Improving power efficiency of pneumatic logistic complex actuators through selection of a rational scheme of their control

Abstract

The work addresses solving important problems that occur when using pneumatic actuators, namely energy saving and expanding the scope of its use by covering the zone of large inertial loads at a constant maintenance of the actuator's operability. A rational structure of the pneumatic actuator based on a change in the structure of commutation links was determined. It ensures the following advantages over a discrete actuator: – an optimal form of the transient and high braking effect in the PA which are achieved by simultaneous pressure growth in the exhaust chamber and pressure differential in the working chamber up to ensuring a constant negative pressure differential at which a constant negative acceleration during braking takes place; – in the braking phase, not only transit working capacity but also potential energy of expansion of the compressed air in the working chamber is used; – the compressed air from the braking chamber is not irrevocably transformed into thermal energy but is returned to the feed line through the opened return valve (recuperation mode is realized); – the compressed air consumption for fixing the piston in the final position is significantly reduced; – due to the minimum pressure рk in the exhaust chamber at the initial moment of the piston motion, nonproductive work of ejection of the compressed air from the exhaust chamber is substantially reduced. Thus, the complex nature of reducing nonproductive energy inputs creates an energy saving effect that makes it possible to reduce energy inputs by 4–10 times in the rational scope of use of this actuator (χ<0.2 and β<2). The engineering procedure for solving the basic problem of functional and cost analysis was demonstrated on a specific numerical example: comparison of lump sum and operational costs in making a decision on the expediency of use of the new solution in practice.