Pneumatic air sources: Difference between revisions
New page: This page lists some of the common sources of air pressure to power a pneumatic, and the advantages and disadvantages of each: ==Gases== '''Air''' Advantages: * It's price (completely f... |
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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: | This page lists some of the common sources of air [[pressure]] to power a pneumatic, and the advantages and disadvantages of each: | ||
==Gases== | ==Gases== | ||
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* It's price (completely free of course) | * It's price (completely free of course) | ||
* Global availability. | * Global availability. | ||
* Inert | |||
Disadvantages: | Disadvantages: | ||
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* Exceptional performance | * Exceptional performance | ||
* High speed of sound and particle speed | * High speed of sound and particle speed | ||
* Inert | |||
Disadvantages: | Disadvantages: | ||
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Performance is second only to Hydrogen. | Performance is second only to Hydrogen. | ||
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]]''' | |||
Advantages: | |||
* More powerful than propane, but still safe for [[pressure rated]] PVC | |||
Disadvantages: | |||
* More expensive than propane | |||
'''Nitrogen''' | '''Nitrogen''' | ||
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* Performance slightly better than air. | * Performance slightly better than air. | ||
* Option for high pressures. | * Option for high pressures. | ||
* Inert | |||
Disadvantages: | Disadvantages: | ||
* Costly | * 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. | Nitrogen is slightly more powerful than air for a given pressure, but nitrogen regulators are capable of very high pressures. | ||
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Advantages: | Advantages: | ||
* Highest performance gas | * Highest performance gas, in terms of particle speed | ||
Disadvantages: | Disadvantages: | ||
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Hydrogen is the most powerful gas that can be used in a pneumatic, but it has numerous risks associated with it. | 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 bottle]]s | Sources: Unless you have an on-site extraction plant, the only option is [[gas bottle]]s or electrolysis | ||
'''Carbon Dioxide''' | '''[http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/index.php/Co2 Carbon Dioxide]''' | ||
Advantages: | Advantages: | ||
* Reasonably cheap | * Reasonably cheap | ||
* High pressure | * High pressure | ||
* Highest gas volume to bottle volume ratio | * Highest gas volume to bottle volume ratio | ||
* Inert | |||
Disadvantages: | Disadvantages: | ||
* Low power | * Low power due to high molar mass and high density | ||
* Very heavy cooling on decompression (can cause problems with PVC launchers) | * 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 | Sources: [[Gas bottle]]s, [[CO2 cartridge]] | ||
'''Propane''' | '''[[Propane]]''' | ||
Advantages: | Advantages: | ||
* Reasonably cheap | * Reasonably cheap | ||
* High gas volume to bottle volume ratio | * High gas volume to bottle volume ratio | ||
* | * Readily available | ||
Disadvantages: | Disadvantages: | ||
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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. | |||
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. | ||
Latest revision as of 09:04, 22 April 2009
This page lists some of the common sources of air pressure to power a pneumatic, and the advantages and disadvantages of each:
Gases
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
Advantages:
- More powerful than propane, but still safe for pressure rated PVC
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
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
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.