33976 - Oleohydraulics and Pneumatics M

Learning outcomes

This course aims to provide a basic knowledge of “Hydraulic" and "Pneumatic" drive systems, widely known as “fluid power systems”, operating with mineral oils (or water based fluids), or with air as energy vector. The students acquire knowledge on fluid machinery components (pumps, actuators and valves) and on the systems arrangement. Basic and advanced architectures, operating principles and the key parameters for design are the main learning outcomes.

Course contents

1 Introduction on fluid power

Introduction on hydraulics and pneumatics. Transmissions and energy conversions. Examples of applications.

Hydrostatics and Hydrodynamics basic equations. Properties of fluids of interest for hydraulics and pneumatics: viscosity, compressibility and classifications of oils.

Symbols according to ISO standard 1219. Elementary hydraulic circuit. Examples of circuits.

Basics on pumps: limitations of centrifugal pumps; characteristics of volumetric pumps; performance and losses; classification.

2 Pumps for fluid power applications

Gear pumps: external gear pump architecture; displacement generation; instantaneous flow calculation with an energetic approach; mean volumetric flow and pump displacement. Pulsating flow and pressure. Radial balancing and load on the shaft; axial balancing: fixed axial clearance pumps and floating pumps. The problem of determining the pressure in the space between teeth of a gear pump.

Practical exercise of disassembling gear pumps.

Other positive displacement pumps: Internal gear pumps, Gerotor pumps, screw pumps and lobe pumps: architectures.

Vane pumps: generation and expression of the displacement; shape of suction / discharge openings; variable displacement vane pump and characteristic curve.

Piston pumps: single-cylinder pump architecture. Multi-cylinder axial pumps with axial and radial pistons: architecture and generation of displacement. Expression of instantaneous flow rate and flow ripple of the multi-cylinder piston pumps.

Radial piston pumps: architectures with fixed cylinder block and with rotating block; variable displacement architectures.

3 Pumps regulators

Variable displacement pumps regulation: pressure limiter, circuit and diagram; constant power regulation. Load Sensing regulation.

Energy considerations on the use of fixed and variable displacement pumps: circuit with selector to manage two work phases; two pump circuit, circuit with multiple pumps. Power dissipation with variable displacement pump with pressure regulator and with load sensing regulator.

4 Actuators

Linear hydraulic and pneumatic actuators. Classification. Single and double acting cylinders; features ;hydraulic circuits. Braking system. Pressure multiplier. Design of the piston rod.

Rotary hydraulic motors. Torque and power characteristics. Examples of architectures: orbital motors, axial and radial piston motors, multi-piston piston engines.

Hydrostatic transmission: examples of open circuit and closed loop; mechanical characteristics.

5 Flow distribution valves

Introduction to distributors: functions, symbols, architectures, operating limits. Examples and diagrams of spool valves: 2/2, 3/2, 4/3. Lap conditions. Design of the spool and possible central positions.

Direct drive and control of the distributors. Mechanical and solenoid valve. Indirectly operated valves.

Spool valve with 4 piloting edges and negative lap: static characteristic curves.

Spool valve with 4 piloting edges and zero lap: characteristic equation and problems. Characteristic curves od the positive lap spool valve.

Spool valve and hydraulic motor system and transfer function.

Hydraulic power steering: scheme, transfer function and feedback.

6 Other control valves and basic hydraulic / pneumatic circuits

Pressure control valves. Pressure relief valves: architecture of poppet and spool valves, characteristic curve, pilot valve, system diagrams. Pressure reducing valves: valve architecture and function in the circuit.

Circuits with pressure control valves: sequence valves; back pressure valves; counterbalance valves, braking valves.

Flow control valves: types, functions and architectures of throttling valves. Circuits for speed control with flow control valves: "Meter-in", "Meter-out" and "Bleed-off".

Compensated flow control valves.

Regenerative connection for differential cylinders.

Actuator connections in series and in parallel. Examples of circuits for cylinder synchronization.

Flow dividers: architectures, functions, pressure intensifier.

Readings/Bibliography

LECTURE NOTES (available after each lesson).

The topics of the lectures are based on the following texts:

UNIVERSITY BOOKS:

- Belladonna U. Elementi di Oleodinamica. Principi – componenti-impianti, Hoepli, Torino, 2001

- Belladonna U., Mombelli A. Pneumatica, Hoepli, Torino, 2001

- G. Bacchielli, F. Danielli, S. Sandrolini. Dinamica e controllo delle macchine a fluido. Pitagora, Bologna

- Nervegna N., Rundo M. Passi nell'oleodinamica, Vol.1-2, Ed. Epics Torino, 2021

INDUSTRIAL HANDBOOKS:

- Mannesmann, Rexroth, Manuale di oleodinamica (il) volume 1: fondamenti e componenti oleodinamici ristampa 1990, Mannesmann-Rexroth GmbH 0-8023-0619-8, 1990

- Assofluid. Hydraulics in industrial and mobile applications. Milano 2007

- Mannesmann, Rexroth, Manuale di pneumatica (il) volume 1: Fondamenti di pneumatica, ed. RI 00 296/10.90, Mannesmann-Rexroth GmbH, 1991

Teaching methods

Class Lectures (held in Italian) on the Course contents. Use of electronic device to project the main schematics and formulas.

Lectures attendance is recommended, but it is not mandatory to pass the exam.

Assessment methods

Oral exam.

Individual oral exam, on the topics of the carried out lectures, with reference to:

1) functional aspects;

2) schemes of systems;

3) quantitative aspects and demonstrations.

The questions are aimed at the following learning outcomes:

knowledge of the main fluid power systems, components and design characteristics.

Higher grades will be awarded to students who demonstrate an organic understanding of the subject, a high ability for critical application, and a clear and concise presentation of the contents.

To obtain a passing grade, students are required to at least demonstrate a knowledge of the key concepts of the subject, some ability for critical application, and a comprehensible use of technical language.

A failing grade will be awarded if the student shows knowledge gaps in key-concepts of the subject, inappropriate use of language, and/or logic failures in the analysis of the subject.

The exam will be grade over the 0-30 range, with 18 the minimum to pass, 30 the maximum. Honor can be assigned.

Teaching tools

The use of overhead projector and pc is considered in order to draw schemes, to represent formulas and to show complex layouts, plant components and systems related with the course contents. All the projected content is available for students after the lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea De Pascale