34th Batch PGDP, Semester - 2

Fluid Mechanics & Machinery

Lecture – 1
Hydraulic & Pneumatic Machines

Dr. Gaurav Madhu

Associate Professor / Joint Director
R D Division, IIP Mumbai
 Presentation Outline

• Definitions of Hydraulics & Pneumatics

• Fluid Power & its Applications

• Hydraulics / Hydraulic Machinery

– Basic Components of Hydraulics

– Common Examples of Hydraulics

• Pneumatics / Pneumatic Machinery

– Basic Components of Pneumatics

– Common Examples of Pneumatics

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 Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Pneumatics
• Derived from the Greek word pneuma for air.

• Pneumatics is the discipline that deals with mechanical properties of gases

such as pressure and density, and applies the principles to use compressed
gas as a source of power to solve Engineering problems.

Hydraulics
• Derived from the Greek words hydra for water and aulos for a pipe.

• Hydraulics is the discipline that deals with the mechanical properties of

liquids, and applies the principles to solve engineering problems.

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 Fluid Power

All machines require some type of power source and a way of

transmitting this power to the point of operation.

The three methods of transmitting power are:

• Mechanical (shafts, gears, chains, belts, etc.)
• Electrical (wires, transformers, etc.)
• Fluid (liquids, gases)

In this course we are going to deal with the third type of power
transmission which is the Fluid Power.

Fluid power is the method of using pressurized fluid to transmit energy.

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Fluid Power ≡ Hydraulics & Pneumatics

• Fluid power is the technology that deals with the generation, control,
and transmission of power, using pressurized fluids.

 Fluid power is called hydraulic when the fluid is a liquid.

 Fluid power is called pneumatic when the fluid is a gas.

• Fluid power is the general term used for both hydraulic and
pneumatic systems.

• The terms “fluid power” and “hydraulics & pneumatics” are

synonymous.

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 Applications of Fluid Power
Agriculture Tractors; farm equipment such as mowers, ploughs, chemical and water
sprayers, fertilizer spreaders, harvesters
Automobiles Power steering, power brakes, suspension systems, hydrostatic
transmission
Construction Earth moving machinery, excavators, lifts, bucket loaders, tippers

Food and beverage All types of food processing equipment, wrapping, bottling

Machine tools Automated machine tools, numerically controlled (NC) machine tools

Materials handling Jacks, hoists, cranes, forklifts, conveyor systems

Paper and packaging Process control systems, special-purpose machines for rolling and
packing
Pharmaceuticals Process control systems such as bottle filling, tablet placement,
packaging
Plastic industry Automatic injection molding machines, raw material feeding, jaw closing,
movement of slides of blow molder
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 Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Air is Compressible
• This describes whether it is possible to force an object into a smaller
space than it normally occupies.
• For example, a sponge is compressible because it can be squeezed
into a smaller size.

Liquid is Incompressible
• When a “squeezing” force is applied to an object, it does not change
to a smaller size.
• Liquid, for example hydraulic fluid, possesses this physical property.

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 Introduction to Hydraulics

• Hydraulic systems are commonly used where Hydraulic pump

mechanisms require large forces and precise

control.
Control
• Examples include vehicle power steering and Power cylinder valve

brakes, hydraulic jacks and heavy earth moving

machines, dumping trucks, flight simulators, etc.

• Hydraulics plays an important role in many

industries; there are a lot of hydraulic applications
in manufacturing, transportation, and construction
sectors.

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 Introduction to Hydraulics
Basic Principles of Hydraulics
• Liquids have no shape of their own.

• Liquids will NOT compress.

• Liquids transmit applied pressure in all directions.

• Liquids provide great increase in work force.

• Pressure applied on a confined fluid is transmitted

in all directions with equal force on equal areas
(Pascal’s Law)
• All hydraulic systems operate following a defined
relationship between area, force and pressure.
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 Introduction to Hydraulics
Pressure
• When a force (F) is applied on an area (A) of an enclosed
liquid, a pressure (P) is produced as shown in Fig.

• Pressure is the distribution of a given force over a certain

area.

• Units – Pound per square inch (PSI), Pascal (Pa), Bar

• When Force is measured in N and Area in m2

 1 N/m2 = 1 Pa
 1 bar = 100,000 Pa = 105 Pa
 10 bar = 1 MPa (mega Pascal)

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 Introduction to Hydraulics
Multiplication of Force
• Since liquid transmit the same amount of pressure in all
directions, the force transmitted to the output piston is multiplied
by a factor equal to the area ratio of the output piston to the
input piston.

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 Introduction to Hydraulics
Flow Rate & Flow Velocity
• Flow rate is the volume of fluid that moves through the system in a given
period of time.
– It determines the speed at which the output device (e.g. a cylinder) will operate.

• Flow velocity of a fluid is the distance the fluid travels in a given period of
time.
• These two quantities are often confused, so care should be taken to note
the distinction.
• The following equation relates the flow rate and flow velocity of a liquid to
the size (area) of the conductors (pipe, tube or hose) through which it
flows.
Q=V x A Q, V
A

where:
Q = flow rate (m³/s); V = flow velocity (m/s); A = area (m²)
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 Introduction to Hydraulics
The Continuity Equation
• Assume a system where flow is constant and the diameter varies
A1 V1
A2 V2

Q1 Q2

• The following equation applies in this system

Q1  Q2
• Therefore,
V1  A1  V2  A2

• Which is known as the “Continuity Equation”

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 Introduction to Hydraulics
Significance of Continuity Equation
• In a system with a steady flow rate, a reduction in area (pipe size)
corresponds to an increase in flow velocity by the same factor.

