A pneumatic system for industrial automation uses compressed air pressure to perform a certain activity. The pneumatic system is composed of the generation (compressor), distribution and application part.
A pneumatic compressed air system needs an air compressor to work, let’s start by showing how compressed air is generated in industry:
Air generation and distribution in a pneumatic system
1- Generation: Composed of a compressor and dryer. Compressed air is generated in the compressor and then passes through a dryer to remove excess water.
2- Distribution line: A metal or plastic pipe will distribute compressed air for different applications within a factory.
3- Application: At the point of application, compressed air is used to perform a task, such as automating a production line movement or feeding a pneumatic tool.
The use of compressed air, such as electricity, water and gas, is very common in industrial automation applications. The cost of compressed air can be even a little more expensive compared to electricity, but it has several other advantages and that is why it is widely used in applications that need a move in industrial automation.
Among the many advantages of a pneumatic solution for industrial automation include simplicity, cost and reliability.
Pneumatic systems are easier to design and install than an equivalent electrical system in many applications, primarily because pneumatic cylinders are simple to perform linear motion. Cylinders also provide excellent force in a small space to secure, position or move a load.
Systems using pneumatic cylinders promote repetitive and reliable movement between the two cylinder positions, using or not damping at the end of the cylinder, making the cylinder very interesting for a variety of industrial automation applications.
In a wide variety of applications, the use of force or pneumatic movement is the best option for gripping, lifting, pressing, directing or storing products. With the addition of accessories such as pressure regulators they can be used to tension, press, cut and label products.
Parker is the world leader in motion and control technologies, providing precise technical solutions for a wide variety of commercial, automotive, industrial and aerospace markets. Parker can be found in and around everything that moves. At Parker, we have an unrivaled breadth of products that stem from our global leadership position in nine core Control and Motion technologies, including: aerospace, climate control, electromechanical, filtration, fluid and gas handling, hydraulics, pneumatics, process control, sealing and shielding. We can apply these products and technologies individually to solve the simplest customer challenges, or we can combine them with development systems to tackle complex challenges.
Parker Hannifin is represented by Tecnoar in Portugal, mainly in the Greater Porto area.
