EE3092 -Laboratory Practice V

PNEUMATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS

Instructor: - Mr. R.A. A. Rathnayake

Name: - V.I.P. Dasanayake Index Number: - 090075M Group: - 3 Submission date: -15/02/2012

Discussion
1) Using compressed air in controlled system
Pneumatic control systems are widely used in modern industrial applications for controlling process. This control system is used to some other sub processes such as sensors to determine the status of the process, processors, actuators to carry out the work,..etc. The special about this control system is that all the type of tools and instruments which are used to control the system mainly runs by the compressed air or pressurized gas. Examples include rock drills, pavement breakers, riveters, forging presses, paint sprayers, blast cleaners, and atomizers. Compressed-air power is flexible, economical, and safe. In general, pneumatic systems have relatively few moving parts, contributing to high reliability and low maintenance costs Advantages: 1. Availablity: - since air is available with a unlimited amount, unlike other oil, gas, or liquid it is a great advantage 2. Lightweight:-unlike other electrical equipment Pneumatic devices are usually much lighter, so when comes to handling it is also a great advantage. This makes a big difference with manual and percussion tools. 3. Easily stored: - Purpose-built tanks can be used to store compressed air easily. Normally there is a tank in a pneumatic system that is used to store the compressed air. So if there is a storage tank in a pneumatic system, the compressor only needs to work when the pressure drops below a predetermined value. And because there is always a cushion of pressure, a work cycle can be completed even if the power system fails. 4. Clean and dry: - since the working fluid is just air, there will be no any wastage, no need or the working fluid and leaks of the working fluid tend not to be messy. There are no any defective parts as soil particles. This cleanliness gives a great advantages when it comes to the food manufacturing, textile, leather, packing industries,etc. 5. Economical and rational: - Pneumatics is 40 - 50 times more economical than muscle power When compare the prices of pneumatic components are cheaper than other hydraulic components. Usually an air systems operate at relatively low pressure, the components can be made of relatively inexpensive material. So this method is more economical than other methods.

6. Overload-proof: - Compressed air equipment and pneumatic working parts can be loaded until

they stop without being damaged. Because air is compressible, the equipment is less likely to be damaged by shock. Excessive force is absorb is absorb by the air in pneumatics. This is why they are considered to be overload-proof. In contrast to electrical systems, the output of a pneumatic network can be overloaded without risk of danger. If the pressure drops too much, the work cannot be done, but there will be no damage to the network or its working elements. 7. Fully adjustable: - Speeds, force and torque can be fully adjusted without any difficulty by using throttles. 8. Fast working medium: - since there are less friction in air compare to other gases types, liquids, and Pneumatic power is faster. The very high flow speeds allow rapid completion of work cycles. This provides short cut-in times and fast conversion of energy into work. Hydraulic applications only manage 5m/s. Compressed air can achieve flow speeds of over 20 m/s. With pressures of less than 1bar it is even possible to obtain signal speeds of 200 to 300 m/s. 9. Transportability:-Compressed air can be transported to long distances via pipelines. This possibility enables the installation of central generation stations more easy. Air can be supplied with using ring mains which have a constant high working pressure. 10. Safe to use: - usually pneumatic elements are very safe against to fire, explosion and electrical hazards. Even in areas where there is a risk of fire, explosion and extreme weather conditions, pneumatic elements can be used without large and expensive safety apparatus. It is very safe to use mainly because compressed air can withstand for a great temperature fluctuations and the temperatures are extreme. It can be used in hazardous situations where explosions or fires may occur as well. Pneumatic systems and components in general wear very little. Therefore usually they have a long working life and a low failure rate. 11. Simulating capability:-Before apply the pneumatic system, by using pneumatic simulating software, it can be simulated. So that we can adjust the system as we want. Then we can make it use friendly.

(P.T.O.)

Disadvantages: 1. Maintainability: - when a system is controlled with using compressed air, maintaining under proper schedule will be a necessary thing. 2. Space: - large space will be needed to install a compressed air controlled system, unlike other electrical actuators 3. Speed and position control: -Since air is highly compressible (how much air is compressed for 1atm) accurate speed control and position control is difficult when comparing with electrical and hydraulic actuators .because of this reason sometimes auxiliary systems are also required which cause for additional cost. 4. Limited supply pressure: -since supply pressure is limited to 8 bars, it is normally used to move lighter loads, unless very large actuators are used

2) Industrial use of pneumatic circuit in system controlling, Automation,etc

It is really hard to find disadvantages of pneumatic control systems, since it is developed with modern technology and controlled with air. Compressed air is one of the most resourceful operations when consider the manufacturing environment such as tire manufacturing. It is very much useful in industries, operations and applications as well. Compressed air is used to power tools, move conveyers, transport products and make process applications possible,..etc Normally in these types of industries there are several categories of pneumatic control system. Compressors, Motors or engines, Receiver tanks, After-coolers and air dryers, Filters, Piping distribution system There are other pneumatic control system tools as well. These all are very useful in automation, manufacturing industries,..etc. Some of pneumatic tools use in industry: Air compressors Vacuum pumps Pneumatic switches Pneumatic actuators Pneumatic drill (informal name-jackhammer) Cable Jetting Air brakes on buses, trains, trucks ,etc

Considering some of pneumatic tools and how they operate.If we consider Cable jetting it is used to blow a cable through a duct while simultaneously pushing the cable into the duct. This is done by compressed air is injected at the duct inlet and flows through the duct and along the cable at high speed. When optical fibers are to be installed in underground this method is used. The process of the air brake is very much similar to the process of the piston in an internal combustion engine.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatics http://www.kohlerandlewis.com/pdf/pneutech.pdf