Difference between revisions of "Pneumatic air sources"

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This page lists some of the common sources of air pressure to power a pneumatic, and the advantages and disadvantages of each:
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This page lists some of the common sources of air [[pressure]] to power a pneumatic, and the advantages and disadvantages of each:
  
 
==Gases==
 
==Gases==
  
'''Acetylene'''
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'''[[Acetylene]]'''
  
 
Advantages:
 
Advantages:
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Sources: Unless you have an on-site extraction plant, the only option is [[gas bottle]]s
 
Sources: Unless you have an on-site extraction plant, the only option is [[gas bottle]]s
  
'''MAPP'''
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'''[[MAPP]]'''
  
 
Advantages:
 
Advantages:
* More powerful than propane, but still safe for pressure rated PVC
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* More powerful than propane, but still safe for [[pressure rated]] PVC
  
 
Disadvantages:
 
Disadvantages:
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Advantages:
 
Advantages:
* Highest performance gas, in terms of perticle speed
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* Highest performance gas, in terms of particle speed
  
 
Disadvantages:
 
Disadvantages:
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Disadvantages:
 
Disadvantages:
 
* Low power due to high molar mass and high density
 
* Low power due to high molar mass and high density
* Very heavy cooling on decompression (can cause problems with PVC launchers)
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* Very heavy cooling on decompression (can cause problems with [[PVC]] launchers)
  
 
CO2 is a very common bottled gas, but it's power is limited by it's high density.
 
CO2 is a very common bottled gas, but it's power is limited by it's high density.
Sources: [[Gas bottle]]s, [[CO2 cartridges|Gas bulbs]]
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Sources: [[Gas bottle]]s, [[CO2 cartridge]]
  
'''Propane'''
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'''[[Propane]]'''
  
 
Advantages:
 
Advantages:
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* Possible (if unlikely) fire risk
 
* Possible (if unlikely) fire risk
  
[[Propane]] is better known as a [[combustion cannon]] power source, but some pneumatics have used it as a gas. It's performance is low, because of it's high density and low pressures, but it is cheap and easily found.
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Propane is better known as a [[combustion cannon]] power source, but some pneumatics have used it as a gas. It's performance is low, because of it's high density and low pressures, but it is cheap and easily found.
 
Sources: [[Gas bottle]]s, either in large bulk tanks of several kilograms, or in small tanks of 0.5 - 1 lb.
 
Sources: [[Gas bottle]]s, either in large bulk tanks of several kilograms, or in small tanks of 0.5 - 1 lb.
  

Revision as of 21:00, 14 June 2008

This page lists some of the common sources of air pressure to power a pneumatic, and the advantages and disadvantages of each:

Gases

Acetylene

Advantages:

  • Very powerful combustion pressure spikes

Disadvantages:

  • Extremely unstable, will auto-ignite at pressues over 15 psi
  • Pressure spikes are very rapid, and therefore can cause fatigue much more readily
  • Safe to use in very few spudding applications

Air

Advantages:

  • It's price (completely free of course)
  • Global availability.
  • Inert

Disadvantages:

  • Limited performance approaching the sound barrier.

Performance of air is moderate. It is very uncommon for a air powered launcher to exceed the sound barrier, but not completely impossible. Most gases are compared against air as a benchmark Sources: If you want to use air, you'll either need a compressor, hand/foot pump or a High Pressure Air (HPA) tank

Helium

Advantages:

  • Exceptional performance
  • High speed of sound and particle speed
  • Inert

Disadvantages:

  • Costly
  • Will leak faster than any other gas
  • Helium regulators typically limited to 200 psi.

Performance is second only to Hydrogen. Sources: Unless you have an on-site extraction plant, the only option is gas bottles

MAPP

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

  • More expensive than propane

Nitrogen

Advantages:

  • Performance slightly better than air.
  • Option for high pressures.
  • Inert

Disadvantages:

  • Costly
  • Particle speed is not significantly more than that of air

Nitrogen is slightly more powerful than air for a given pressure, but nitrogen regulators are capable of very high pressures. Sources: Unless you have an on-site extraction plant, the only option is gas bottles

Hydrogen

Advantages:

  • Highest performance gas, in terms of particle speed

Disadvantages:

  • Costly.
  • Potential explosive risk.
  • Will leak fast.

Hydrogen is the most powerful gas that can be used in a pneumatic, but it has numerous risks associated with it. Sources: Unless you have an on-site extraction plant, the only option is gas bottles or electrolysis

Carbon Dioxide

Advantages:

  • Reasonably cheap
  • High pressure
  • Highest gas volume to bottle volume ratio
  • Inert

Disadvantages:

  • Low power due to high molar mass and high density
  • Very heavy cooling on decompression (can cause problems with PVC launchers)

CO2 is a very common bottled gas, but it's power is limited by it's high density. Sources: Gas bottles, CO2 cartridge

Propane

Advantages:

  • Reasonably cheap
  • High gas volume to bottle volume ratio
  • Readily available

Disadvantages:

  • Low power
  • Low pressure
  • Possible (if unlikely) fire risk

Propane is better known as a combustion cannon power source, but some pneumatics have used it as a gas. It's performance is low, because of it's high density and low pressures, but it is cheap and easily found. Sources: Gas bottles, either in large bulk tanks of several kilograms, or in small tanks of 0.5 - 1 lb.

Supplies

Compressor

Hand/Foot Pump

Gas bottles

CO2 cartridges