DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : A. Vinay Kumar
Designation : H.A.E.I.E.S
Branch : Applied Elect.&Instru. Engg.
Institute : QQGPT, Hyd.
Year/semester : V Semester
Subject : Process Control
Subject code : AEI-504.
Topic : Introduction to continuous batch
process and Final control Elements
Duration : 50 min.
Sub topic : Electro Pneumatic Actuators and
hydraulic actuator
Teaching aids : PPT’s,Diagrams

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 Objectives

On completion of this topic you would be

able to know about

• Electro pneumatic actuators

• Hydraulic actuator

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 Electro Pneumatic Actuators

• When an electric control systems are employed, it is

often advantageous to use a pneumatic actuator.
• If a suitable air supply is available, a pneumatic actuator
can provide very large power output and may be
operated directly from an electric control system.
• This requires transducing the electrical output of the
controller into an input variable for the actuator.

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 Electric Pneumatic Actuators

• The electro pneumatic pilot is shown in fig (1). It

converts an electrical signal input to a proportional
air pressure output.
• The input electric signal is usually a direct current.
• “Voice coil” motor accepts direct current as input
signal.

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Fig: 1 Electro Pneumatic pilot

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 Electro Pneumatic Actuators

• The “Voice Coil” motor converts the direct current into a

mechanical force when placed in a magnetic field.
• The force causes a deflection of the balance beam,
covers the nozzle and results in an increase of output
pressure.

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 Electro Pneumatic Actuators

• The output pressure acts on the feedback bellows to

cause a torque on the balance beam equal but
opposite to that of the voice coil.
• The output pressure therefore is proportional to the
input dc current.
• The electro - pneumatic actuator is shown in fig 2.

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ELECTRO PNEUMATIC ACTUATOR

Fig 2

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• The motion of the output of the actuator is related to
the balance beam through the feedback lever

• The output position of the actuator is therefore

proportional to input direct current

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 Hydraulic Actuator

• Hydraulic actuator accepts a signal from a pneumatic

controller or an electric controller and employ hydraulic
pressure to drive an output member
• The hydraulic actuator is used where high speed and
large forces are required
• The basic principle is shown in figure 3

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 Hydraulic Actuator

• The basic idea is the same as for pneumatic actuators

except that an incompressible fluid is used to provide
the pressure
• The hydraulic pressure can be made very large by
adjustments of the area of the forcing piston A1

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Fig 3 Hydraulic Actuator

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• The hydraulic pressure is given by

PH = F1 / A1

• Where PH = hydraulic pressure (Pa)

F1 = applied piston force (N)

A1 = forcing piston area (m2)

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• The resulting force on the working piston is

FW = PHA2

Where FW = force of working piston (N)

A2 = working piston area (m2)

• Thus, the working force is given in terms of the

AF
F 
2
1

applied force by A
W

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 Example Problem

1. Find the working force resulting from 200N

applied to a 1cm radius forcing piston

b) If the working piston has a radius of 6cm. Then

c) Find the hydraulic pressure

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 Example Problem Contd.. :

Solution :
a) We can find the working force from,

AF
F 
2
1

A
W

2 2
 R2   6Cm 
Fw    .F1    .(200 N )
 R1   1Cm 

FW = 7200N

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 Example Problem Contd.. :

a) Thus, the 200N force provides 7200N of force

• The hydraulic pressure is

FW 7200N
PH = = -2 2
A 2 (Π)x(6x10 m)
5
PH =6.4x10 Pa

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Electro - pneumatic actuators

• Hydraulic actuator

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 Quiz

1. When electric control systems are employed, it is

often advantageous to use a
a) Pneumatic actuator
b) Hydraulic actuator
c) Both a and b
d) None

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 Quiz

1. Which actuator is used for high speed and large

forces are required
a) Pneumatic actuator
b) Electro – pneumatic actuator
c) Hydraulic actuator
d) none

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain Electro Pneumatic Actuator

2. Explain hydraulic actuator

3. Draw Electro Pneumatic Actuator

4. Draw hydraulic actuator

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 Assignment

2. Explain Hydraulic Actuators

4. Where the Hydraulic actuators are used and

explain the hydraulic actuator with operation?

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