Improving the Energy Efficiency of Pneumatic Control Systems by Using Remotely-Controlled Pressure Regulator

Abstract

One way to save energy in pneumatic control systems is the decreasing of operating pressure. Accordingly, it is necessary to monitor the working process continuously and, in line with the current requirement, to adjust the operating pressure to provide that the actuator works with optimum, not the maximum possible, operating pressure at all times. Fulfilling these requirements is possible with the use of special, “smart” components, which can communicate with the control system during the operation. In this paper is shown the first phase in the development and implementation of a new, “smart” component – a remotely-controlled pressure regulator, which is used for the remote change of operating pressure in pneumatic control systems, during the working process. This directly improve the energy efficiency of the system because the compressed air consumption is reduced.