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.
[This article belongs to International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics and Systems Analysis ]
Sairam Jawale, Vaishnavi Dahe, Preeti Vakte, Suyog Patare, Amol Wable. Pneumatic Operated Engine. International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics and Systems Analysis. 2026; 04(01):1-7.
Sairam Jawale, Vaishnavi Dahe, Preeti Vakte, Suyog Patare, Amol Wable. Pneumatic Operated Engine. International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics and Systems Analysis. 2026; 04(01):1-7. 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 | |
| Issue | 01 | |
| Received | 24/01/2026 | |
| Accepted | 25/02/2026 | |
| Published | 10/03/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 45 Days |