Pneumatic Power

Principles of Engineering 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Pneumatic Power
Pneumatic power Boyles Law
Pneumatics vs. Charles Law
hydraulics Gay-Lussacs Law
Early pneumatic uses Common pneumatic
Properties of gases system components
Pascals Law Compressor types
Perfect gas laws Future pneumatic
possibilities
Pneumatic Power
Pneumatics
The use of a gas flowing under pressure
to transmit power from one location to
another
Gas in a pneumatic system behaves like
a spring since it is compressible.
Pneumatics vs. Hydraulics
Pneumatic Systems . . .
Use a compressible gas
Possess a quicker, jumpier motion
Are not as precise
Require a lubricant
Are generally cleaner
Often operate at pressures around 100 psi
Generally produce less power
Early Pneumatic Uses

Bellows
Tool used by
blacksmiths and
smelters for
working iron and
other metals
Early Pneumatic Uses

Otto von Guericke

Showed that a
vacuum can be
created
Created hemispheres
held together by
atmospheric pressure
Early Pneumatic Uses
Americas First Subway
Designed by Alfred Beach
Built in New York City
Completed in 1870
312 feet long, 8 feet in
diameter
Closed in 1873
Properties of Gases
Gases are affected by 3 variables
Temperature (T)
Pressure (p)
Volume (V)
Gases have no definite volume
Gases are highly compressible
Gases are lighter than liquids
Properties of Gases
Absolute Pressure
Gauge Pressure: Pressure on a gauge
does not account for atmospheric
pressure on all sides of the system
Absolute Pressure: Atmospheric pressure
plus gauge pressure

Gauge Pressure + Atmospheric Pressure = Absolute Pressure

Properties of Gases
Absolute Pressure
Pressure (p) is measured in pounds per square inch
(lb/in.2 or psi)
Standard atmospheric pressure equals 14.7 lb/in. 2

If a gauge reads 120.0 psi, what is the absolute

pressure?

120.0 lb/in.2 + 14.7 lb/in.2 = 134.7 lb/in.2

Properties of Gases
Absolute Temperature
0F does not represent a true 0
Absolute Zero = -460.F
Absolute Temperature is measured in degrees
Rankine (R)
R = F + 460.

If the temperature of the air in a system is 65 F,

what is the absolute temperature?

Answer:
65 F + 460. = 525 R
Pascals Law
Pressure exerted by a confined fluid acts
undiminished equally in all directions.

Pressure: The force per unit area exerted

by a fluid against a surface
Symbol Definition Example Unit

F
p p Pressure lb/in.2

A F Force lb

A Area in.2
Pascals Law Example
How much pressure can be
produced with a 3.00 in.
diameter (d) cylinder and
d = 3.00 in. p = ?
60.0 lb of force (F)? F = 60.0 lb A = ?

Formula Formula

Sub / Solve Sub / Solve

*
Sub / Solve

*Note: This intermediate value has been rounded. The full

stored value in your calculator should be utilized when
Perfect Gas Laws
The perfect gas laws describe the behavior
of pneumatic systems

Boyles Law

Charles Law

Gay-Lussacs Law
Boyles Law
The volume of a gas at
constant temperature
varies inversely with the
pressure exerted on it.

p1 (V1) = p2 (V2)
NASA

Symbol Definition Example Unit

V Volume in.3
Boyles Law Example
A cylinder is filled with 40. in.3 of air at a pressure of 60. psi.
The cylinder is compressed to 10. in.3. What is the resulting
absolute pressure?
p1 = 60. lb/in.2 V1 = 40. in.3
p2 = ? V2 = 10. in.3
Convert p1 to absolute pressure.
p1 = 60. lb/in.2 + 14.7 lb/in.2 = 74.7 lb/in.2

Formula p(1 V1 ) p2( V2 )

lb
Sub / Solve 74.7 2( 40.in.3 ) p2( 10.in.3 )
in.
2988 in. lb
32
p2
10.in.
lb
Final p2 3.0 102
in2
Charles Law
Volume of gas
increases or decreases
as the temperature
increases or decreases,
provided the amount of
gas and pressure
remain constant. NASA

V1 V2 Note: T1 and T2 refer to

absolute temperature.
T1 T2
Charles' Law Example
An expandable container is
filled with 28 in.3 of air and
is sitting in ice water that is
32F. The container is
removed from the icy water
and is heated to 200.F.
What is the resulting
volume?
V1 = 28in.3
V2 = ?
T1 = 32F
T2 = 200.F

Convert T to absolute temperature.

