Overview
ISO/TR 22165:2018 - "Pneumatic fluid power - Application notes for the improvement of the energy efficiency of pneumatic systems" is a Technical Report from ISO (first edition 2018). It provides practical advice for conceiving and optimising pneumatic systems so they can be operated with increased energy efficiency, taking into account both functionality and economic efficiency. The document focuses on system- and application-level measures for pneumatics inside machines and installations and explicitly does not concentrate on compressed air generation and distribution.
Key topics
The report highlights practical measures and design considerations to reduce energy consumption in pneumatic systems, including:
- Requirement-driven design: defining precise specifications (forces, cycle times, precision, lifetime) to enable energetically and economically optimal drive concepts.
- Component selection & sizing:
- appropriate selection and dimensioning of compressors and coordinated interaction (including options such as speed control or heat recuperation at the compressor level is mentioned in the context of overall design);
- avoiding oversizing (e.g., too many filters) and minimizing pressure drops through correct valve, hose and connector sizing.
- Network and layout:
- optimal pipe/hose routing and diameters, short runs, few cross-sectional changes, and low-resistance connectors to reduce pressure loss.
- Control and operation:
- enabling shutdown/standby of subsystems where safe, use of energy-saving actuator technologies (bistable valves, reduced holding current valves), and selection of drive types matching the application (e.g., single-acting cylinders).
- Vacuum system efficiency:
- use of compact energy-saving ejectors, air-saving circuits, locating vacuum generation close to the point of use and minimizing hose volumes.
- Maintenance, monitoring and assessment:
- scheduled monitoring of filter pressure differentials and leak detection (including condition monitoring via flow sensors), plus use of simulation and assessment matrices for application-specific optimisation.
- Safety & standards alignment: follow general rules and safety requirements for pneumatic systems (see ISO 4414).
Applications and users
ISO/TR 22165 is aimed at professionals involved in the design, installation, operation and maintenance of pneumatic systems and machines, including:
- machine designers and OEMs,
- system and control engineers,
- maintenance planners and energy managers,
- plant engineers and integrators,
- pneumatic component manufacturers and suppliers.
Typical use cases include stationary machines performing movements, clamping, pressing, packaging, dosing, positioning and related tasks where pneumatic drives are used.
Related standards
- ISO 4414 - Pneumatic fluid power - General rules and safety requirements for systems and their components
- ISO 14955-1 - Machine tools - Environmental evaluation (design methodology for energy-efficient machine tools)
Keywords: ISO/TR 22165:2018, pneumatic systems, energy efficiency, pneumatic fluid power, compressed air systems, pneumatics energy saving, ISO standard.