Advantages of fluid power system

ADVANTAGES OF FLUID POWER SYSTEM

It is reckoned that the future industries' will depend largely upon automation to- increase productivity. The activities associated with automation include remote and direct control of production operations, manufacturing processes, and materials handling. In this regard, the fluid power is considered as the muscle of automation because it offers many advantages as shown in Table 1.4.

Table 1.4. Advantages of fluid power system

1. Ease and accuracy of control: With the use of simple levels and/or push buttons, the fluid power system can facilitate easy starting, stopping, speeding up or slowing down, and positioning forces that provide any desired power.

2. Multiplication of force: The fluid power system can multiply forces (in the order of 102 to 105 times) easily and efficiently.

3. Constant force or torque: The fluid power system is the only system which can provide constant force or torque irrespective of variations in speed, whether the work output moves a few millimeters per minute, several metres per minute, or thousands of revolutions per minute.

4. Simplicity, safety, economy: When compared to electrical and mechanical systems, generally the fluid power system uses fewer moving parts. That's why they are simpler to maintain and operate. As a result, it also maximizes safety, compactness, and reliability.

5. Other benefits: Some of the other advantages of using the fluid power systems include:

(i) High power-to-weight ratio.

(ii) Instant reversal of motion with accuracy is possible.

(iii) Automatic protection against overloads.

(iv) Infinitely variable control (of output force, output torque, and output- speed).

(v) Requires lesser space.

(vi) Relatively smooth and quiet operation.

(vii) Greater efficiency (about 85-90%) and economy due to low friction losses.

(viii) Low inertia and ease of shock absorption (during actuator motion, reversal, start, and stop).

Do You Know? : Using à fluid power system, one can achieve very high power with tolerances as precise as one ten-thousandth of an inch. That's why it is being used in aircrafts by an aircraft pilot to raise or lower his landing gear.