6/29/2020

COMPARISON OF PNEUMATICS AND

ELECTROPNEUMATICS

Wendell Z.
Buenaobra
Technical Support Eng’r.

ADVANTAGE OF ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC
CONTROL AS COMPARED TO PNEUMATIC CONTROL

1. Increased reliability (less wear, mechanically moving parts)

PART II: 2. Reduced planning and commissioning complexity, particularly in

ELECTROPNEUMATICS complex control systems

3. Reduced installation expenditure

4. Simple exchange of information between several controllers

ELECTROPNEUMATICS ELECTRICAL SWITCHES

ELECTROPNEUMATICS is the integration of electrical and electronics
technology to pneumatics technology. Breaks or closes circuit connections used to turn on/off a system, a device
(load) or a station.

Electrical and electronics technology is used as the CONTROL devices
because of its flexibility, ease in installation, compactness and versatility
while pneumatics technology is used as the POWER devices because of its
advantage in terms of speed, safety and reliability in terms of drives.
Switches are primarily distinguished by their contact configuration:
1. Normally open (make): path 3 to 4
2. Normally closed (break): path 1 to 2
3. Changeover contacts: path 1 to 2 or 1 to 4

ELECTRICAL PNEUMATIC
& ELECTROPNEUMATICS
S
ELECTRONICS controlled devices /
power devices
control devices

In electro-pneumatics, electrical and electronic devices control the

characteristics and responses of pneumatic power devices such as drives
and valves.

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DISADVANTAGES OF RELAYS
MULTIPLE-POLE & DETENT SWITCH
A switch with multiple set of contacts (pole) and one actuating element 1. Working surface of contacts wear through oxidation
2. Larger space requirements compared to transistors and thyristors
3. Noise is created during switching operation (because current generated
magnetic field w/c in turn induces current to other circuits)
13 23 31 41

4. Limited switching speed (3ms to 17ms)

Relatively low pick-up time compared to transistors and thyristors
14 24 32 42
5.

Switch with this circuit symbol means DETENT SWITCH; that is it has
mechanical latching
Sometimes called Rocker Switch

RELAYS
SAMPLE CIRCUIT USING RELAY CONTROL
Serves as the foundation for building hard-wiring electrical control of
automated systems (eg. automatic assembly eqt., process eqt.)

Electromagnetically-actuated switch that switches contact via electrical

current that produces magnetic field

(click to play Fluid-SIM

animation)

ADVANTAGES OF RELAYS SOLENOID

1. Easily adapted to various operating voltages An e lectr om ag net ic device used to gen er at e magnetic field and
2. Not much affected by ambient temperature therefore a resulting mechanical pull or push (usually linear motion)
3. Ideally infinite resistance between contacts in the off-state
4. Ideally zero resistance between contacts in on-state It is composed of a long thin loop of conductive wire wrapped around a
5. Several independent circuits can be switched magnetic core and generates a magnetic field around it when an
electric current is passed through the conductive wire

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SOLENOID + VALVE = SOLENOID VALVES

ADVANTAGES OF DC SOLENOIDS
Uses the principle of solenoid to actuate the valve therefore changes its
switching position

Valves which are electrically actuated via the solenoid are called solenoid
1. Easily switched-on
valves and pneumatic valves actuated e lectrically are called
2. Low Turn-On power electropneumatic valves.
3. Low Holding power
4. Long Service Life (order of 100 million operations) Most common electropneumatic valves:
5. Silent 1. 2/2-Way Valve, Solenoid Actuated, Spring Returned
2. 3/2-Way Valve, Solenoid Actuated, Spring Returned
3. 3/2-Way Valve, Double Solenoid
4. 5/2-Way Valve, Solenoid Actuated, Spring Returned
5. 5/2-Way Valve, Double Solenoid
6. 5/3-Way Valve, Double Solenoid, Spring Centered

SOLENOID + VALVE = SOLENOID VALVES

DISADVANTAGES OF DC SOLENOIDS 2/2-Way Valve, Solenoid 3/2-Way Valve, Solenoid
3/2-Way Valve, Double Solenoid
Actuated, Spring Returned Actuated, Spring Returned

1. Over-voltages can occur during cut-off

2. Arc suppression is required
3. High induced contact wear 5/2-Way Valve, Solenoid 5/2-Way Valve, Solenoid
4. Rectifier is required if only AC voltage is available Actuated, Spring Returned Actuated, Spring Returned

5. Longer switching time

5/3-Way Valve, Double Solenoid,

Spring Centered

ARC SUPPRESSION OF INDUCTIVE LOADS HOW SOLENOID VALVE OPERATES

All inductive loads (solenoids, relays, electric motors) when switched off Two Types of Control:
produces a very high kick-back voltage
1. Directly Actuated
- The magnetic field of the solenoid directly pulls or pushes the
This voltage surge may damage coil winding insulation; causes arcing magnetic contact of the valve thereby changing its switching
across switch contacts or relay contacts resulting in severe wear of the position.
contact; and may damage other components. 2. Pilot Actuated
- The magnetic field of the solenoid indirectly controls the valve
switching position but opens up another pilot line which now
switches the valve position.
- Advantage:
- Smaller solenoid to achieve switching
- Reduced power consumption
- Reduced heat generation

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HOW SOLENOID VALVE OPERATES SAMPLE ELECTROPNEUMATICS CONTROL CIRCUIT

Directly Actuated

(click to play Fluid-SIM

animation)

HOW SOLENOID VALVE OPERATES

Pilot Actuated

HOW SOLENOID VALVE OPERATES

Pilot Actuated