The main goal of this doctoral dissertation is to increase the energy
efficiency of pressurized air in production systems and establish measures
for rational consumption and efficient production, preparation, distribution
and access to the company.
In addition to the basic goal, the subject research is focused on the
identification and development of measures that can contribute to increasing
energy efficiency in automated pressurized air systems. Therefore, special
attention is paid to the possibility of minimizing losses and reducing the
total consumption of pressurized air in automated industrial systems with
pneumatic actuators.
This doctoral dissertation is based on the hypothesis that a more energyefficient
pressurized air system can be obtained by using procedures for the
controlled collection of used pressurized air and its, partial or complete,
return to the system, without jeopardizing the dynamic characteristics of the
system. A comparison based on experiments using commercially available
equipment shows the applicability and effectiveness of these methods, as
well as the level of savings in energy consumption.
The goal of the dissertation was achieved by the implementation of several
partial tasks (experimental plants were implemented). These facilities
include the implementation of pressurized air systems in which it is possible
to manage the movement of working elements, determine the optimal air
consumption of each element, change the working pressure (determine the
optimal value) and thus influence the position of the working elements, i.e.
determine the minimum force that can move the actuators. After that, parts
of those experimental facilities were integrated into one comprehensive one,
and experiments were carried out on it, which served as the basis for the
development of the previously mentioned model.
In addition to the basic goal, the subject research is aimed at identifying the
causes of inefficient operation of the initial system and the development of
measures that can contribute to increasing energy efficiency in automated
pressurized air systems. This refers to the possibilities of minimizing losses
and reducing the total consumption of pressurized air in automated systems.
To this end, research was carried out and the development of new structures
of an energy-efficient automated pressurized air system was proposed