UNIT III: Hydraulics and Pneumatics

Components
PUMPS AND COMPRESSORS
• The power source is the key element in a fluid-power system.
• In a pneumatic system, the power source is an air compressor, while in a
• hydraulic system, it is a pump.
• These normally are driven by an electric motor or internal combustion
engine.
• Storage devices are used along with most systems so that they can be
made to work more efficiently.
• In hydraulic systems, the storage device is an accumulator; in pneumatic
systems, it is a tank or receiver.
• However, most pneumatic systems are used with a receiver.
• One may define the fluid power generator as a means of converting the
mechanical energy of a motor or engine into potential energy of the
fluid.
• A pump is the heart of the hydraulic system.
• It is a mechanical device used to move liquids under pressure or to
raise them from a lower level to a higher level.
• This is done by creating suction at the inlet and high pressure at
the outlet.
• Pumps are used throughout the plant to move fluids from one
place to another.
• Every system from fuel oil to water use pumps.
• They play a vital role in supplying fluids at the correct flow rate
and pressure to components downstream of the pumps.
• The selection of the pump class and type for a certain application
is influenced by system requirements, system layout, fluid
characteristics, intended life, energy cost, code requirements, and
materials of construction.
• A compressor is a device that takes in air at atmospheric pressure
• and delivers it at a pressure higher than atmospheric.
• Every compressed air system begins with a compressor, which is a
continuous source of airflow for all the downstream equipment and
processes.
• The main parameters of any air compressor are capacity and its
pressure; capacity does the work and the pressure affects the rate
at which work is done.
PUMPS VS. COMPRESSORS
• The purpose of both the compressor and the pump is to raise the
• pressure of fluid.
• The main difference between a pump and a compressor is that the
fluid delivered by compressor, i.e., air, is compressed and under
pressure at the time it is delivered, even if there is no load on the
system.
• The only other substantive difference is that most hydraulic
systems are powered by a single pump that is actually a part of the
system,
• whereas most pneumatic systems are often powered by a single
compressor, which is almost a utility in the plant like water or
electric service.
• Hydraulic pumps deliver high pressure fluid flow to the pump
outlet.
• Hydraulic pumps are powered by mechanical energy sources to
pressurize fluid.
• A hydraulic pump, when powered by pressurized fluid, can rotate
in a reverse direction and act as a motor.
 POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT VS.
NON POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT DEVICES
• Positive displacement devices are also called hydrostatic devices.
• A positive displacement device is one that displaces (delivers) the
same amount of fluid for each rotating cycle of the pumping
element.
• Constant delivery during each cycle is possible because of the close
tolerance fit between the pumping element and the pump case.
• They use a mechanism that seals fluid in a chamber and forces it
out by reducing the volume of the chamber.
• This action increases the fluid’s pressure.
• Positive displacement devices can be of either fixed or variable
displacement.
• The output of a fixed displacement device remains constant during
each pumping cycle and at a given pump speed.
• The output of a variable displacement device can be changed by
altering the geometry of the displacement chamber.
• Generally, these devices are used for low volume and high lift.
• Non positive displacement devices are those where fluid is
compressed by the dynamic action of rotating vanes or impellers
imparting velocity and pressure to the fluids.
• These devices are also called as Rotodynamic or hydrodynamic
devices.
CLASSIFICATION OF HYDRAULIC PUMPS
COMPARISON OF POSITIVE AND NON POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
CLASSIFICATION OF HYDRAULIC PUMPS
COMPARISON OF POSITIVE AND NON POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
 • PUMP SELECTION • COMPRESSOR
PARAMETERS SELECTION
• Cost PARAMETERS
• Pressure ripple and noise
• Suction performance • Pressure range (psi)
• Contaminant sensitivity • Flow rate
• Speed • Receiver size (gallons)
• Weight • Power supply (may be
• Fixed or variable displacement electric or mechanical)
• Maximum pressure and flow, • Size of installation
or power • Number of stages (in case of
• Fluid type reciprocating)
 ACTUATORS - CYLINDERS AND MOTORS
• An actuator is an essential component in all fluid power systems.
• Actuator is last in a fluid power system.
• The purpose of all downstream equipment is to convert the fluid
power into mechanical power by means of an actuator.
• The output of the fluid power system is through an actuator.
• The output can be in the form of linear or rotary motion.
• Actuators that produce linear output are called cylinders and
actuators that produce a rotary output are called motors.
• Cylinders can be classified as hydraulic and pneumatic based on
• the working fluid used, similarly cylinders can be single acting or
double acting depending upon the constructional features.
 CYLINDERS
• Cylinders are linear actuators, which convert fluid power into
• mechanical power.
• The linear motion and high force produced by cylinders are big
reasons why designers specify hydraulic and pneumatic systems in
the first place.
• The fluid force acting on the piston causes the movement of the
piston assembly.
• Cylinders are sometimes called linear
actuators or linear motors.
 CLASSIFICATION OF CYLINDERS
• There are many ways of classifying cylinders but, broadly,
• cylinders or linear actuators can be classified on the basis of:
• Construction
• Working fluid

