This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.
Sairam Jawale,
Vaishnavi Dahe,
Preeti Vakte,
Suyog Patare,
Amol Wable,
- Undergraduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon, , India
- Undergraduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon, , India
- Undergraduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon, , India
- Undergraduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon, , India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon, , India
Abstract
The increasing awareness of fossil fuel depletion & environmental pollution has accelerated the need for the development of sustainable & eco-friendly alternatives to traditional internal combustion engines. Pneumatically operated engines have been identified as a potential alternative for small-scale mechanical power generation owing to their advantages of zero exhaust emissions, noise reduction & operational safety. This paper describes the design, development & performance analysis of a pneumatically operated engine, which uses compressed air as a carrier energy to generate mechanical motion without combustion.
The proposed system uses a double-acting pneumatic actuator controlled by a directional control valve that converts the energy of compressed air into a reciprocating piston motion. The linear motion is then converted into rotary motion using a crank-pulley and belt transmission mechanism along with a flywheel for smooth and continuous operation. The engine was designed to work at a pressure range of 3 to 6 bar & the calculations were performed to find the required piston diameter & air consumption for a force output of 2000 N.
Experimental testing & graphical representation were carried out to analyze the effect of supply pressure, actuator speed & stroke time. The results show that an increase in operating pressure results in a corresponding increase in piston speed and a decrease in cycle time. At 6 bar pressure, the system performed optimally, making it suitable for driving light mechanical loads up to 200 kg. A comparative analysis with conventional internal combustion engines reveals the benefits of the new technology, which include zero emissions, reduced thermal losses, low maintenance & suitability for use in hazardous environments.
Despite the limitations of the technology, including the need for a compressed air supply & lower energy density, this research work has shown that pneumatically operated engines are feasible for use in light vehicles, automation systems& and auxiliary power units. The results of this study have confirmed the potential of pneumatic engines as a sustainable alternative for specific low-power applications, thus encouraging further research in this area.
Keywords: Pneumatic Engine, Compressed Air Technology, Sustainable Engineering, Zero Emissions, Green Technology.
Sairam Jawale, Vaishnavi Dahe, Preeti Vakte, Suyog Patare, Amol Wable. Pneumatic Operated Engine. International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics and Systems Analysis. 2026; 04(01):-.
Sairam Jawale, Vaishnavi Dahe, Preeti Vakte, Suyog Patare, Amol Wable. Pneumatic Operated Engine. International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics and Systems Analysis. 2026; 04(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijmdsa/article=2026/view=238732
References
- R. Majumdar, Pneumatic Systems: Principles and Maintenance. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw-Hill, 1996.
- H. Parr, Hydraulics and Pneumatics: A Technician’s and Engineer’s Guide. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2011.
- Noronha and D. Bennett, “Performance Analysis of Pneumatic Cylinder Systems Using MATLAB Simulink,” International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT), vol. 8, no. 8, pp. 52–56, Aug. 2019.
- N. Thakker and M. K. Patel, “Design and Development of Pneumatic Engine,” International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research (IJMERR), vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 39–45, Jan. 2015.
- Kurien and S. Chandrasekar, “A Study on Compressed Air Powered Vehicle,” International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 1063–1067, Jun. 2014.
- R. Patel and J. M. Prajapati, “A Review on Pneumatic Systems Used in Industries,” International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Engineering Research, vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 24– 27, Sept. 2016.
- ISO 6431:1992, Pneumatic fluid power — Single rod cylinders — Dimensions and mounting types, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva, Switzerland.
- A. Doughty, “Compressed-Air Systems: A Guide to Energy-Efficient Operation,” Compressed Air Best Practices Magazine, vol. 12, pp. 18–25, 2018.
[9] J. Watton, Fundamentals of Fluid Power Control, Cambridge University Press, 2009.
[10] A. Esposito, Fluid Power with Applications, 7th ed., Pearson Education, 2014.
| Volume | 04 |
| 01 | |
| Received | 24/01/2026 |
| Accepted | 25/02/2026 |
| Published | 10/03/2026 |
| Publication Time | 45 Days |
Login
PlumX Metrics
