Discussion

Advantages of using compressed air in control systems

 Safe to use

Compressed air used in pneumatic systems is fire proof. Therefore it is less vulnerable to explosions
and electrical hazards. Compressed air can withstand very high amounts of temperature
fluctuations, and therefore, can safely be used under extreme weather conditions. The air used in
pneumatic systems is not toxic; therefore it does not pose a threat to any living organisms. Since
compressed air is very safe in operation, expensive safety extensions need not be used in parallel
with these systems.

 High in reliability

Pneumatic systems have fewer moving parts compared to mechanical systems, and generally wear
very little. Compressed air is a good shock absorber. Therefore, the working fluid used in pneumatic
systems cause less stress on the equipment used. All these factors result in the long lasting operation
and low maintenance in pneumatic systems.

 Simple in design and control

Control equipment can be easily manufactured using standard cylinders & other components.
Controlling mechanism simply contains two ON-OFF states, so it’s easy to implement and
understand. Pneumatic components can be easily installed and can be re-used later without
difficulty. Installation time is less because of the simple design. Straight-line movements can be
executed without extra mechanical parts such as levers, cams, eccentric disks, screw spindles and
the like.

 Light weight

Air is very light in weight, so supply hoses in pneumatic systems are not heavy. Also Pneumatic
devices are usually much lighter when compared with electrical power units. This quality is highly
advantageous in precision tools.
 Over-load proof

Because air is compressible, the equipment is less likely to be damaged by shock. The air in
pneumatics absorbs excessive force. Therefore, pneumatic systems can be over-loaded without
damaging the equipment. If the pressure of air drops too much, work cannot be done, but there will
be no damage to the network or its working elements.

 Easy storage

Compressed air can be easily stored in tanks. Once compressed above a certain threshold value, air
can be operated without further need of compressing. This allows a work cycle to be completed
even when the electrical power system fails.

 Easy transportation

Compressed air can be transported to long distances through pipelines. This quality enables the
whole system to be controlled by a central generating station which provides consumption points
with a high working pressure. Compressed air can easily be stored in sealed tanks or bottles and can
be transported to places where there are no compressed air pipelines.

 Clean

Some industries like food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and packaging require high standards of
cleanliness. Pneumatic systems can provide this because the working fluid used is purified and
compressed air. Even if there is a leak, it would not be toxic or harmful in any way.

 Economical

Pneumatic components are cheaper than the equivalent hydraulic components. There is no need for
regular medium changes, as with hydraulic equipment, for instance. This reduces costs and the
servicing requirement, and increases operating times. The equipment are produced with relatively
inexpensive material.

 High speed working medium

Pneumatic power is faster, as air is lighter to move and produces less friction. The very high flow
speeds allow rapid completion of work cycles. This provides short cut-in times and fast conversion
of energy into work. Compressed air can achieve flow speeds of over 20 m/s. With pressures of less
than 1bar it is even possible to obtain signal speeds of 200 to 300 m/s.
Disadvantages of using compressed air in control systems

 Air is highly compressible so accurate speed control and position control is difficult when
comparing with electrical and hydraulic actuators. It is also not possible to achieve uniform
piston speeds.
 Large space is needed to install a pneumatic control system when compared with electrical
actuators.
 Unable to work with heavy loads (commonly used working pressure of 7 bar, the required
output force is economical only up to about 20 KN to 30 KN ) Unlike hydraulics or electrical
system these can’t be used for heavily loaded operation.