Hydraulics and Pneumatics

Introduction

CP 513 Industrial Fluid

Mechanics
To describe industrial applications of principle of flow through porous media

To derive governing equations of processes such as fluidisation, filtration, gravity settling and centrifugal
separation from basic equations in fluid mechanics

To apply the governing equations to do the basic designing of equipment such as fluidised beds, filters cyclone
separators, scrubbers etc.,

To describe the operational principles of selected hydraulic machines

Pre-requisites: none Industrial Fluid Mechanics (2 credits)

Pre-requisites: none
Time allocated / hours
Course description
L T P D
Flow through porous media: particle fluid mechanics, fluidisation, and
filtration.
12 02 04
Pneumatic transportation, transport of slurries 06 01
Design of fluidised beds, packed beds, filters, and pneumatic transport
systems
18
Basic Hydraulic/Pneumatic power principles, fluid power symbols
and diagrams, actuators, control valves, fluid preparation systems,
contamination control, directional and pressure controls and
10 01 04
applications.
TOTAL 28 04 4 09
Comparison of power transmission systems
 Basic Hydraulic System
• Move large loads by controlling high-pressure fluid in
distribution lines and pistons with mechanical or
electromechanical valves
• 1000psi – 3000psi
• Closed systems, always recirculating same fluid
 Pascal’s Law
The Hydrostatic Power Transmission system (HST)
operates by Pascal’s Law

• Pascal's law states that:

"a change in the pressure of an
enclosed incompressible fluid is
conveyed undiminished to every
part of the fluid and to the
surfaces of its container.“
– Force determined by pressure
– Speed determined by flow rate
 Hydraulic Systems advantages and
disadvantages
• Advantage:
– Able to generate extremely large forces from compact
actuators
– Easy to control speed
– Easy to implement linear motion
• Disadvantage:
– Large infrastructure (high-pressure pump, tank, distribution
lines)
– Potential fluid leaks
– Noisy operation
– Vibration
– Maintenance requirements, expensive
– Characteristics of working fluids change with temperature
and moisture
 Basic Pneumatic systems
• Pneumatic systems similar to hydraulic systems
• Use compressed air as working fluid rather than hydraulic liquid
• 70psi - 150psi, much lower than hydraulic system pressures, much lower
forces than hydraulic actuators
• Energy can be stored in high pressure tanks
• Open systems, always processing new air
 Advantages and disadvantages of
Pneumatic systems
• Advantage:
– Constant force at relatively speedy operation
– Clean (food industry)
– No return lines needed
– Adaptable infrastructure
– Possible light, mobile pneumatic systems
– Fast system response
• Disadvantage:
– Difficult to achieve position control (compressible
air)
– Noisy