In the current energy efficient aware marketplace the question on your mind may be ‘is this hydraulic power pack energy efficient and will it save me money?’
This question can be focused on a number of factors related to the power pack; from its location and installation, maximising its efficiency and capabilities thus reducing its load to the actual componentry such as coolers that are used to make the system run more efficiently.
So, yes, in answer to the original question, hydraulic power packs can be built to be more energy efficient and we take a look at more of the areas that can be improved below:
System Components
There are a number of crucial components that, when set up correctly can greatly maximise efficiency and reduce the systems energy footprint whilst in operation. As mentioned above, if a correctly sized hydraulic pump is implemented it will substantially reduce the load and heat levels of a hydraulic system especially if it is running in hostile and high load environmental conditions.
Another way to ensure that system components lower a unit’s footprint is to ensure the system takes advantage of current technology and materials in its construction as this lightens the load on it whilst in operation which, in turn, puts less stress on individual components which optimises efficiency.
Pumps are an essential component in a hydraulic power unit as they help to transfer hydraulic fluid to various parts of the system as and when it is needed. To help streamline this operation will also help the unit to be more efficient and save more energy. This is where the Variable Displacement Pump comes in as it converts mechanical energy into a fluid form of energy.
The displacement of the pump can be varied to control the amount of hydraulic fluid that is pumped per revolution of the shaft. In addition to the pumps themselves, compensator circuits are available which can shadow copy the systems flow parameters thus ensuring there isn’t excess heat build-up.
System Placement
As touched upon at the start of the article, the placement of the hydraulic system is crucial to ensure it doesn’t overheat, become contaminated in hostile environments and remains easily serviceable should any issues or breakages occur with the system, so engineers can access affected areas with ease so operations can get up-and-running again quickly.
Any hydraulic system should ideally be placed in a well ventilated area and away from other units especially those that generate a lot of heat as this can negatively affect another unit in close proximity.
The power to the premises
As well as the system and its components, the quality of electricity supply to the building the power unit is situated in should be adequate to supply the system as any system spikes or other anomalies can greatly jeopardise the efficiency of the system and could potentially cause outages or production stops.
To find out more about how to run your hydraulic power pack more efficiently, take a look at our Knowledge Base.