What’s the Difference Between a Hydraulic and Pneumatic Linear Actuator?

What’s the Difference Between a Hydraulic and Pneumatic Linear Actuator?

There’s a variety of types of actuators available. The energy source that operates an actuator can be hydraulic (fluid-based), pneumatic (air pressure-based), or even electric, and with each energy source comes distinct advantages or disadvantages for use in certain applications. Here’s a summary of the main differences:

1.Hydraulic Actuators use hydraulic fluid, meaning they can hold torque and force without continuous application of fluid pressure. However, they can leak – and the leaked fluid invites contamination.
2.Pneumatic Actuators are ideal for applications that require less power and more consistent, reliable, linear motion. They use compressed air, so they don’t require a motor, which means they have no hazardous materials.
Read on to learn more about the pros, cons, and differences between hydraulic and pneumatic actuators.

Hydraulic Actuators
Hydraulic cylinders can produce tremendous force because they can handle higher pressures. This is essential for operating heavy construction equipment, for example. They can produce as much as 25x the force that a pneumatic cylinder can generate, as well as higher horsepower per weight. One of their main advantages is their ability to hold torque and force without continuous application of fluid pressure from the power source. This is because fluids are not compressible.

On the downside, hydraulic actuators can leak, and the leaked fluid invites contamination that can cause damage to internal or external working parts. It also takes an assortment of other equipment to operate hydraulics – motors, pumps, fluid reservoirs, etc. Hydraulics are also very noisy, even when outfitted with noise-reduction equipment. These factors can make pneumatic actuators too unwieldy for many environments.

Pneumatic Actuators
Pneumatic cylinders are driven by air pressure rather than a fluid. Air can sometimes be less efficient as a power source because it can be compressed, causing the actuator to lose pressure. The air compressor that powers a pneumatic actuator must be located relatively close by, and it has to run continuously. It is also possible for the air to become contaminated by equipment lubricants, which increases the risk of damage.

The bottom line is that pneumatic actuators operate at lower pressures and speeds than hydraulic cylinders. For many applications, though, this is an advantage: Pneumatic cylinders provide highly reliable, consistent linear motion, with accuracy tolerances within 0.1 inches and repeatability tolerances within .001 inches. They can also perform reliably in extremely high or low temperatures, which would cripple fluid-based hydraulic actuators. In addition, because pneumatic actuators have no motor and use no hazardous materials, they can easily meet mechanical safety requirements.

In many industrial applications, moving machinery – and controlling that movement consistently – is what matters most. Pneumatic actuators, or cylinders, are often ideal for these applications. To achieve maximum efficiency, it is important to size pneumatic actuators accurately for the job at hand. Uflow manufactures four different types of pneumatic actuators, each available in a variety of bore sizes.