What Are Pneumatic Silencers and How Do They Work

The term pneumatic refers to systems containing or operating with pressurized gasses, often air. Many aircraft systems operate on pneumatic systems, such as those that control the ailerons, the rudders, and the elevators. Whether the application relies on pneumatic cylinders, pneumatic solenoid valves, or other devices, all pneumatic systems make use of an exhaust port for releasing pneumatic air after use. Depending on the flow and the pressure of the released air, pneumatic exhaust can generate harmful noise that interferes with the system. To prevent disruption to workers, contaminants, and more, one should employ a pneumatic silencer, which is a small device that connects to the exhaust port of a pneumatic system for the main purpose of noise reduction. With various models available for procurement, pneumatic silencers may perform additional functions and attach to various housings. As such, this blog will offer a brief overview of these useful devices and the benefits of including them in pneumatic systems.

As their main function is to reduce noise, all pneumatic silencers function on the same working principle. Regardless of where the silencer is attached, it works to vent pressurized air from the system at a safe noise level. This is accomplished by releasing the air over an increased surface area; thus, they reduce the turbulence created when the pneumatic exhaust collides with the static air of the surrounding environment. By decreasing turbulence, noise levels are decreased. Typically, the increased surface area is achieved by forcing the exhaust air through a porous material in the shape of either a cone or a flat surface. Depending on the housing material, connection options, and working environment of your system, the best silencer option will vary.

A popular feature that people search for in pneumatic silencers is an ability to filter out contaminants. As such, silencers can be specified with filters for applications that work with oil or other substances that should not be released into the surrounding environment. Flow rate is another factor that some silencers, like a silencer throttle valve, can control by monitoring the speed of the driving device, such as those used to control piston actuation. Furthermore, the material of the silencer is important because it determines the temperatures, pressures, and conditions in which the silencer can operate. Sintered brass is low-cost, while sintered plastic has higher chemical resistance. At the same time, stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion.

Finally, it is important to consider the port where you will attach your silencer. With threaded male ends, silencers are intended for mating with a pneumatic solenoid valve, a pneumatic cylinder, and more. Common thread standards used are NPT (National American Pipe Thread), BSP (British Standard Pipe), or metric (ISO standards). All things considered, you may begin procuring the pneumatic silencers you require for your robotics, aviation, industrial, and other applications at any time on Industrials Domain.

Owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, Industrials Domain is a leading online distributor of pneumatic parts and components for a myriad of applications. With AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B accreditation, we offer products and services that are unparalleled in quality and efficiency, so explore our ever-expanding inventory at your leisure. With over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find parts, we are equipped to meet all your needs with rapid lead times and competitive cost savings. Get started today by submitting a Request for Quote (RFQ) form for all the parts you require. Within 15 minutes or less, one of our expert team members will contact you with a custom quotation for your comparisons. For further inquiries or to receive one-on-one assistance, contact us at any time via phone or email; we are available around-the-clock, 24/7x365!