Pneumatics 101

COMPRESSED AIR

Compressed air is air that has been raised to a pressure above atmospheric pressure - for example, air produced by an air compressor. Once the air has been compressed, it has potential energy to do work. The sole purpose of pneumatics is to control and use the potential energy of compressed air to do work.

Since the pressure in a non-flowing closed system is equal throughout, pneumatic systems are very flexible. Compressed air can be piped throughout a factory to power all sorts of work processes. Of course, in a real system, the compressed air will flow as the potential energy is consumed (converted to kinetic energy). When there is flow in the system, the pressure begins dropping. This is why proper sizing of compressors, receiver tanks (storage), piping, filters, regulators, lubricators, control valves, and work devices is of extreme importance. If the proper pressure and flow is not supplied to the work device, the device will not operate properly. Proper sizing of all components minimizes loss of pressure and flow which are critical to work device operation.

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