Hydraulic Systems Flashcards
Basic components
1 - Energy converters (pumps, motors, cylinders)
2 - Energy controllers (directional pressure/ flow control valves)
3 - Accessories (resovoirs, filters, accumulators, sensors)
Hydraulic system advantages
- Easy speed + position control
- Facilitates stepless control
- Can easily change direction of movement
- Capable of accumulating energy
- Smoothly provides safety mechanism
- Allows for combination with electric controls
stepless control = continous power adjustment, so no predefined levels such as high, medium, low. Instead continuous range.
Oil Hydraulic system advantages
Compared to Pneumatics & Water hydraulic systems, oil has:
- Superior lubricity
- Better rust resistance
- Easy maintenance
- Compact system
- Can operate under high pressure
- Superior control & response speed
Hydraulic approximations
Unless stated otherwise, we make the following assumptions.
- Hydraulic fluid considered incompressible
- No loss of fluid pressure through:
1. Directional control valves
2. Pipes, filters and coolers
3. Check valves (1 direction) - Gauge pressure in return line is 0
- Dynamics of hydraulic liquid are neglected
Hydraulic system standards
Standards important as components must be interchangeable and able to perform to known standards.
And so symbols can be interpreted so circuit diagrames can be understood by everyone.
British standards, ISO (international standards organization) & CETOP are all organizations committed to producing standards
Pressure valves
Pressure valves influence pressure in hyrdraulic system or part of hydraulic system.
Represented by squares in which arrows represent flow direction
There are set and adjustable pressure valves. (Adjustable have an arrow through spring)
Pressure relief valve
Releases excess pressure in the system to protect other components.
Works by opening when pressure exceeds a set limit, allowing fluid to bypass the circuit and return to the reservoir.
Pressure regulator valve
Maintains a consistent pressure level in hydraulic system. Works by adjusting flow of fluid to maintain a set pressure downstream. Ensures stable pressure for specific components/ operations.
Pressure sequencing valve
Controls the sequence of hydraulic actions by allowing flow only when a predetermined pressure is reached.
Works by opening when inlet pressure reaches a set value, allowing flow to pass through.
Used to ensure specific operations occur in the correct order, (In machinery with multiple hydraulic cylinders).
Pressure counterbalance valve
Controls movement of load, esp where gravity may cause uncontrolled motion.
works by providing back pressure to maintain control over a load’s descent/motion + prevent it from free-falling or running away.
Used in systems with heavy loads or vertical movements to ensure safe and controlled operation.
Hydraulic cylinders
Hydraulic cylinders convert hydraulic energy to mechanical.
Generates force when extension and retraction.
DCV alternately directs fluid to diff sides
Single acting cylinder
Actuation: Operates in one direction, typically extending, and relies on other means (springs/gravity) for retraction.
Provides force and movement in one direction only. Used in applications where force is needed in only one direction, typically for lifting/pushing tasks.
Double acting cylinder
Actuation: Operates in both extending and retracting directions.
Provides force and movement in both directions. Used in applications requiring bidirectional movement and precise control.
Telescopic cylinders
Actuation: Consists of nested stages that extend/ retract to offer varying stroke lengths.
Provides extended stroke lengths while maintaining a compact design. Ideal for applications where space is limited but a long stroke length is required. Used often in construction equipment and hydraulic machinery.
Hydraulics equation
Q = flow
.
Y = distance piston moves
P = pressure
Q1 = A1 x Y
Q2 = A2 x Y
.
Y = (Q1/A1 = Q2/A2)
Hydraulic restrictor
hydraulic restrictor/ flow control valve limits flow rate of hydraulic fluid through a specific path in a hydraulic system.
How hydraulic resistor works
Flow Regulation - fluid flows through the restrictor + size of the orifice/position of valve determines rate at which the fluid can pass.
Pressure Drop - Fluid flows through restricted path = resistance which causes pressure drop across restrictor.
Controlled Speed - By adjusting restrictor’s settings, flow rate can be controlled = speed of actuators/ hydraulic motors controlled.
Hydraulics restrictive equation
Q = Kr (sqrt(Pa - Pb))
Q= flow rate
Kr = restrictor coefficient
Pa - Pb = pressure drop
In restrictors flow rate is proportional to sqrt of pressure drop
Hydraulic power
Hydraulic power unit provides necessary power by converting mech power from drive motor
Components in supply:
- Hydraulic pump
- Oil filtration unit
- Filters
- Heaters
- coolers
Reservoir also plays a part in conditioning fluid
- filtering/gas separation by built in baffle plates
- cools through surface.
