Energy efficiency by reducing throttling losses in hydraulic systems

Abstract

Energy efficiency is important for a greener future and economics. Looking at the energy usage statistics in Turkey, most of the energy is used by industry. In the study presented in this article, low-cost solutions for reducing throttling losses in hydraulic systems have been examined. In this context, two units using fixed displacement pumps were designed. The energy consumption of these hydraulic units during the working process has been measured and examined. In line with the measured values, both systems were compared in terms of energy efficiency. According to the results obtained, it has been observed that with the simple design changes that can be made in the hydraulic systems, there are 44.5 % throttling losses and 24.4 % energy efficiency in the total cycle time.

Comprehensive Numerical Analysis of a Four-Way Two-Position (4/2) High-Frequency Switching Digital Hydraulic Valve Driven by a Ring Stack Actuator

“…Despite their notable performance characteristics, such as excellent accuracy [7], precise controllability [8], and rapid response times [9], these valves have been criticized for their susceptibility to impurities and relatively high cost [10,11]. Moreover, proportional and servovalves are known for their significant energy losses, which are mainly attributed to the spool architecture [12]. This design characteristic results in high pressure drops, which in turn lead to elevated power consumption, accounting for 60% of the overall losses in conventional hydraulic systems [13].…”