doiSerbia

A high efficiency pneumatic drive system using vane-type semi-rotary actuators

Rufer Alfred (EPFL Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH Lausanne, Switzerland), alfred.rufer@epfl.ch

A compressed air driven generator is proposed, where the pneumatic energy is converted into mechanical energy using two vane-type rotational actuators. The use of a second actuator with a higher displacement in order to produce a thermodynamic expansion allows to reach a better energetic efficiency in comparison to the classical operation of such actuators. The alternating movement of the angular actuators is transformed into a unidirectional rotational motion with the help of a mechanical motion rectifier. The paper analyses the enhancement of the energetic performance of the system. An experimental set-up is also described. The performance of the new system is described, and the limits of its realization is commented on the base of experimental recordings of the evolution of the pressure in the chambers.

Keywords: compressed air motor, energy efficiency, adiabatic expansion, compressed air energy storage, pneumatic actuators, motion rectifier