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CCOG for APR 260 Spring 2024

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Course Number:
APR 260
Course Title:
Pneumatic System Operations
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Covers the pneumatic systems used at today's industrial worksites for both control and process applications including system components. Covers the distribution of compressed air from different types of industrial air compressors including system components. Covers component and tubing sizing. Emphasizes component troubleshooting and repair, as well as working safely in proximity to a compressed air system. Prerequisites: APR 172, and (WR 90 and RD 90) or IRW 90 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement or department permission. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

Required  Course for Apprentices registered in the Millwright/Industrial Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program. It is open to any other student but requires Department Permission to take this course. 

Intended Outcomes for the course

  • Service, install, maintain, repair, analyze, and replace industrial air compressors and their components.
  • Service, install, maintain, repair, analyze and replace industrial pneumatic systems that are used for both control and for process applications.
  • Employ a working knowledge of pneumatic system components in order to perform preventive and corrective maintenance at an industrial worksite.
  • Read and interpret pneumatic schematics in order to install and troubleshoot pneumatic systems and air compressors.
  • *Demonstrate the functions of trades-specific industrial systems (required statewide outcome).
  • *Identify mechanical and/or electrical industrial systems (*required statewide outcome).

Course Activities and Design

Course design is primarily lecture with some demonstration of a variety of pneumatic and air compressor components. Information is conveyed using mostly Power Point presentations and some online sources. 

Activities include:

  • Read and interpret pneumatic schematics
  • Participate in field trips
  • Size  pneumatic tubing
  • Calculate air pressures for proportional control

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Assessment will be accomplished using skills' checklists filled out by an adequate sampling of Millwright/Industrial Maintenance Technician Training Agents or an Apprentice's Journey Person.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

For Air Compressors:

  • Safety applied to compressed gas systems
  • Physics of compressed gases
  • Dry intake air filters
  • Wet intake air filters
  • Filter Maintenance
  • Air Intercoolers for dehydration and air cooling
  • Water Intercoolers for dehydration and air cooling
  • Refrigeration dryers and coolers
  • Chemical dryers including dessicant dyers
  • Moisture separators
  • Air receivers
  • Relief valves
  • Motors, drives, belts
  • Inline Filters
  • Pressure regulating valves including diaphragm and piston
  • Lubricators
  • Automatic control switches  and safety switches for compressors

For pneumatic systems:

  • Directional control valves
  • Check valves
  • Flow control valves
  • Pressure control valves
  • Pressure relief valves
  • Mufflers
  • Actuators including cylinder and motors
  • Line diagrams for pneumatic systems
  • Proportional controllers
  • Inversely proportional controllers
  • Inspection practices
  • Scheduled lubrication and other Preventative maintenance procedures
  • Cleaning
  • Adjustment
  • Troubleshooting of actuators, control valves, control circuits, sequence circuits, interlocks
  • System preparation for shutdown
  • Application of pneumatic troubleshooting charts
  • Electronic interface with pneumatic controls
  • Pneumatic thermostats including dead-band and bleed port
  • Various pneumatic controllers including proportional/integral