DAM 18903 Pneumatic and Hydraulic: Introduction to Fluid Power Systems

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental definitions, components, physical properties, and laws governing pneumatic and hydraulic systems as presented in Chapter 1.

Fluid power

The technology that deals with the generation, control, and transmission of power using pressurized fluids.

Hydraulics

A fluid power system that uses liquids, such as mineral oil or water, to transmit power.

Pneumatics

A fluid power system that uses gas, such as compressed air or nitrogen, to transmit power.

Fluid transportation

The delivery of a fluid from one location to another to accomplish some useful purpose, distinct from fluid power which is designed specifically to perform work.

Prime mover

An electric motor or internal combustion engine that drives a pump or compressor to convert mechanical energy into fluid pressure energy.

Air Compressor

A component that converts mechanical energy from a prime mover into pressure energy of compressed air.

Air Preparation Unit

A conditioning unit that includes cooling, filtering, drying, and adding lubricating oil mist to protect pneumatic components.

Hydraulic Pump

An energy converter that converts mechanical power into hydraulic power by creating fluid flow against system resistance.

Bulk Modulus (B)

The measure of a fluid's resistance to compressibility, which defines the 'stiffness' of the system.

Pascal (Pa)

The SI unit of pressure, where $1 \text{ Pa}$ is equal to a force of one newton ($1 \text{ N}$) applied over an area of one square meter ($1 \text{ m}^2$).

Bar

A common unit used for atmospheric pressure defined as $10^5 \text{ N/m}^2 = 10^5 \text{ Pa} = 14.5 \text{ psi}$.

Pascal Law

The principle stating that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid at rest is transmitted undiminished to every portion of that fluid and to the walls of the containing vessel.

Boyle's Law

The gas law stating that at constant temperature, the volume of a fixed amount of gas is inversely proportional to pressure ($V \times \frac{1}{P}$).

Ideal Gas

A theoretical gas that obeys all gas laws under all conditions, does not condense into a liquid when cooled, and shows perfectly straight lines on volume/temperature or pressure/temperature graphs.

Ideal Gas Law

The relationship for the variables of a gas expressed as $PV = nRT$, where $n$ is the number of moles and $R$ is the gas constant.

Bernoulli Equation

A statement of the conservation of energy principle for flowing fluids, asserting that the total mechanical energy comprising gravitational potential, fluid pressure, and kinetic energy remains constant.

Dynamic Pressure

Pressure due to the mean fluid flow going to forced stagnation as described in the Bernoulli equation.

Bernoulli effect

The lowering of pressure in a constriction of a flow path where kinetic energy increases at the expense of pressure energy.