Fluid power has the highest power density of all conventional power-transmission technologies. Learn the benefits and limitations of fluid power, how to analyze fluid power components and circuits, and how to design and simulate fluid power circuits for applications.
Fundamentals of Fluid Power
University of MinnesotaAbout this Course
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Learner Career Outcomes
35%
started a new career after completing these courses
36%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
23%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 18 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish
Skills you will gain
EnergyHybrid Vehicle ManufacturingHydraulicsMechanical Engineering
Learner Career Outcomes
35%
started a new career after completing these courses
36%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
23%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 18 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish
Offered by
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
3 hours to complete
Week 1: Fundamentals of Fluid Power
This week: An overview of the course, introduction to hydraulics and pneumatics, and introduction to fundamental concepts of fluid power through the cylinder.
3 hours to complete
9 videos (Total 60 min), 10 readings, 1 quiz
9 videos
Course Overview 5m
What is fluid power?4m
Hydraulics and Pneumatics3m
Fluid Power compared to Electric Motors1m
Introducing the Cylinder10m
Fluid power variables and units11m
Theory: Two fundamental laws, important to fluid power10m
Efficiency10m
10 readings
Start Here!10m
Syllabus10m
Simscape Fluids (formerly SimHydraulics) Information10m
Learning objectives10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Objectives10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Homework problems10m
1 practice exercise
Week 1 Quiz30m
3 hours to complete
Week 2: Components and Concepts: Part 1
This week: circuit diagrams, the written language of fluid power, and how fluid flows through conduits. We hope that you find the hydraulic circuits on the mowing machine as interesting as we did.
3 hours to complete
5 videos (Total 46 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
5 videos
Introducing Conduits4m
Fluid Viscosity8m
Pressure Drop in Pipes10m
Pressure Drop in Fittings4m
7 readings
Objectives10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Objectives10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Homework problems10m
1 practice exercise
Week 230m
4 hours to complete
Week 3: Components and Concepts: Part 2
This will be a busy week diving into valves and pumps. We will discuss how basic valves function, how to use them in hydraulic circuits, and how to calculate pressure drop for a given flow rate, or vice versa. The videos will directly address the discussion on the forum about seeing hydraulic components working in real world circuits. In our discussion of pumps we will look at many different positive displacement pumps, exploring flow ripple and pump efficiency, look at the supporting components that form a hydraulic power supply, and see how we can make a transmission with a hydraulic pump and a motor. We are now into the heart of this course; we hope you enjoy seeing the components come together into useful circuits.
4 hours to complete
9 videos (Total 97 min), 10 readings, 1 quiz
9 videos
Theory: Orifice flow16m
Check Valves7m
Introducing Pumps9m
Library of Pumps12m
Pump Flow Ripple5m
Pumping Efficiency16m
Basic Hydraulic Power Supply10m
Pump Application: Hydrostatic transmission11m
10 readings
Objectives10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Objectives10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Objectives10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Homework Problems10m
1 practice exercise
Week 330m
2 hours to complete
Week 4: Predicting Performance Through Simulation
This week is entirely devoted to you learning how to use Simscape Fluids (formerly SimHydraulics), the fluid power simulation application that we use in the course. The lecture provides an introduction to computer-based, object-oriented simulation, and goes through a demo of using Simscape Fluids. The homework assignment contains the real work because this is where you will learn to use Simscape Fluids. The homework ends with an open-ended problem that encourages you to branch out on your own and create and run simulations based on examples listed in the course Simscape Fluids resource page or on any other fluid power system that interests you. We will be monitoring the discussion boards to help you with any technical problems with Simscape Fluids.
2 hours to complete
1 video (Total 28 min), 6 readings
1 video
Simulation27m
6 readings
Objectives10m
Download and install Simscape Fluids10m
Video Slides10m
Background Material10m
Homework problems10m
Week 4 Quiz: *THERE IS NO QUIZ FOR THIS WEEK.10m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM FUNDAMENTALS OF FLUID POWER
by PGOct 1, 2020
Really excellent course for someone who wants to start learning the basics of fluid to advance level of hydraulic system where you can get a practical overview of the product been used in real life.
by AGMay 30, 2020
This was the Best Course I have done so far. The instructors are totally dedicated to teach. They have given practical examples on field and industry for the Better Understanding.Thank You.
by SSSep 24, 2017
Good course with basic review of Fluid mechanics in pipe flow, hydraulics component and application as well as basics in Simscape. More intensive version of this course would be great
by JBSep 15, 2017
Teachers were great and made the subject quite interesting. The accumulator portion will aid me in further understanding the operation of fluid equipment at work. Thanks for this!
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