Comparative study of a hydraulic, pneumatic and electric linear actuator system

Abstract

Abstract Different applications or industries use different systems for linear actuation, such as hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric. Electric systems are becoming more popular and are already replacing hydraulic systems in various applications. These are known to be potentially harmful to the environment, as large amounts of fluid can be released into the environment in the case of a pipe failure or other accident. This paper presents the results of a comparison between hydraulic, pneumatic and electric systems under variable conditions but with similar loads in all three systems. The common feature of all three systems is the input power, which was limited to 1.1 kW. There was no hydraulic accumulator in the hydraulic system and no pressure vessel in the pneumatic system, so no stored energy could affect system behaviour or results. The main difference between the observed systems was the displacement and power consumption profile. The smoothest response and the lowest energy consumption was achieved with the electric system, although both hydraulic and pneumatic systems can achieve a smooth response with a few modifications.