• If the pipe diameter increases, the flow velocity is reduced by the same
factor.

• This is an important concept to understand because in an actual hydraulic

system, the pipe size changes repeatedly as the fluid flows through hoses,
fittings, valves, and other devices.

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Basic Components of Hydraulic System

Components of Hydraulic System

Components of Hydraulic System

(shown using symbols)

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Basic Components of Hydraulic System
1. Actuator – To convert the fluid power into mechanical power to do useful work.
2. Hydraulic Pump – To force the fluid from the reservoir to rest of the hydraulic
circuit by converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy.
3. Valves – To control the direction, pressure
and flow rate of a fluid flowing through the
circuit.
4. Motor – To drive the pump.
5. Reservoir – To hold the hydraulic liquid,
usually hydraulic oil.
6. Piping system carries the hydraulic oil from
one place to another.
7. Filters – To remove any foreign particles so as keep the fluid system clean and
efficient, as well as avoid damage to the actuator and valves.
8. Pressure Regulator – To maintain required level of pressure in the hydraulic fluid.

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 Common Examples of Hydraulic System
Vehicle Brake Hydraulic System
• The function of a vehicle braking system Brake pedal
is to stop or slow down a moving Master
cylinder
vehicle.

• When the brake pedal is pressed, the

hydraulic pressure is transmitted to the
Brake
piston in the brake caliper of the brakes. lines

• The pressure forces the brake pads Front

brake
against the brake rotor, which is rotating calipers
with the wheel. Rear wheel
cylinder
pistons
• The friction between the brake pad and Pads
Rotor
the rotor causes the wheel to slow
down and then stop.

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Common Examples of Hydraulic System

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Common Examples of Hydraulic System

Vehicle Power Steering System

• The vehicle power steering system uses

Hydraulic pump
hydraulic oil.

• The hydraulic pump supplies the oil

through the control valves to the power
cylinder.
Control
• The major advantage of using this Power cylinder valve
system is to turn the vehicle’s wheels
with less effort.

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Common Examples of Hydraulic System

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Common Examples of Hydraulic System

Hydraulic Jack
• In a hydraulic jack, a small piston (pumping piston) transmits pressure through the
oil to a large piston (power piston) through a check valve, resulting in the weight
being lifted.

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Common Examples of Hydraulic System

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Common Examples of Hydraulic System

Aircraft Hydraulic System

• All modern aircraft contain hydraulic systems

to operate mechanisms, such as:
– Flaps
– Landing gear

• The hydraulic pump that is coupled to the Landing gears Flaps

engine provides hydraulic power.
Transmission
• Power is also distributed to systems through lines

the aircraft by transmission lines. Hydraulic

Landing
pump
gear

• Hydraulic power is converted to mechanical Actuating

Cylinder

power by means of an actuating cylinder or

hydraulic motor.
Engine
power

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Common Examples of Hydraulic System

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 Pneumatic Systems
• A pneumatic system carries power by employing
compressed gas (generally air) as a fluid in the
same way as hydraulic systems uses oil.

• The air usually passes through the pneumatic

device under high pressure and then escapes
outside the device.

• The high pressure air is used to do the work.

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Basic Components of Pneumatic System
1. Pneumatic actuator converts the fluid power into mechanical power to perform
useful work.
2. Compressor is used to compress the fresh air drawn from the atmosphere.
3. Storage reservoir is used to store a
given volume of compressed air.
4. Valves are used to control the
direction, flow rate and pressure of
compressed air.
5. External power supply (motor) is used
to drive the compressor.
6. Piping system carries the pressurized
air from one location to another.
Components of Pneumatic System

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Common Examples of Pneumatic System
1. Jackhammer
– A pneumatic device that is used to do work.
– Loud noise of the jackhammer is the compressed air at work. Bursts
of air, under very high pressure drive the ‘chuck’ in and out of the
jackhammer at high speeds, which pounds the concrete – breaking
it up into small rocks or fragments.

2. Staple guns and pneumatic nailers

– Use pulses of air pressure to drive staples or nails into solid objects.

3. Hovercraft
– A pump draws air from outside and pumps it out through small
holes in the bottom of the hovercraft.
– A skirt around the bottom holds enough air to support the weight
of the craft above the water or land.
– Propellers on the back of the craft drive the hovercraft forward,
and rudders are used to steer it.

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 Hydraulic vs. Pneumatic System
Hydraulic System Pneumatic System
It employs a pressurized liquid as a fluid It employs a compressed gas, usually air, as a
fluid
An oil hydraulic system operates at pressures A pneumatic system usually operates at 5–10
up to 700 bar bar
Generally designed as closed system Usually designed as open system

The system slows down when leakage occurs Leakage does not affect the system much

Valve operations are difficult Valve operations are easy

Heavier in weight Lighter in weight

Pumps are used to provide pressurized liquids Compressors are used to provide compressed
gases
The system is unsafe to fire hazards The system is free from fire hazards

Automatic lubrication is provided Special arrangements for lubrication are

needed
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