Technical Language for Industrial Systems

In the modern workplace, specific technical language helps you understand discussions with technical teams about quality and machine processes. This page introduces key terms so you can follow conversations more easily, ask the right questions, and gain confidence in meetings.

Watch up to 02:38 of the video below, then answer questions related to technical language used to describe the pneumatic system. When you have finished, you can check the vocabulary summary and listening script at the bottom of the page.

1. Which of these statements best describes the purpose of automating processes in a business?

  To create motion that will do some type of work in an industrial setting.

 To increase the number of employees needed for complex tasks.

 To make sure all tasks are completed manually.

 To create more steps in a process.

2. What is the main role of a compressor in a system?

 To create a cooling effect for machinery.

 To generate the energy that powers the system in the form of compressed air.

 To decrease the pressure and slow down the process.

 To release air from the system.

3. Which of the following best explains the term compressed air?

 Air that flows freely through a system.

 Air that is heated and expanded.

 Air that cools the machinery parts.

 Air that is tightly squeezed into a small space to create high pressure.

4. Why is a filter important in a pneumatic system that moves materials?

 To remove unwanted particulates and moisture.

 To increase the amount of moisture in the system.

 To mix different particles together.

 To add extra materials for better flow.

5. In a business context, what does the term bulk usually mean?

 A small amount of materials used in a process.

 Materials that are lightweight and easy to move.

 A large quantity of materials used or stored.

 A specific item handled individually.

6. What does a pressure gauge measure in a system?

 The temperature of the air in the system.

 The amount of debris in the filter.

 The level of pressure in a system, allowing users to monitor it.

 The weight of the parts in the machinery.

7. What is the purpose of a knob on a regulator?

 To adjust the force to a desired pressure set point.

 To start and stop the compressor.

 To change the size of the filter.

 To release air from the system.

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Vocabulary Summary

Transcript

This video will describe how industrial pneumatic systems work. These five types of components represent the most common elements used in these systems. The ultimate goal of this entire collection of components, in most cases, is to create motion that will do some type of work in an industrial setting. Pneumatics is one of the most widely used technologies to automate repetitive processes. Some common applications might be to move a product from one place to another or to press or clamp pieces of a product together. To best understand how the system works, we will start at the beginning with a compressor and follow the process through to the end goal of motion.

The compressor generates the energy that powers the system in the form of compressed air. In order to generate compressed air, the compressor draws in atmosphere from its surroundings and squeezes it or confines it into a smaller space, creating the energy needed to drive the system. Once compressed, the air needs to be dried and cleaned so that harmful particulates such as rust or dirt do not clog up the moving parts in the system. The compressed air will travel through a tube or line to the next component called an air preparation unit, or FRL.

FRL is short for filter, regulator, and lubricator, which are common pieces that make up the air preparation unit. Typically, the first unit in the air preparation system is what is called a bulk liquid separator, which circulates or spins the air using specially shaped vanes. The rapid circulation of the pressurized air sheds unwanted moisture due to centrifugal force. The next unit is a filter, which further removes particulate and moisture in a two-stage process. Just like in the bulk liquid separator, a series of vanes or louvers in the filter circulates the air in the first stage. In the second stage, the air passes through a screen of sorts called an element to catch unwanted debris.

Once dried and clean, it is common to adjust the level of air pressure coming out of the compressor. This adjustment has an impact on how much force the system generates. Higher pressure allows the actuator to put out more force, while lower pressure creates less force. The regulator achieves this using a spring-loaded assembly. The knob on the regulator adjusts the force of the control spring to achieve a desired pressure set point. Whenever the downstream pressure level drops lower than the desired setpoint, the poppet or internal valve opens a pathway for the higher pressure upstream to flow downstream. This continues until the pressure in the system reaches the regulator set pressure. At this point, the poppet or internal valve closes until there is a new downstream demand. It is also common to have a pressure gauge on a regulator so the user can monitor downstream pressure.

Finally, in specific applications such as air motors or pneumatic tools, a lubricator can be added to distribute a fine mist of lubricant into the compressed air to help lubricate downstream components. Now that the compressed air is clean, dry, and set to the correct pressure for the application, the next step is to direct it where to go to create motion. A directional control valve is used to achieve this task.