RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE

Introduction: Dane- 1 min

 Introduce team members
 Discuss learning objectives
 Define fluid power
 Explain the basic principles of fluid power
 Explore advantages and disadvantages
 Explain similarities
 Discuss why fluid power is important

What is Fluid power? Jeremy- 1 min

 Fluid power is the use of Air or oil to generate force
 Capable of generating massive amounts of force or moving extremely heavy objects
 Hydraulics
 Pneumatics
Explain how it works:
 Hydraulics Dane- 3 min
 Advantages of hydraulics
o Massive amount of force capable
o Adjustable actuator speed through flow controls
o Compact for the force capable
o Modular
o Reversable
o Properly designed systems prevent damage to themselves using relief
valves
 o A single power unit can power multiple actuators
o Lubrication is provided by the oil in the system
 Disadvantages
o Not as fast as pneumatics
o Oil must be filtered to keep components safe and stored in a reservoir
o Improperly sealed or designed systems can lead to leaks
 Can cause further environmental harm if more common oils are
used
o Malfunctions can be deadly due to high pressure
o Usually require a custom-built power unit
o Expensive
 Applications
o Industrial
 Factories
 Manufacturing
 Lifting, forming, or cutting massive objects
o Mobile
 Construction
 Agriculture
 Utility equipment
 Waste management
 Pneumatics Jeremy- 3 min
 Advantages of Pneumatics
o Very fast actuation times
o Pneumatic systems can tap off an existing pneumatic source (air
compressor)
o Air is compressible and can act as a cushion
o Low pressures decrease risk of serious injury
 o Cheap components make systems relatively inexpensive
o No need for a reservoir, as air is exhausted into the atmosphere
o Adding sensors make actuators accurate and fast
 Disadvantages
o Volume of air is harder to calculate since its compressible
o Timings are harder to control due to the instantaneous nature of
pneumatics
o Much lower forces when compared to hydraulics
o Must be lubricated
o Air must be filtered to keep contaminates out of the air and extend the
life of the components
o Not as mobile as hydraulics
 Applications
o Industrial
 Factory automation in:
 Food processing
 Medical fields
 Packaging
 Manufacturing
 Used in cases where controlled, soft movements are
needed, as well as fast movements
 Vibration isolation
 Air bags to cancel out noise on machines
 Luxury cars used air bags for ride height adjustment and
noise suppression
 Similarities- Dane -1 min
 Use of Directional Control valves to control flow
 Both follow the principles of Pascal’s law, since they are liquids and gases
 Both are dramatically more efficient compared to a human
 Both capable of substantial forces
 Electrical operators increase precision
 Conclude with why Fluid power is important- Jeremy- 1 min
 It is the very basis of many industries
o Food
o Automobiles
o Construction
o Medicine
 Not having to pay a human means goods produced by fluid power are cheaper
 Faster and more reliable than a human