Working Principle of Hydraulic Actuators
Working of Hydraulic Actuator
The figure below represents the schematic representation of the hydraulic actuator.
The major component of the unit is pilot valve also known as spool valve and main cylinder (or power cylinder).
It operates in a way that difference in pressure created at the two regions of the main cylinder leads to the occurrence of translational motion of the piston. Let us see the functioning of the hydraulic linear actuator is main cylinder has two regions. These two regions are obtained by dividing the main cylinder with a main piston. Thus, there are two chambers of the main cylinder. The rate with which the fluid flows inside the cylinder is controlled by the spool valve. The spool valve has 4 ports and each port is connected to a different part of the system. Two separate ports are connected to the fluid supply and drain region respectively. While the other two ports are connected separately to the two chambers of the main cylinder. Initially, the spool is present at the neutral position say x = 0 and at this position, there will be no flow of fluid inside the main cylinder. The assembly of the hydraulic actuator is such that the load will move according to the fluid flow. Thus, when input displacement, x is 0 then the output displacement y will also be 0. As soon as a certain input displacement is provided, then the spool moves towards the right. The movement of spool towards the right causes the fluid from the high-pressure source to move towards the left chamber of the main cylinder. Thus, the pressure on the left chamber of the cylinder rises comparatively more than that present on the right chamber. This results in the generation of accelerating force that causes movement of the load. In this way, the direction in which fluid flows corresponds to the direction in which the load moves. This acts as power amplification as discussed in operating principle because the force supplied to displace the valve is comparatively very small than the force generated that actually displaces the load. Hence, in this way hydraulic actuators operate.
It operates in a way that difference in pressure created at the two regions of the main cylinder leads to the occurrence of translational motion of the piston. Let us see the functioning of the hydraulic linear actuator is main cylinder has two regions. These two regions are obtained by dividing the main cylinder with a main piston. Thus, there are two chambers of the main cylinder. The rate with which the fluid flows inside the cylinder is controlled by the spool valve. The spool valve has 4 ports and each port is connected to a different part of the system. Two separate ports are connected to the fluid supply and drain region respectively. While the other two ports are connected separately to the two chambers of the main cylinder. Initially, the spool is present at the neutral position say x = 0 and at this position, there will be no flow of fluid inside the main cylinder. The assembly of the hydraulic actuator is such that the load will move according to the fluid flow. Thus, when input displacement, x is 0 then the output displacement y will also be 0. As soon as a certain input displacement is provided, then the spool moves towards the right. The movement of spool towards the right causes the fluid from the high-pressure source to move towards the left chamber of the main cylinder. Thus, the pressure on the left chamber of the cylinder rises comparatively more than that present on the right chamber. This results in the generation of accelerating force that causes movement of the load. In this way, the direction in which fluid flows corresponds to the direction in which the load moves. This acts as power amplification as discussed in operating principle because the force supplied to displace the valve is comparatively very small than the force generated that actually displaces the load. Hence, in this way hydraulic actuators operate.
Working Principle of Hydraulic Actuators
Hydraulic actuators use liquid pressure rather than instrument air pressure to apply force on the diaphragm to move the valve actuator and then to position valve stem.
Nearly all hydraulic actuator designs use a piston rather than a diaphragm to convert fluid pressure into mechanical force. The high pressure rating of piston actuators lends itself well to typical hydraulic system pressures, and the lubricating nature of hydraulic oil helps to overcome the characteristic friction of piston-type actuators.
Given the high pressure ratings of most hydraulic pistons, it is possible to generate tremendous actuating forces with a hydraulic actuator, even if the piston area is modest.
For example, an hydraulic pressure of 2000 PSI applied to one side of a 3 inch diameter piston will generate a linear thrust exceeding 14000 pounds (7 tons)!
In addition to the ability of hydraulic actuators to easily generate extremely large forces, they also exhibit very stable positioning owing to the non compressibility of hydraulic oil. Unlike pneumatic actuators, where the actuating fluid (air) is “elastic,” the oil inside a hydraulic actuator cylinder does not yield appreciably under stress. If the passage of oil to and from a hydraulic cylinder is blocked by small valves, the actuator will become firmly “locked” into place.
This is an important feature for certain valve-positioning applications where the actuator must firmly hold the valve position in one position. Some hydraulic actuators contain their own electrically-controlled pumps to provide the fluid power, so the valve is actually controlled by an electric signal. Other hydraulic actuators rely on a separate fluid power system (pump, reservoir, cooler, hand or solenoid valves, etc.) to provide hydraulic pressure on which to operate. Hydraulic pressure supply systems, however, tend to be more limited in physical span than pneumatic distribution systems due to the need for thick-walled tubing (to contain the high oil pressure), the need to purge the system of all gas bubbles, and the problem of maintaining a leak-free distribution network. It is usually not practical to build a hydraulic oil supply and distribution system large enough to cover the entirety of an industrial facility. Another disadvantage of hydraulic systems compared to pneumatic is lack of intrinsic power storage. Compressed air systems, by virtue of air’s compressibility (elasticity), naturally store energy in any pressurized volumes, and so provide a certain degree of “reserve” power in the event that the main compressor shut down. Hydraulic systems do not naturally exhibit this desirable trait.
Nearly all hydraulic actuator designs use a piston rather than a diaphragm to convert fluid pressure into mechanical force. The high pressure rating of piston actuators lends itself well to typical hydraulic system pressures, and the lubricating nature of hydraulic oil helps to overcome the characteristic friction of piston-type actuators.
Given the high pressure ratings of most hydraulic pistons, it is possible to generate tremendous actuating forces with a hydraulic actuator, even if the piston area is modest.
For example, an hydraulic pressure of 2000 PSI applied to one side of a 3 inch diameter piston will generate a linear thrust exceeding 14000 pounds (7 tons)!
In addition to the ability of hydraulic actuators to easily generate extremely large forces, they also exhibit very stable positioning owing to the non compressibility of hydraulic oil. Unlike pneumatic actuators, where the actuating fluid (air) is “elastic,” the oil inside a hydraulic actuator cylinder does not yield appreciably under stress. If the passage of oil to and from a hydraulic cylinder is blocked by small valves, the actuator will become firmly “locked” into place.
This is an important feature for certain valve-positioning applications where the actuator must firmly hold the valve position in one position. Some hydraulic actuators contain their own electrically-controlled pumps to provide the fluid power, so the valve is actually controlled by an electric signal. Other hydraulic actuators rely on a separate fluid power system (pump, reservoir, cooler, hand or solenoid valves, etc.) to provide hydraulic pressure on which to operate. Hydraulic pressure supply systems, however, tend to be more limited in physical span than pneumatic distribution systems due to the need for thick-walled tubing (to contain the high oil pressure), the need to purge the system of all gas bubbles, and the problem of maintaining a leak-free distribution network. It is usually not practical to build a hydraulic oil supply and distribution system large enough to cover the entirety of an industrial facility. Another disadvantage of hydraulic systems compared to pneumatic is lack of intrinsic power storage. Compressed air systems, by virtue of air’s compressibility (elasticity), naturally store energy in any pressurized volumes, and so provide a certain degree of “reserve” power in the event that the main compressor shut down. Hydraulic systems do not naturally exhibit this desirable trait.
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