CLASSIFICATION OF CYLINDERS ON THE BASIS OF

CONSTRUCTION
• Depending on the construction, cylinders can be classified as:
• Single-Acting Cylinders
• Double-Acting Cylinders

The basic difference between the two single cylinders is that single
acting cylinders can be pressurized from one end, while the double
acting cylinders can be pressurized from both ends.
 SINGLE-ACTING CYLINDER
• The cylinder is only powered in one direction and needs another
force to return it such as an external load or a spring.
• This cylinder only has a head-end port and is operated
hydraulically/pneumatically in one direction.
• When pressurized fluid is send into a port, it pushes the
plunger/piston rod thus extending it.
• To return or retract a cylinder, fluid must be exhausted out.
• A plunger returns either because of the weight of a load or from
some mechanical force such as a spring.
TYPES OF SINGLE-ACTING CYLINDERS
There are three types of single-acting cylinders, which are commonly available:
Ram type cylinder
Telescopic cylinder
Spring return cylinder
 DOUBLE-ACTING CYLINDER
• Double-acting cylinders are the most commonly used cylinders in
• hydraulic and pneumatic applications. In this design, pressure can
be applied to either side of the cylinder.
• The symbol for double-acting cylinder shows two ports where fluid
pressure can be applied as shown in Figure below.
• The extension and retraction of cylinder is due to
hydraulic/pneumatic pressure.
 CLASSIFICATION OF CYLINDERS ON THE
BASIS OF WORKING MEDIUM
• Depending on working medium cylinders can be classified as:
• Hydraulic Cylinders
• Pneumatic Cylinders

• Force = Pressure x Area 176

Area of a Cylinder
• There are two type of areas in one cylinder, i.e., area on rod side
and area on non-rod side of the cylinder.
• Both the force and speed of a cylinder are dependent on knowing
the area of the cylinder.
• The same formula can be used to find out the area of rod and thus the
area on the rod side of piston can be given as:
Area (rod end) = Area of Piston − Area of the rod itself
• It can be added here that when pressure is applied to the rod end of
cylinder it will move faster and have less force as compared to rod less
side of cylinder.

CYLINDER SPECIFICATION
• Cylinders can be specified on the basis of following:
• Cylinder bore
• Piston rod diameter
• Stroke length
• Pressure range
• Force output at max pressure
• Mounting styles
• Rod ends
• Cushions (at one end or both ends)
 INTRODUCTION TO MOTORS
• A fluid power motor is a device that converts fluid power energy to
rotary motion and force.
• Pressure is converted into torque and flow rate is converted into
speed.
• The function of hydraulic motor is opposite to that of a pump.
• However, the design and operation of fluid power motors are very
similar to pumps.
• The difference being, instead of pushing the fluid as the pump does
in a hydraulic motor, the rotating elements, i.e., vanes, gears,
pistons, etc. are pushed by the oil pressure to enable the motor
shaft to rotate and thus develop the necessary turning torque and
continuous rotating motion.
 MOTOR RATINGS
• Hydraulic motors are rated according to the following parameters:
• Torque: Torque is the turning force developed at the motor shaft
due to its rotation.
• The torque increases with an increase in operating pressure and
decreases with a decrease in operating pressure.

• Pressure: The pressure required by a motor depends on the torque

• requirement and its displacement.
• A motor with a higher displacement requires lower pressure to
generate a specific torque as compared to a motor of lower
displacement.
• Displacement: Displacement is defined as the amount of fluid
required to turn the motor shaft one revolution.
• It is expressed in cubic inches per revolution, the same as pump
displacement.
• Hydraulic motors can be a fixed or variable displacement type.
• A fixed displacement motor gives a constant speed and torque with
a fixed flow rate and operating pressure.
• A variable displacement motor gives a variable speed and torque
even with constant flow rate and operating pressure.
• Speed: Speed of a motor is the function of its displacement and the
input flow rate.
• The maximum speed of a motor is the speed it can sustain for a
specified time without damage.
• The minimum speed of a motor is the slowest speed at which a
motor rotates smoothly and continuously.
• The torque output of motor is independent of its speed.
SYMBOL OF MOTORS
 APPLICATION OF MOTORS
• Hydraulic motors provide solutions in applications involving
• infinite speed control, stalling under full torque, high power-to-
weight ratio, and small size.
• Their characteristics make them useful in a wide variety of
industries.
• Some of the applications of motors are:
• In the aerospace industry.
• In the food processing industry.
• In construction and agricultural equipment.
• In heavy earth moving equipment like excavators, skids, forklifts,
• heavy dump trucks, bulldozers, etc.