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Mar 14, 2025
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MEC 4770 - Fluid Power Systems2 lecture hours 2 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
This is an introductory course on the functionality and analysis of fluid power systems. Topics include the advantages and limitations of fluid power, the basic properties of hydraulic fluids, the major components of fluid power systems, schematic circuit representation, and analysis of steady-state system performance. Hydraulic pumps, valves, and actuators are described, and steady state sizing relationships are used to analyze circuit pressures and flow rates. Pressure and flow control valves, as well as directional control valves are studied individually and as employed in specific hydraulic circuits. Hydrostatic transmissions, accumulators, and pump controls strategies for energy conservation are also covered. Laboratory activities parallel the classroom discussion with performance measurements of pumps, valves, cylinders, and hydraulic motors, including position and velocity control experiments. The course also includes a brief introduction to pneumatic systems and their contrast to hydraulic systems. (prereq: MEC 3120 , ELE 2051 ) (quarter system prereq: ME 3104, EE 201)
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Conduct hydraulic analysis computations in both metric and English units
- Determine line losses associated with conduits, fittings, and other restrictions
- Apply steady-state circuit equations to determine pressures, flows and
- Velocities of valve-controlled cylinders under external force loads
- Rotational speeds of valve-controlled and pump-controlled motors under external torque loads
- Characterize the flow characteristics of a valve both analytically and experimentally
- Determine the appropriate size and charge pressure of a hydraulic accumulator to meet specific cycle requirements
- Analyze circuit requirements for preventing cavitation from overrunning loads
- Create characteristic behavioral maps of hydraulic components using experimental data
- Specify the required components for a basic hydraulic application such as a log splitter
- Use power analysis to
- Compare pump configuration options
- Account for the energy distribution and consumption in a hydraulic circuit
- Compare hydrostatic transmission configurations
Prerequisites by Topic
- Free body diagrams
- Fluid viscosity and density
- Reynolds number
- Electrical circuits
Course Topics
- Flow losses
- Conservation of mass
- Hydraulic actuators (cylinders and motors)
- Efficiency
- Valve functions
- Accumulators
- Pumps
- Hydrostatic transmissions
Laboratory Topics
- Valve metering
- Circuit analysis
- Pump controls
- Energy analysis
- Simulation of hydraulic circuit performance
Coordinator
Dr. Daniel Williams
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