Hydraulics – Systems
Lecture 17
outline
• systems overview
• system components
› power input
» pumps, accumulators
› power output
» motors, actuators
systems overview
• hydraulic system for power transmission consists of 4
main parts:
› power input
› power output
› power transmission
› controls
system components
system components
• system definition:
“A volumetrically rigid system in which an incompressible
fluid (in the ideal case) is trapped between positive
displacement, i.e. pressure generating actuators.”
• positive displacement – displace volume of fluid equal
to swept volume of movement
• pressure generated because fluid confined
• system pressure:
“The pressure in the fluid at any part of a hydraulic
system will depend on the lowest resistance to outlet
or escape of the fluid from that part of the system to
the lower outer (datum) pressure.”
• datum pressure – usually atmospheric
system components
• fluid takes path of least resistance
› easier to pass through relief valve than move load
» load is stationary
» fluid stationary between load and relief valve
» pressure at actuator (ignoring pressure drops) is relief valve
pressure
system components
• fluid takes path of least resistance
› easier to move load than pass through relief valve
» pressure at relief valve lower than valve
setting
» fluid flows to actuator
» some friction losses – pressure at actuator
lower than at relief valve
system components
• fluid takes path of least resistance
› load increases – actuator may be “pushed back”
into the system
» reverse flow
» pressure at actuator greater than at relief
valve
• must be considered to prevent damage to
system
system components
• fluid takes path of least resistance
› system pressure depends on lowest resistance
to outlet flow
» load determines actual pressure in the
system
» relief valve only sets maximum pressure
system components
• system inputs
› mechanical power from prime mover converted into fluid power in a
pump
» pump – only creates flow; pressure determined by load on
system
› electric motor most common prime mover
› pump must be positive displacement
» fluid trapped between positive displacement devices
» overload protection required (relief valve)
system components
• system outputs
› fluid power converted back into mechanical form
› positive displacement devices
› may be similar or identical to pumps
› rotary, linear motion
› output is what we are concerned with – does the system perform its
intended function?
system components
• power transmission
› transfers fluid from system input to output
› includes cooling, filtration
system components
controls
› force amplifying, low powered systems – relatively simple
» control of output effected by input
› industrial – larger powers
» avoid start/stop/reverse of prime mover to control input
» run prime mover continuously
» control speed, direction, thrust within system
› 3 groups:
» pressure, flow, direction – may be combination of these
power input
• common sources:
› pumps
» mechanical-hydraulic transducers
› accumulators
» pneumatic-hydraulic or mechanical-hydraulic transducers
power inputs – pumps
• rarely find turbine, impeller, propeller pumps
• require positive displacement pumps
› intentional flow path from inlet to outlet
› pump moves fluid at any pressure
› pressure too high – failure occurs
• 3 categories: vane, gear, piston
power inputs – pumps
• vane pumps
› sliding vanes in cam ring
› volume of pumping chambers increase and decrease with rotation
› balanced design – opposing pairs of inlet and outlet ports
› simple design – can produce variable displacement
power inputs – pumps
• gear pumps
› most robust and rugged
› external gear pump most common
» drive and driven gears
» number of teeth, pitch diameter, tooth width determine
displacement
power inputs – pumps
• piston pumps
› highest pressure
capability
› axial, bent axis, radial
configurations
› operation – oil flow into
cavity as piston retreats,
forces oil into other
chamber when piston
advances
› variable displacement
achieved by varying
effective pumping stroke
power inputs – pumps
• analysis of pumps
• flow rate
• with leakage flow
• volumetric efficiency
power inputs – pumps
• power required, no losses
• shaft power required
• mechanical efficiency
• overall efficiency
power inputs – pumps
• Example – hydraulic power and pump sizing
References
[1] F. Bradbury, Hydraulic Systems and Maintenance, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, Toronto,
1972.
[2] G.E. Totten, Handbook of Hydraulic Fluid Technology, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 2000.
[3] G.R. Keller, Hydraulic Systems Analysis, Hydraulics and Pneumatics Magazine, 1985.
[4] A.B. Goodwin, Fluid Power Systems, The MacMillan Press, London, 1976.
[5] F. Yeaple, Fluid Power Design Handbook, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1990.
[6] H.L. Stewart and J.M. Storer, Fluid Power, 3rd ed., Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing,
Indianapolis, 1980.
[7] T.C. Frankenfield, Using Industrial Hydraulics, Hydraulics and Pneumatics Magazine,
Cleveland, 1984.
questions?
