Introduction to

Pneumatic System
CHAPTER 1
LEARNING OUTCOME
By the end of the lesson, student should
be able to:

1) Explain pneumatic system.

PNEUMATIC
SYSTEM
What is PNEUMATIC?
 science of mechanical properties of elastic
fluids.
 use of compressed air to transmit power or
motion.
 “pneu” (ancient Greek) meant breath or wind,
however matic means power.
 industrial application of pneumatic in
production dates back only to about 1950.
Application of PNEUMATIC
System

Shifting Transferring
Clamping

Stamping
Pressing Embossing
Application of PNEUMATIC
System
•Cylinders
•Valves
•Motors
•Compressors
•Packaging machines
•Air guns, hoists
•Clean room applications
•Actuators
•Pneumatic drills
•Switches
•Vacuum pumps
•Cable jetting
•Air brakes
Application of PNEUMATIC
System
•Pneumatic drill (jackhammer) used by road workers
•Pneumatic switches
•Pneumatic actuator
•Air compressors
•Vacuum pump
•Cable Jetting - a way to install cables in ducts
•Air brakes on buses, trains, and trucks
•Air engines for pneumatically powered vehicles
•Pneumatic air guns
Advantages of PNEUMATIC
1) Availability
Air is practically available every where in unlimited
quantity.

2) Transportation
Can be easily transported in pipe lines.
Not necessary to return the compress air.

3) Temperature
Insensitive to temperature fluctuation
Ensure reliable operation
Advantages of PNEUMATIC
4) Storage
Compress need not be in continuous operation.
Can be stored in and remove from a reservoir or
cylinder.

5) Explosion proof
No risk of explosion or fire.
Expensive protection against explosion is not
required.

6) Construction
Simple construction.
Inexpensive.
Advantages of PNEUMATIC
7) Cleanliness
Leaking air does not cause contamination.
Suitable for food, wood, textile and leather
industries.

8) Speed
Very fast working medium.
Cylinders have working speed of 1~2 m/s.
Disadvantages of PNEUMATIC
1) Preparation
Require to remove dirt and humidity.

2) Compressible
Not possible to achieve uniform and constant piston
speeds.

3) Exhaust air
Noisy.
The oil mist with compressed air escapes with the
exhaust to the atmosphere.
Disadvantages of PNEUMATIC
4) Force requirement
Low working loads.
The require output force is economical only up to
about 20 kN to 30 kN.
Commonly used working pressure of 7 bars.

5) Cost
Expensive to produce.
Pneumatic Block System

Air Air Air Dryer Air Directional Pneumatic

Compressor Receiver Service Valve Actuator
Unit
Pneumatic Block System
COMPONENT FUNCTION

Air compressor Compressed the air from atmosphere to higher pressure.

Air receiver Storage and control the pressure of the compressed air.

Dry the compressed air from water vapor before supply to

Air dryer the pneumatic system to prevent the components from
rusting.

Removes contaminants (filter), control pressure (regulator)

Air service unit and lubricate (lubricator) the compressed air before
supplied to the system.

Directional control
Control the direction of actuator.
valve
Convert the stored energy in the compressed air into
Pneumatic actuator
motion.
System Structure & Signal Flow
 The primary levels in a pneumatic system are:
1) Energy supply
2) Input elements (sensors)
3) Processing elements (processors)
4) Actuating devices (actuators)
 The elements in the system are represented by
symbols which indicate the function of the
element.
 The symbols can be combined to represent a
solution for a particular control task using the
circuit diagram.
System Structure & Signal Flow
 The circuit is drawn with the same structure as
the signal flow diagram below.

Signal flow of pneumatic system

System Structure & Signal Flow
 At the actuator level, the addition of the control
element completes the structure.
 The control element control the actions of the
actuator after receiving signals sent by the
processor elements.
 The directional control valve (DCV) may have a
sensing, a processing or an actuating control
function.
 If the DCV is used to control a cylinder motion,
then it is a control element for the actuator
group.
System Structure & Signal Flow
 If the DCV is used in the function of processing
signals, then it is defined as a processor
element.
 If it is used to sense motions, then it is defined
as a sensor.
 The distinguishing feature between each of
these roles is normally the method of operating
the valve and where the valve is situated in the
circuit diagram.
Circuit diagram & pneumatic elements

Actuator

Final control element

Signal processor

Signal input (sensors)

Energy supply (source)