Comparison of electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems can be done in aspects like energy source, energy storage, energy cost, distribution system, linear actuators, rotary actuators and controllable force.
| S.no | Aspect |
Electrical
|
Hydraulic
|
Pneumatic
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy source | Usually from outside supplier | Electric motor or diesel driven | Electric motor or diesel driven |
| 2 | Energy storage | Limited (batteries) | Limited (accumulator) | Good (reservoir) |
| 3 | Distribution system | Excellent, with minimal loss | Limited basically a local facility | Good. Can be treated as a plant wide service |
| 4 | Energy cost | Low cost | Moderate cost | High cost |
| 5 | Linear actuators | Short motion via solenoid. Otherwise via mechanical conversion | Cylinders. Very high force | Cylinders. Medium force |
| 6 | Rotary actuators | AC and DC motors. Good control on DC motors. AC motors cheap | Low speed. Good control. Can be stalled | Wide spread range. Accurate speed control difficult |
| 7 | Controllable force | Possible with solenoid & DC motors complicated by need for cooling | Controllable high force | Controllable medium force. |
| 8 | Problems | Dangers from electric shock | Leakage dangerous and unsightly. Fire hazard | Noisy |