Hydraulic pumps
Pumps convert mech eng (rotation of motors/engines) to fluid energy.
3 types (usually)
- Vane
- Piston
- Gear
Piston Pump mechanism
Piston pumps works by using reciprocating pistons to pressurize hydraulic fluid. It uses the following mechanisms.
1 - piston movement/induction stroke. Where 1 of the pistons move back/forth away from the inlet valve = creates a vaccum so hydraulic fluid drawn into cylinder.
2 - compression stroke.Piston moves back infront of inlet valve and compresses fluid + increases pressure.
3 - discharge stroke - Piston moves to outlet port = pushes pressurized fluid out of pump, into hydraulic system.
4 - repeat
Piston pump advantages
- high efficiency (85-95%)
- ease of operation at high pressure
- displacement easily changed by angle of swash plate
- ease of conversion to variable displacement type
Piston pump disadvantages
- low suction ability
- pumps usually large + costly
- highly susceptible to foreign substances in oil
- valve plate is easily damaged + when damaged efficiency drops
Vane pump mechanism
ozperates by using vanes mounted on a rotor to pressurize fluid. Used the following mechanisms
1 - rotor rotation : Inside pump, rotor with slots rotates in eccentrically places cam ring.
2 - vane movement : Spring-loaded vanes in rotor slots + they rotates, centrifugal force causes the vanes to extend/retract.
3 - intake stroke: During intake stroke, expanding space between vanes = vacuum, which draws hydraulic fluid into the pump.
4 - compression stroke: As the rotor rotates, vanes retract due to spring tension, trapping fluid between vanes and the cam ring. This compression increases the fluid pressure.
5- discharge stroke: Fluid then pushed out of outlet port as vanes pass the outlet, maintaining a continuous flow.
Vane pump advantages
- minimized discharge pressure pulsation
- compact + lightweight for high output
- less efficiency degradation due to wear
- reliable/ease of maintenance
- generally quieter
- less susceptible to fluid contamination
Vane pump disadvantage
Efficiency lower (75-90%)
Suction ability is medium
Variable displacement can be achieved by changing eccentricity of cam ring.
Gear pump mechanism
operates by using intermeshing gears to pressurize fluid. Uses following mechanisms.
1 - gear rotation: inside pump, are two gears (typically spur), rotate in opposite directions in tight-fitting housing.
2 - fluid intake: As gears rotate, expanding spaces created between teeth + housing, creating vacuum that draws fluid into inlet port.
3 - fluid compression: Gears continue to rotate, expanding spaces between the gear teeth gradually decrease in size, = compresses fluid + increase in pressure.
4 - fluid discharge: Pressurized fluid forced out of pump through outlet port as gears mesh + push fluid towards the outlet.
Gear pump advantages
- small, simple + inexpensive
- low noise level
- small discharge pulsation
- hardly susceptible to foreign substances in oil
- good suction ability
Gear pump disadvantages
Low efficiency and drops as gears wear out (75-90%)
Hydraulic pump - flow rate
In an ideal pump volumetric flow rate =
Qp = Dp x ωp
Qp = volumetric flow rate
Dp = pump displacement
ωp = angular velocity of drive shaft
Dp in variable displacement pump can be varied
Hydraulic pump - drive torque
In an ideal pump
Tp = Δp x Dp
Tp = drive torque
Δp = pressure difference
Dp = pump displacement
DERIVATION
Input power = Tp x ωp
Output power = Δp x Qp
In ideal pump
Input power = output
So
Tp x ωp = Δp x Dp
Hydraulic pumps - mechanical efficiency
Due to friction, torque required is actually higher.
Mp added (mechanical efficiency)
Mp = Ideal torque/Actual torque
Tactual = (Dp x Δp)/mp
Mp usually 85-95%
Hydraulic pumps - Volumetric efficiency
Due to leakage, volume flow rate is less than ideal.
Vp added (Volumetric efficiency)
Vp = actual flow rate/ideal flow rate
Q actual = Vp x Dp x ωp
Vp usually 80-95%
Hydraulic pumps - overall efficiency
np = output power/input power
Overall efficiency = np
np = Vp x Mp
DERIVATION
Δp x Q actual/ T actual x ωp
np = Δp x Vp x Dp X ωp / ((DpxΔp)/mp) x ωp
= np = Vp x Mp
Hydraulic motors basics
Hydraulic motors have a similar construction to hydraulic pumps.
Convert hydraulic power to a mechanical rotating force.