Air recovery assessment on high-pressure pneumatic systems

Abstract

A computational simulation and experimental work of the fluid flow through the pneumatic circuit used in a stretch blow moulding machine is presented in this paper. The computer code is built around a zero-dimensional thermodynamic model for the air blowing and recycling containers together with a non-linear time-variant deterministic model for the pneumatic three stations single acting valve manifold, which, in turn, is linked to a quasi-one-dimensional unsteady flow model for the interconnecting pipes. The flow through the pipes accounts for viscous friction, heat transfer, cross-sectional area variation, and entropy variation. Two different solving methods are applied: the method of characteristics and the HLL Riemann first-order scheme. The numerical model allows prediction of the air blowing process and, more significantly, permits determination of the recycling rate at each operating cycle. A simplified experimental set-up of the industrial process was designed, and the pressure and temperature were adequately monitored. Predictions of the blowing process for various configurations proved to be in good agreement with the measured results. In addition, a novel design of a valve manifold intended for the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle manufacturing industry is also presented.[AQ1]

Review of Compressed Air Receiver Tanks for Improved Energy Efficiency of Various Pneumatic Systems

“…Low-pressure pneumatic systems are compressed air systems (CAS) used in industry, manufacturing, mining, power engineering, road transport, railway, marine and aviation, pneumatic tools, medical equipment, blow-off technology, cleaning, and cooling, etc. [1]. CAS networks are used to transmit and deliver compressed air energy (CAE) to pneumatic equipment (actuators, motors, engines, tools), machinery, and conveyors, etc.…”

Measurement of Pneumatic Valve Flow Parameters on the Test Bench with Interchangeable Venturi Tubes and Their Practical Use

“…High-pressure pneumatics are used in production processes (300 bar), drive systems (200 bar), and energy storage tanks (500 bar). In [1], a computational simulation was performed and the experimental work on fluid flow was presented through a high-pressure pneumatic circuit used in a blowing machine. Low-pressure pneumatics, operating at a pressure of up to 10 bar, are widely used in manufacturing, mining, energy, maritime, rail and road transport, drive systems, and medical equipment, as well as in the technological processes of conveying, blowing, shaping, cleaning, and cooling [2].…”