Special Topics in Mechanical

Engineering/ Fluid Power control

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 Syllabus and Course Outline
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering/ Fluid
Power control
Course No. /Code: 0507581
Instructor: Dr. Mohammad Al-Shalby

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 Course Description
• This is an introductory course in Fluid Power
control. The topics covered include ​Fundamentals
of fluid power (hydraulic and pneumatic) and its
components.Pipes, compressors, pumps, motors
and control. In addition, complex components,
such as servo actuators and electro-hydraulic
servo valves will be discussed functions and
terminology. Basic circuit design, symbols, and
schematic diagrams.

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 Textbook & References
• Esposito, A., 2000. Fluid power with
applications. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall
International.
• Parr, A., 2011. Hydraulics and Pneumatics-A
Technician’s and Engineer’s Guide, 3-rd
edition.
• Chapple, P., 2014. Principles of hydraulic
systems design. Momentum Press.

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 Assessment Methods
Allocated mark Week due Assessment method Assessment no.

20 % Sixth Week First exam 1

20 % Twelfth Week Second exam 2

Fourteenth
20 % Project 3
week

40 % Sixteenth Week Final exam 4

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 Introduction
• In the industry we use three methods for
transmitting power from one point to
another.
– Mechanical transmission is through shafts, gears,
chains, belts, etc.
– Electrical transmission is through wires,
transformers, etc.
– Fluid power is through liquids or gas in a confined
space.

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 Fluid Power and Its Scope
• Fluid power is the technology that deals with the generation,
control and transmission of forces and movement of
mechanical element or system with the use of pressurized
fluids in a confined system.
• Both liquids and gases are considered fluids.
• Fluid power system includes a hydraulic system (hydra
meaning water in Greek) and a pneumatic system (pneuma
meaning air in Greek).
• Oil hydraulic employs pressurized liquid petroleum oils and
synthetic oils, and pneumatic employs compressed air that is
released to the atmosphere after performing the work.

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 Fluid Power and Its Scope
• Fluid power applications can be classified into two
major segments:
– Stationary hydraulics: Stationary hydraulic systems remain
firmly fixed in one position. The characteristic feature of
stationary hydraulics is that valves are mainly solenoid
operated.
– Mobile hydraulics: Mobile hydraulic systems move on
wheels or tracks such as a tower crane or excavator truck
to operate in many different locations or while moving. A
characteristic feature of mobile hydraulics is that the
valves are frequently manually operated.

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 Fluid Power and Its Scope
• The following are the two types of hydraulic systems:
– Fluid transport systems: Their sole objective is the
delivery of a fluid from one location to another to
accomplish some useful purpose. Examples include
pumping stations for pumping water to homes,
cross-country gas lines, etc.
– Fluid power systems: These are designed to perform
work. In fluid power systems, work is obtained by
pressurized fluid acting directly on a fluid cylinder or a
fluid motor. A cylinder produces a force resulting in linear
motion, whereas a fluid motor produces a torque resulting
in rotary motion.
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 Classification of Fluid Power
Systems
1. Based on the control system
– Open-loop system: There is no feedback in the open system
and performance is based on the characteristics of the
individual components of the system. The open loop system is
not accurate and error can be reduced by proper calibration
and control.
– Closed-loop system: This system uses feedback. The output of
the system is fed back to a comparator by a measuring
element. The comparator compares the actual output to the
desired output and gives an error signal to the control
element. The error is used to change the actual output and
bring it closer to the desired value. A simple closed-loop
system uses servo valves and an advanced system uses digital
electronics.

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 Classification of Fluid Power
Systems
2. Based on the type of control
– Fluid logic control: This type of system is controlled by
hydraulic oil or air. The system employs fluid logic
devices such as AND, NAND, OR, NOR, etc.
Two types of fluid logic systems are available:
a) Moving part logic (MPL): These devices are
miniature fluid elements using moving parts such as
diaphragms, disks and poppets to implement
various logic gates.
b) Fluidics: Fluid devices contain no moving parts and
depend solely on interacting fluid jets to implement
various logic gates.
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 Classification of Fluid Power
Systems
2. Based on the type of control
– Electrical control: This type of system is controlled by
electrical devices. Four basic electrical devices are used for
controlling the fluid power systems: switches, relays,
timers and solenoids. These devices help to control the
starting, stopping, sequencing, speed, positioning, timing
and reversing of actuating cylinders and fluid motors.
Electrical control and fluid power work well together
where remote control is essential.

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 Classification of Fluid Power
Systems
2. Based on the type of control
– Electronic control: This type of system is controlled by
microelectronic devices. The electronic brain is used to
control the fluid power muscles for doing work. This
system uses the most advanced type of electronic
hardware including programmable logic control (PLC) or
microprocessor (μP). In the electrical control, a change in
system operation results in a cumbersome process of
redoing hardware connections. The difficulty is overcome
by programmable electronic control. The program can be
modified or a new program can be fed to meet the change
of operations. A number of such programs can be stored in
these devices, which makes the systems more flexible.

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 Hydrostatic and Hydrodynamic
Systems
• A hydrostatic system uses fluid pressure to transmit power.
Hydrostatics deals with the mechanics of still fluids and uses
the theory of equilibrium conditions in fluid. The system
creates high pressure, and through a transmission line and a
control element, this pressure drives an actuator (linear or
rotational).
• The pump used in hydrostatic systems is a positive
displacement pump. The relative spatial position of this pump
is arbitrary but should not be very large due to losses (must
be less than 50 m).
• An example of pure hydrostatics is the transfer of force in
hydraulics.

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 Hydrostatic and Hydrodynamic
Systems
• Hydrodynamic systems use fluid motion to transmit power.
Power is transmitted by the kinetic energy of the fluid.
Hydrodynamics deals with the mechanics of moving fluid and
uses flow theory.
• The pump used in hydrodynamic systems is a non-positive
displacement pump. The relative spatial position of the prime
mover (e.g., turbine) is fixed. An example of pure
hydrodynamics is the conversion of flow energy in turbines in
hydroelectric power plants.
• In oil hydraulics, we deal mostly with the fluid working in a
confined system, that is, a hydrostatic system.

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 Advantages of a Fluid Power
System
1. Fluid power systems are simple, easy to operate and
can be controlled accurately.
2. Multiplication and variation of forces
3. Multifunction control
4. Low-speed torque
5. Constant force or torque
6. Economical
7. Low weight to power ratio
8. Fluid power systems can be used where safety is of vital
importance

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Basic Components of a Hydraulic
System

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Basic Components of a Hydraulic
System

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Basic Components of a Pneumatic
System

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

The system slows down when leakage Leakage does not affect the system
occurs much
Valve operations are difficult Valve operations are easy

Heavier in weight Lighter in weight

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 Comparison between Hydraulic and
Pneumatic Systems
Hydraulic System Pneumatic System
Pumps are used to provide Compressors are used to provide
pressurized liquids compressed gases
The system is unsafe to fire hazards The system is free from fire hazards

Automatic lubrication is provided Special arrangements for lubrication

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