Whether a hydraulic system is on the largest ship or inside the smallest car, if it is used in a relatively mundane application such as at a petrol station or the most exhilarating like a roller coaster, they are still made up of the same basic components.
The components that are found in every hydraulic system the world over, no matter what the application, includes the following: hydraulic fluid, a motor, a hydraulic pump and an actuator. Other essential components include pipes, fluid reservoirs, filters and valves.
All these components of a hydraulic system are essential to its correct and safe functioning.
Components Of A Hydraulic System
A hydraulic system is made up of the following 6 components.
- Pump – pushes the fluid (in most cases this is hydraulic oil) around the system.
- Motor – drives the pump.
- Reservoir – holds the fluid/hydraulic oil.
- Actuator – (cylinder or motor) converts the power or energy of the fluid into the force required.
- Piping – carries the fluid to each of the components.
- Valves – controls the pressure, direction and flow.
List Of Components & Their Functionalities
- Pump – this component has the toughest job in the whole hydraulic system. This not only means it suffers more wear and tear but also the damage caused by general use can affect pressure and flow and can quickly mean total hydraulic system failure. Pumps can be awkward to access for maintenance and replacement. It is always recommended that professional hydraulic engineers service hydraulic pumps.
- Motor – this component powers the pump using power from an external source i.e. a battery or generator. Without power, your system cannot work.
- Reservoir – this not only holds the fluid that is pumped around the hydraulic system but also cools the hydraulic oil and allows for air, moisture, debris or other contaminants to settle or be released rather than contaminate the rest of the system.
- Actuator (cylinder or hydraulic motor) – this is where the magic happens. The hydraulic energy from the pump gets put to work and turned into force or torque.
- Piping – these small but essential components need to be strong and flexible. They can easily wear or split through general wear and tear and especially under extremes of hot or cold. This is why a visual check of pipes and hosing should be done before each use.
- Valves – in a hydraulic system there are three types of valves. These control direction, flow and pressure. Wear and tear and contamination can cause valves to stick or fail, leading to loss of pressure, leaking and overheating.
FAQ’s
What is the most common cause of hydraulic system failure?
Contamination, usually from moisture or air, is the most common cause of system failure.
What do hydraulic pump ratings mean?
Pumps are usually rated by their flow output in lpm or gpm (litres or gallons per minute) and their optimum pressure capability. The latter is measured in the force exerted over a unit of area, this is usually Bar (kg per square cm) or PSI (pounds per square inch).
What are the efficiency measures for Hydraulic Pumps?
- Hydraulic pump efficiency is measured in 3 ways; mechanical/hydraulic efficiency, volumetric efficiency and overall efficiency.
- Mechanical/hydraulic efficiency is calculated by dividing the theoretical torque by the actual torque.
- Volumetric efficiency is measured by dividing actual flow (as measured by a flow meter) by the theoretical flow.
- Overall efficiency is measured by multiplying volumetric efficiency and mechanical efficiency.
What are the different types of actuators?
Hydraulic actuators either have a linear or rotary output and come in 3 types; cylinders (or jacks), rotary actuators and motors.
What are hydraulic pipes made of?
Having high-quality hydraulic hosing is essential to the effective running of the system. Different materials bring different qualities and pipes are usually made up of several different ones. The inner layers are usually rubber, plastic or nylon with a protective and strengthening layer of synthetic fibres with an outer coating to protect against weather, extremes of temperature and abrasion.
Find Out More From MCH Hydraulics
So, whatever you are using your hydraulic system for, it will be made up of these components and although some of them have a tougher time than others, they are all necessary and all need to be in tip-top shape in order to have your hydraulics working at maximum efficiency and safety.
To make sure yours are, get in touch with us at MCH Hydraulics to have a chat with our expert staff or book a service with one of our hydraulic engineers.