Taking Advantage of Fluid Power

Hydraulics and pneumatics continue to play critical roles in motion control systems. In addition to traditional applications for products such as linear actuators where improved performance, lower cost, smaller form factors and added features drive new product developments, system requirements can define new products that use the capability of fluid power. For example, compressed air can provide significant cooling for products located in hot environments.

Air Cooled

High Temperature Vortex Tubes from EXAIR provide spot cooling in temperatures up to 392F (200C). The vortex tube creates a hot and cold stream of air using only compressed air as the source of power. The cold air can be as low as -50F (-46C) and have a cooling capacity of 135 to 10,200 BTU/hour.

With a total airflow from 2 to 150 scfm at 100 psig inlet air pressure, cold air temperatures can be adjusted from -50F (-46C) to ambient. A control valve on the hot end exhaust controls temperature, flow rates and refrigeration. The vortex tube uses stainless-steel construction with no moving parts to wear out. Common applications for the vortex tubes include cooling electronic control panels, reducing tool wear in machining operations, process or part cooling, setting hot melt adhesives and more.

Pumped Up

A traditional product category that was not addressed in this fluid power section is pumps. Motor-driven pumps capable of handling liquid and gas applications provide a completed subsystem for many applications. In some cases, small and even miniature, is part of the design criteria.

Iwaki America Inc.’s APN Series miniature diaphragm pumps have unique solids-handling capability. With gas flows ranging from 100 cc/min to 100 lpm and pressures from 0.01 to 1 MPa, the motor-driven pumps includes both single- and dual-head designs capable of handling liquid and gas applications. Valve and diaphragm designs on the newest units allow use in systems where the pump supplies and evacuates both liquid and gases. Providing an ideal solution for analyzer systems, typical applications for the pumps include flue gas analyzers, vacuum degasification, deaeration, sterilizers, dispensing and waste collection.

Hydraulic and pneumatic systems, as well as valves and accessories, receive more detailed coverage in this section.

	EXAIR's High Temperature Vortex Tubes can produce cold air temperatures down to -50F (-46C) from a compressed air source.