T1 = 32F + 460.F =492R
T2 = 200.F + 460.F =660R
Charles' Law Example
An expandable container
is filled with 28 in.3 of air
and is sitting in ice water V1 V2
Formula
that is 32F. The container T1 T2
is removed from the icy 3
water and is heated to 28 in. V2
Sub / Solve
200F. What is the 492R 660.R
resulting volume? 18480 in3
R
V 2
V1 = 28in.3 492 R
V2 = ?
T1 = 32F
T2 = 200.F Final V2 38 in.3
Convert T to absolute temperature
T1 = 32F + 460.F = 492R
T = 200F + 460.F = 660R
Gay-Lussacs Law
Absolute pressure of a gas
increases or decreases as
the temperature increases
or decreases, provided the
amount of gas and the
volume remain constant.

p1 p2

T1 T2
Note: T1 and T2 refer to absolute
temperature.
p1 and p2 refer to absolute
pressure.
Gay-Lussacs Law Example
A 300. in.3 sealed air tank is sitting outside. In the morning the
temperature inside the tank is 62F, and the pressure gauge reads 120.
lb/in.2. By afternoon the temperature inside the tank is expected to be
close to 90.F. What will the absolute pressure be at that point?

V = 300. in.3 T1 = 62F p1 p2

Formula
p1 = 120. lb/in.2 T2 = 90.F T1 T2
p2 = ? 134.7lb / in.2 p2
Sub / Solve
522R 550.R
Convert p to absolute pressure. 74085 lb / in2
R
p1= 120. lb/in. + 14.7 lb/in.
2 2
p2
= 134.7 lb/in.2 522 R

Final p2 140 lb / in.2

Convert T to absolute temperature.
T1 = 62F + 460.F = 522R
Gay-Lussacs Law Example
A 300 in.3 sealed air tank is sitting outside. In the morning
the temperature inside the tank is 62F, and the pressure
gauge reads 120 lb/in2. By afternoon the temperature inside
the tank is expected to be closer to 90F. What will the
absolute pressure be at that point?

Final p2 141.9 lb / in.2

If the absolute pressure is 141.9 lb/in.2, what is

the pressure reading at the gauge?
141.9 lb/in.2 14.7 lb/in.2 = 127.2 lb/in.2
= 130 lb/in.2
Common Pneumatic System
Components
Transmission
Lines
Regulator
Filter
Drain Directional
Control
Receiver Valve
Tank

Cylinder
Pressure Compressor
Relief Valve
National Fluid Power Association & Fluid Power Distributors Association
Compressor Types

Compair

Reciprocating Piston Compressor

Compressor Types

Compair

Rotary Screw Compressor

Compressor Types

Compair

Rotary Vane
Future Pneumatic Possibilities
What possibilities may be on the horizon for pneumatic
power?
Could it be human transport?

zapatopi.net
Image Resources
Compair. (2008). Compressed air explained: The three types of compressors. Retrieved
March 5, 2008, from http://www.compair.com/About_Us/Compressed_Air Explained--
03The_three_types_of_compressors.aspx
Johnson, J.L. (2002). Introduction to fluid power. United States: Thomson Learning, Inc.

Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2008). Boyles law. Retrieved February
3, 2008, from http://www.grc.nasa.gov/

National Fluid Power Association. (2008). What is fluid power. Retrieved February 15,
2008, from http://www.nfpa.com/OurIndustry/OurInd_AboutFP WhatIsFluidPower.asp

National Fluid Power Association & Fluid Power Distributors Association. (n.d.). Fluid
power: The active partner in motion control technology. [Brochure]. Milwaukee, WI:
Author.

Zapato, L. (n.d.) The inteli-tube pneumatic transportation system. Retrieved February 29,
2008, from http://zapatopi.net/inteli-tube/