Automation

No recommended background knowledge needed.

Theoretical lessons with informatic support with description and discussion of relevant subjects needed to understand topics addressed in practical classes.

Practical lessons with informatic support, with the description of several pneumatic and oil-hydraulic circuits, and subsequent construction and simulation using simulation workbenches with pneumatic and oil-hydraulic components and/or simulation software; group learning; brainstorming.

Aware students of the importance of automated systems (pneumatic and oil-hydraulic) in several applications.
Students are encouraged to develop experimental work, including problem identification, planning of assemblies and critical analysis of obtained results.
Develop skills associated with experimental work, namely circuit planning and testing, problem identification and information analysis.
Apply theoretical concepts to the resolution of laboratory exercises.

Theoretical part:
1. General principles: Review of some fundamental principles of Fluid Mechanics. Work, Power, and Efficiency;
2. Distributed and localized hydraulic resistances;
3. Hydraulic fluids: Main properties. Special hydraulic fluids;
4. Seals: O-rings, static and dynamic seals;
5. Hydraulic cylinders: Sizing of a hydraulic cylinder;
6. Hydraulic Pumps / Motors: Types of pumps/motors. Description and study;
7. Valves: Directional valves, pressure regulators, and flow regulators. Other types;
8. Hydraulic accumulators: Types of accumulators. Sizing of an accumulator.

Laboratory part:
1. Pneumatics: Introduction. Description of the working principle of several work elements. Symbology. Explanation, construction, and practical simulation of elementary pneumatic circuits and/or using simulation software. Explanation, construction, and practical simulation of advanced pneumatic circuits using the Phase Diagram method and/or using simulation software.
2. Oil-hydraulics: Introduction. Description of the working principle of several work elements. Symbology. Practical applications of theoretical concepts. Explanation construction, and pactical simulation of basic and advanced oil-hydraulic circuits and/or using simulation software.

Evaluation Model M2: continuous and/or periodic assessment ending before the normal exam period. With exam periods for cases of failure and improvement.

Distributed evaluation over the school term, consisting of two tests:
• Access to the 1st test: minimum of 80% attendance at theoretical and laboratory classes effectively taught up to the date of the 1st test, except in cases provided for by law. Prior registration is mandatory until the previous week is scheduled for the date of the 1st test.
• Access to the 2nd test: minimum of 80% attendance at the theoretical and laboratory classes actually taught up to the date of the 2nd test, except in the cases provided for by law, and also a grade in the 1st test of not less than 8 points (scale of 0 to 20 values). Prior registration is mandatory until the previous week is scheduled for the date of the 2nd test.
Approval of the distributed evaluation exempts the student from taking the final exam. The arithmetic mean of the two tests must be equal to or greater than 9.5 (scale from 0 to 20 points) and in none of them, the grade may be less than 8 points (scale from 0 to 20 points).

Final exams are done on scheduled dates. To obtain approval for the course unit, students must get a minimum grade of 25% in each component (theoretical and practical) evaluated in the exams, together with a classification equal to or higher than 9.5 (scale from 0 to 20).

Theoretical part: 8 points (0 to 20 points).
Theoretical-practical part: 12 points (0 to 20 points).

It is forbidden to consult written reference materials, and use electronic or other devices during the exams.

NAO