This text explains the use of compressed air for energy storage and efficient pneumatic applications. Chapters cover the elementary physical and engineering principles related to compressed air, including compression and expansion characteristics, adiabatic, polytropic, and isothermal phenomena, and energy content within a given volume. The author also discusses the advantages and drawbacks of pneumatic technology and presents innovative ways to increase the energetic efficiency of pneumatic actuators.
A key highlight of the book is the introduction of a method to enhance energetic efficiency by incorporating expansion work alongside constant pressure displacement. The author presents an analysis of various cylinder assemblies where energy efficiency is notably improved compared to conventional pneumatic actuators. The book serves as a primary reference for mechanical engineering students and as a handbook for engineers designing efficient pneumatic devices.
Key Features:
- Fundamental and advanced information about actuators and their pneumatic applications
- Focus on energy efficiency testing
- Systematic chapter order for effective learning progression, with a working example to support comprehension
- References for further reading
- Appendices providing additional insights and resources
Readership: Mechanical engineering students and engineers working on pneumatics.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
1.1. INTRODUCTION
1.1.1. Historical Background of the Development: The System Gallino
1.1.2. Contents of the Book
CHAPTER 2 COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS AND STORAGE
2.1. THE PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES RELATED TO COMPRESSED AIR
2.1.1. Adiabatic, Polytropic and Isothermal Compression and Expansion
2.2. ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF CLASSICAL PNEUMATIC DEVICES
2.2.1. Energy Loss due to the use of a Pressure Reduction Valve
2.2.2. The Poor Energetic Performance of the Classical Pneumatic Actuators
2.3. COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE WITH LOW PRESSURE - THE UNDERWATER CAES
2.3.1. The Model of the Storage Infrastructure
2.3.2. Examples of UWCAES Realizations
CHAPTER 3 INCREASING THE ENERGETIC EFFICIENCY OF PNEUMATIC DEVICES
3.1. RECOVERY OF THE PNEUMATIC ENERGY
3.1.1. Operating Principle, Defaults and Improvements of the Truglia Motor
3.1.2. Expansion in a Separated Chamber with Sequential Strokes (The MDI Motor)
3.1.3. Expansion in a Separated Chamber with Reciprocating Strokes
CHAPTER 4 COUPLING TWO ROTARY-TYPE ACTUATORS
4.1. CONTEXT AND MOTIVATION
4.1.1. Structure of the System
4.1.2. The Mechanical Motion Rectifier
4.1.3. Operating Principle
4.2. SIMULATION OF THE SYSTEM
4.2.1. Parameters of the System
4.2.2. The Pressure Variation during the Expansion
4.2.3. From the Pressure to the Torque
4.2.4. The Effect of the Anti-Return Valve
4.2.5. Exhaust Temperature
4.3. EFFICIENCY CONSIDERATIONS
4.3.1. Efficiency of the Coupled Actuators
4.3.2. Isothermal or Adiabatic
4.4. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
4.5. DISPLACEMENT AND EXPANSION WORK IN ONE SINGLE ACTUATOR
4.5.1. Basic Principle
4.5.2. Closed Loop Operation of the Semi-Rotary Actuator
4.5.3. Torque Generated in Adiabatic and Isothermal Conditions
4.6. SIMULATION OF THE SINGLE ACTUATOR SYSTEM WITH SENSORS AND CLOSED LOOP CONTROL
4.7. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
4.7.1. The 180° Actuator
4.7.2. Control Circuits
4.7.3. Sensor System for the 180° Actuator
