Australian manufacturers and other industrial energy users are among those examining pneumatic air spring actuation technologies as businesses seek to increase solar energy generation and reduce operating costs, according to Air Springs Supply.
In a news release, the company said Australia’s transition towards renewable energy is creating growing interest in solar tracking systems that enable panels to follow the sun throughout the day, potentially increasing energy output by 30 to 40 per cent compared with fixed-panel installations.
Citing figures from the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, Air Springs Supply noted Australia is on track to source 82 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030, supported by continued investment in solar, wind and battery technologies.
According to the company, manufacturers, food and beverage producers, primary processors, logistics operators and commercial building owners are among the businesses adopting solar energy to help reduce power costs.
Research referenced by Air Springs Supply from the ScienceDirect industrial research platform identified pneumatic actuators as a potential alternative to geared motors and hydraulic systems for solar tracking applications. The research highlighted benefits including lower maintenance requirements, reliability, dual-axis tracking capability and resistance to harsh environmental conditions.
A ScienceDirect case study cited by the company found pneumatic actuators suitable for rugged environments, using compressed air to maintain solar panel positioning.
Vinh Lam, Technical Products Manager at Air Springs Supply, said findings from international studies were relevant to Australian conditions.
“All of the advantages that engineers are finding in international studies apply very strongly in Australia,” Lam said.
“Air spring actuators are well suited to a wide range of urban and rural solar actuation applications, and especially well-suited to rugged isolated conditions, such as mines and outback solar farms, or to rooftop applications, where users prize maintenance-free durability and long service life.”
Air Springs Supply, which distributes Firestone Airide Actuators in Australia, said the systems can provide between 40kg and 40,000kg of force, offer strokes of up to 350mm, and operate using standard compressed air systems commonly found in industrial facilities.
The company said the actuators can move through an arc of up to 30 degrees without requiring a mechanical clevis, reducing system complexity and wear points. It added that the absence of pistons, rods and seals can contribute to lower maintenance requirements and longer service life in demanding environments.
Lam said cost was another factor driving interest in the technology.
“The initial cost of air spring actuation can be half that of conventional pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders with similar force capabilities, and they are far simpler too than electric actuation and highly tolerant of adverse operational conditions,” he said.
While highlighting the technology’s advantages, Lam noted that no single solution is suitable for every application.
“Naturally no single technology is universally ideal for all applications, but air springs have so much to recommend them for urban and rural solar that they certainly merit the engineering attention they are receiving as Australia advances into the solar era,” he said.
Air Springs Supply said it has more than 50 years of experience supplying air spring technologies for industrial actuation and isolation applications across Australia.
