What is a pneumatic system and what is a common failure mechanism?

• A. Uses compressed air to transmit power; failures include leaks, moisture in lines, and contaminated filters.
• B. Uses hydraulic oil to transmit power; failures include overheating.
• C. Uses electrical signals to actuate valves; failures include wire corrosion.
• D. Uses LNG refrigerant; failures include venting.

Answer: (A)

Pneumatic systems use compressed air to transmit power through lines to actuators like cylinders and valves. This setup is simple and clean, but air-based systems are prone to a few common failure modes. Leaks are the most frequent issue, wasting pressure and reducing actuation force or speed. Moisture in the lines can condense, leading to freezing in cold environments, corrosion, or damage to components. Contaminants such as dust, oil, or water can clog or foul filters and restrict airflow, causing erratic or sluggish operation. Regularly drying the air, keeping filters clean, and checking for leaks help prevent these problems. The other options describe different systems—hydraulic uses oil, electrical actuation uses electricity, and LNG refrigerant is not part of pneumatic power transmission.