4.7.4. The Complete Assembly
4.7.5. Measurements
4.8. THE REVERSIBILITY OF THE SYSTEM BASED ON SEMI-ROTARY ACTUATORS
4.8.1. The Crankshaft and Piston Rod System Instead of the Motion Rectifier
4.8.2. The Question of the Inertia of the Oscillating Vane-Rotor
4.8.3. Combining the Operations of Compression and Expansion of Semi-Rotating Actuators
4.8.4. Experimentation with a Vane-Type Actuator Operating as a Compression Machine
4.8.5. Reducing the Footprint of the Reversible System
CHAPTER 5 THE PNEUMATIC MOTOR WITH LINEAR CYLINDERS
5.1. BASIC PRINCIPLE
5.2. OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE MOTOR WITHOUT EXPANSION
5.2.1. Mathematical Description of the Piston/Crankshaft Assembly
5.2.2. Simulation of a Motor with one Double Acting Cylinder
5.2.3. Energetic Efficiency
5.3. A PNEUMATIC MOTOR WITH ENHANCED EFFICIENCY - ADDING AN EXPANSION CHAMBER WITH RECIPROCATING STROKES
5.3.1. Simulation Results
5.3.2. Position and Velocity of the two Pistons
5.3.3. Contributions of the 16 mm Piston
5.3.4. Contributions of the Second Piston
5.3.5. Total Torque of the Motor
5.4. SYSTEM WITH PISTONS IN PHASE AND CROSS CONNECTED EXPANSION WAYS
5.4.1. Contributions of the Small Cylinder
5.4.2. Contributions of the Larger Cylinder
5.4.3. Total Torque of the Motor
5.5. ENERGY CONVERTED AND CALCULATION OF THE EFFICIENCY
5.5.1. Converted Energy
5.5.2. Efficiency of the System with Expansion
5.6. COMPARISON OF THE MECHANICAL WORK
5.7. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
5.8. DISPLACEMENT WORK AND EXPANSION WORK IN THE SAME CYLINDER
5.8.1. Basic Principle
5.8.2. Asymmetrical Evolution of the Piston and Design of the Intake Angles
5.8.3. Control of the Valves
5.8.4. Evolution of the Volumes of the Chambers
5.8.5. Force Exerted on the Piston
5.8.6. Torque and Power
5.8.7. Mechanical Work Produced
CHAPTER 6 LINEAR PNEUMATIC CYLINDER ASSEMBLY WITH REDUCED AIR CONSUMPTION
6.1. INRODUCTION
6.1.1. New Cylinder Assemblies
6.2. OPERATING PRINCIPLE AND CONTROL
6.3. THE PRESSURE VARIATION DURING THE EXPANSION
6.4. SIMULATION OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM
6.4.1. Simulation Results
6.5. EFFICIENCY OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY
6.5.1. Comparison of Performance
6.6. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
6.6.1. The Parasitic Effect of the Dead Volumes
6.6.2. A System with Greater Volumes
6.6.3. Control with a Simplified Tubing and Valve System (Supposed less dead volumes) - using 5/2-way Valves
6.6.4. Experiment with the 100 mm Assembly
CHAPTER 7 THE EFFECT OF THE DEAD VOLUMES AND PRE-EXPANSION ON THE PRODUCED WORK
7.1. INTRODUCTION
7.1.1. Discontinuity of the Pressure
7.1.2. Torques Developed with a Pre-Expansion Factor of 0.6
7.1.3. Comparison of Energetic Performances
CHAPTER 8 APPLICATION EXAMPLE: A PNEUMATIC DRIVEN HYDROGEN COMPRESSOR WITH INCREASED EFFICIENCY
8.1. INTRODUCTION
8.2. DATA AND PERFORMANCE OF THE ORIGINAL BOOSTER
8.3. DESIGN OF A SYSTEM WITH INCREASED PERFORMANCE
8.3.1. Design of the New System
8.4. ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW SOLUTION REGARDING AIR SAVINGS
8.5. DYNAMIC SIMULATION
CHAPTER 9 CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
A1. ENERGY CONTENT OF AN AIR RESERVOIR
A1.1. Description of the System
A1.2. Mechanical Work by Expansion
A2. MECHANICAL FORCES AND ENERGETIC PROPERTIES OF THE 100 MM LINEAR CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
A2.1. Introduction
A2.2. Quasi-Static Behavior of the new Assembly
SUBJECT INDEX
Author
Alfred Rufe
