Sixteen members of the U.S. Navy recently attended Milwaukee School of Engineering’s “Introduction to Hydraulics” course. Dr. Medhat Khalil, MSOE’s director of professional education and research development, traveled to the National Maritime Intelligence Center (NMIC) in Washington, D.C. where he taught the course.
Dr. Khalil offered the class at the NMIC because the attendees wanted to learn more about hydraulics, control systems, and the relationship between hydraulic systems for use in Navy systems for improved reliability and operation. Introduction to Hydraulics is a 32-hour seminar designed to acquaint individuals with the fluid power field and provide a practical working knowledge of this important and growing industry.
As a result of completing this course, those naval members are able to identify the distinguishing features of hydraulic systems; apply industry standards to hydraulic and schematic symbols; analyze hydraulic circuits from a schematic drawing using animated schematics modeled by Automation Studio; explain the operation and applications of valves, cylinders, pumps and motors using animation and video clips; identify the chemical and physical properties of fluids as they relate to hydraulic system operation; utilize continuity and energy balance equations; and understand the basic configuration and operation of hydrostatic transmissions.
In commenting on the skills or techniques learned in the course, attendees noted they “learned how to understand schematics and different types of system components, and how they operate.” Another said they “learned about the workings of and relationships between valves, pumps and accumulators.”
Introduction to Hydraulics is just one of many professional education seminars offered through MSOE’s Fluid Power Institute (FPI) which are endorsed by the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) through sponsorship and educational partnership. The FPI is one of the leading academic fluid power research laboratories in the U.S., and it conducts research and testing for some of the largest hydraulic companies, as well as system evaluations for the U.S. military. By offering this course at the NMIC, the FPI further expands its relationship with the U.S. military.
MSOE is a member of the Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP), which develops compact, next-generation, fluid powered devices for use in aerospace, agriculture, construction, health care, manufacturing, mining and transportation.
