Information required for design (pre-requisite for design)

INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR DESIGN (PRE-REQUISITE FOR DESIGN) 

(CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF HYDRAULIC/PNEUMATIC COMPONENTS)

The designer of the hydraulic/pneumatic system should have the following information of various aspects of application for which the system is to be designed.

1. System operating pressure: In general, the system is designed to provide the pressure higher than the maximum operating pressure.

2. Types of actuators: The actuator type to be employed in a circuit depends on the application requirements.

(i) Linear actuators: The parameters to be known for the selection of linear actuators are force/stroke, speed/stroke, cushioning and sealing requirements, etc.

(ii) Semi-rotary actuators: The parameters to be known for the selection of semi- rotary actuators are angle of rotation, speed, torque required, cushioning and sealing requirements, etc.

(iii) Rotary actuators: The parameters to be known for the selection of rotary actuators are speed, torque required, acceleration and retardation requirements, sealing requirements, etc.

3. Operating sequence: The sequence of operations that the application requires should be known. The sequence of operations can be event based or time based.

4. Operating conditions: The information required related to operating conditions include location and surrounding ambient conditions (like dusting, corrosive, fire-proof), noise level, skills of operator and maintenance.

5. Type of controls: The type of control method is to be selected from available control methods, viz., manual, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical or a combination of them.

6. Special requirements: The other information required include (i) type of operations: continuous or intermittent, (ii) daily hours of operation; (iii) level of automation; and (iv) special requirements of the working fluid.