclude the need for electric motors deep in the mine where explosive gases may be present.

Pneumatic logic systems are often used to control industrial processes. Pneumatic logic systems consist of primary logic units including:

  • And Units
  • Or Units
  • 'Relay or Booster' Units
  • Latching Units
  • 'Timer' Units

Pneumatic logic is a reliable and functional control method for industrial processes. In recent years these systems have largely been replaced by electrical control systems, due to the size of the logic units and cost versus their electrical counterparts. They are still in use in processes where compressed air is the only energy source available or upgrade cost, safety, and other considerations outweigh the advantage of modern digital control.

Industrial pneumatics may be contrasted with hydraulics, which uses incompressible liquid media such as oil or water instead of air. Air is compressible, is considered to be a fluid, and most industrial applications use approximately 80 to 100 pounds per square inch (psi) (500 to 700 kilopascals) gauge pressure, as compared to hydraulics which are commonly used from 1,000 to 5,000 psi (0.7 to 3.5 MPa), and in some cases 10,000 psi (7 MPa) and higher. Both pneumatics and hydraulics are applications of fluid power.

Physical pneumatic principles conclude that the pressure forms in compressible liquids can be harnessed to a high potential of power. This gives us new potential of several pneumatically powered operations and henceforth creates many new devices which we may use to power our world.

Common industrial pneumatic components include:

External links

Pneudraulics

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