Mini Project Report

Vane Motor

Submitted By:

Himanshu Patil T-32

Vijay Patil T-34

Rinil George Rajeev T-39

Ritesh Gautam T-40

Project Guide:

Prof. N V Sahasrabudhe

Abstract- It is now a fact that the environment is being subjected to plenty of

environmental hazards. These are attributable to pollution that has completely

overwhelmed the environment. It is also responsible for bringing about atrocious

changes to the environment. The principle reason behind this change is increased

carbon emission. Every day, a huge amount of carbon is released in the air because

of burning fuel which results in Global Warming. People are gradually realizing

this concern and have gradually started to use alternative sources of energy. This

project about a design of a motor that runs on compressed air. Vane Air Motors

contain vanes within an air tight body onto which air at high pressure is passed.

The vanes are directly connected to a rotating shaft and hence any force on the

vanes causes a torque, which can rotate the shaft helping to drive any load

connected to it. Not only does this solve an age old question of finding an energy

efficient fuel source, it also proves that efficient fuel can also be environment

friendly.

Introduction:

The ability to do work is called energy. While energy surrounds us in all aspects of

life, the ability to harness it and use it for constructive purposes as economically as

possible is the challenge before mankind. The burning of all kinds of fuel exhausts

carbon dioxide gas. This gas together with other exhaust gases causes severe air

pollution. Moreover, the fuels commonly used today (fossil fuels) are all limited

such that as more fuel is consumed natural resources are decreasing. There has

been a steady movement towards developing higher fuel efficient machines and

more contraptions based on alternative energy sources for consumers. In response,

many smaller companies have started to rapidly increase research and development

into radically different ways of powering consumer Vehicles. Alternative energy

refers to energy sources which are not based on burning of fossil fuels or the

splitting of atoms. The renewed interest in this field of study comes from the

undesirable effects of pollution (as witnessed today) both from burning fossil fuels

and from nuclear waste. Among the renewable energy resources found so far the

use of compressed air for storing energy is a method that is not only efficient and

clean, but also economical. Compressed air is also used to run vehicles such as

cars. The power source of these kinds of cars is air and the emission product is also

air. Cars using compressed air can travel 120 miles between refueling. The cost to

operate is low. The compressed air only car will need to go to compressed air

fueling stations for a compressed air refill. Once these retrofitted gas stations are in

place, a refueling will take 3 minutes. Alternatively, there are engines being

developed that either switch over to electric or gas power allowing the car to

continue to be driven, while at the same time operating the compressor to refill the

tank with compressed air.

Vane Air Motor:

The Vane air motor is based on a very simple process that is similar to the working

of a drive motor of a boat. A motor boat runs its fan to push fluid in a direction

opposite to its desired motion, whereas the vane air motor pushes air (fluid) on its

vanes to create rotational motion of its drive shaft. As highly compressed air is

ejected from the high pressure air tank into the air inlet valve of the air motor it

induces a force on the vane it first encounters.

A typical vane-type air motor is shown in figure. The rotating element is a slotted

rotor which is mounted on a drive shaft. Each slot of the rotor is fitted with a freely

sliding rectangular vane. The rotor and vanes are enclosed in the housing, the inner

surface of which is offset from the drive shaft axis. When the rotor is in motion,

the vanes tend to slide outward due to centrifugal force. The distance the vanes

slide is limited by the shape of the rotor housing.

This motor operates on the principle of differential areas. When compressed air is

directed into the inlet port, its pressure is exerted equally in all directions. Since

area A is greater than area B, the force exerted on vane at position No.1 is more

than the force exerted on the vane at position No.2. Hence the rotor will turn

counterclockwise. Each vane, in turn, assumes the No.1 and No.2 positions and the

rotor turns continuously. The potential energy of the compressed air is thus

converted into kinetic energy in the form of rotary motion and force. The air at

reduced pressure is exhausted to the atmosphere. The shaft of the motor is

connected to the unit to be actuated.

Components of Vane Motor:

Slotted Rotor: It is the rotating element of the vane moor. It is mounted on a

drive shaft. It has slots to accommodate the freely sliding vanes.

Vanes: These are usually rectangular. Vanes help maintain air columns inside the

motor housing. Due to the difference in the forces acting on the vane surfaces the

motor rotates.

Motor Housing: It is hollow cylinder in which the rotor and vanes are kept. The

center of rotor is offset with the housing. It has ports for inlet and outlet of air.

The inlet port is at the place where the rotor is nearest to the housing. Outlet port is

usually diametrically opposite.

Our Customization of Vane Motor:

Material Used:

Housing Cylinder: PlyWood

Rotor: Wood

Vane: PlyWood

Dimension:

Length of Housing Cylinder: 10 cm

Outer Diameter of Housing Cylinder: 7 cm

Inner Diameter of Housing Cylinder: 6 cm

Length of Slotted Rotor: 10 cm

Diameter of Slotted Rotor: 4.5 cm

Vane Dimension: 10*1.5*0.5 cm

Compressed Air Supply: Hand Pump

References:

http://www.bibus.co.uk/en_GB/products-solutions/pneumatics/air-motors/vane-air-

motor/

http://www.bibus.at/fileadmin/editors/countries/biaus/Pneumatik/Medien/modec/D

ownloads/bibus_air_motors_chapter_modec_en_12-2008.pdf

http://www.waterfront-woods.com/Projects/airsander.html#Rebuilding

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatic_motor

www.patents.com/us-3981647.html

http://enginemechanics.tpub.com/14105/css/14105_161.htm

Image References:

http://enginemechanics.tpub.com/14105/css/14105_161.htm

http://www.waterfront-woods.com/Projects/airsander.html#Rebuilding