Applicability of pneumatic cylinders in low-pressure water hydraulics

摘要

Low-pressure water hydraulics (LPWH) is a new field of fluid power technology. LPWH-technology uses tap water as a pressure medium and maximum working pressure is under 50 bar (725 psi). This technique enables better motion control and larger forces than pneumatics. The lower pressure level makes possible the use of more economical components than in traditional water hydraulics. Potential markets for the new technology are in environments that require high hygiene level or fireproof solutions such as food processing, paper manufacturing and nuclear power systems. At this moment, there are only a couple of low-pressure water cylinders in the market. These commercial cylinders are normally made of stainless steel and that makes them rather expensive. Due to the high price of commercial cylinders, alternative cylinders and cylinder materials have been investigated. One possible solution might be a modified pneumatic cylinder.