1. Pneumatic Principles

2. Introduction
A pneumatic system uses air or some other gas to transmit and control power to perform work.
Properties of a pneumatic system often make it the best choice for industry

3. History
Man has used air to do work for centuries and today, pneumatic devices are a common
Early man learned to attach sails to boats
Windmills were used to pump water and grind grain in the 12th century
Helping solve part of today's energy problems

4. History
Scientists in 17th century began to study the properties of gases and the effects of pressure, temperature, and flow
Efficient methods of compressing air were developed
Man learned to use compressed air to do work which had been done manually

5. History
Since WW II the advantages of pneumatics has been fully utilized
Use of pneumatic devices has been expanding rapidly because:
low cost, small size, high power-to-weight ratio, flexibility of use, long service life and ease of service

6. Properties of Air
Air is a mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, making up the earths atmosphere
At the surface of earth air naturally exists under pressure due to the weight of the atmosphere
The pressure is equal to approximately 14.7 #/in2 at sea level
This pressure exerts force on all of the surfaces it touches

7. Properties of Air Since this pressure is constant it is not noticeable
Air has no size or shape of its own
It always takes the shape of its container and completely fills it
If air is placed in a closed container, the pressure of the air will be equal force against all the surfaces within that container

8. Properties of Air Air pressure is measured in pounds per square inch
Reflects the amount of force a given air pressure exerts on each square inch of surface it contacts
As air is compressed it releases heat
In most compressed air systems a cooler is used to absorb this heat

9. Properties of Air
As the compressed air is released to atmosphere it expands and absorbs heat.
This is the reason air-operated devices become cool while running.
Air has the ability to hold water vapor.
This ability is affected by both the temperature and the pressure of the air.

10. Properties of Air
As air is compressed, its ability to hold moisture is reduced
This causes water to condense and fall out of the air
This why water collects in a compressed air system and must be drained periodically

11. Properties of Air Air is considered a fluid
It always flows from the area of highest pressure to the area of lowest pressure
As a fluid begins to flow begins to lose pressure
The faster it flows the lower its pressure will become

12. Using Air To Transmit Force
A pneumatic system can use air to transmit mechanical force from one place to another.
To do this mechanical force is first converted into a fluid pressure.
The pressure is created by the compression of the air and is equal to the amount of force being applied against it.

13. Using Air To Transmit Force
A pressure of 100 pounds per square in is being applied to the surface of a piston which has a surface area of 12 square inches.
This produces 1200 pounds of thrust.

14. Advantages Of Using Pneumatic System
Spark-Resistance
Air operated products generally are not likely to produce sparks, which makes then suitable for use in hazardous environment.
Control
Pneumatic systems provide a fine degree of control, allowing force to be applied where it’s needed, when it’s needed, and in the amounts needed.
Remote or automatic control of pneumatic equipment allows the machine operator to be removed from the immediate area of the machine.

15. Advantages Of Using Pneumatic System
Light/Compact
Pneumatic products are very light and compact for the amount of power they produce.
Used with less operator fatigue and allows stationary units to be mounted in confined spaces.

16. Advantages Of Using Pneumatic System
Instant Reversibility
Most pneumatic devices can be instantly reversed without damage
Speeds up production

17. Advantages Of Using Pneumatic System
No overheating/Burnout
Equipment can be used indefinitely under heavy load or stall conditions without becoming hot or damaging itself.
Usually the more a pneumatic device runs, the cooler it becomes

18. Advantages Of Using Pneumatic System
Safety
Pneumatic equipment has no chance of shock and usually operates at low pressures

19. Advantages Of Using Pneumatic System
Cost
Operating costs are low when considering service life, serviceability, increased production, reduced operator fatigue
Lower operating cost results in increased profitability