| Hydraulic components
- Hydraulic fluid |
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Videos |
Hydraulic fluid is the
very lifeblood that makes countless mobile and stationary machines work
correctly. Without it, brakes would fail, transmissions can become
destroyed, and engines’ lives would be greatly shortened. Made up of an
amalgamation of fluids including water, water-oil emulsions, and salt
solutions, hydraulic fluid serves multiple purposes in a hydraulic
system.
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| There are three types
of hydraulic fluids: |
- Water-based
fluids: Perhaps the least common type of the three, water-based
fluids are needed where there is a high probability of a fire
occurring. Their downfall is they aren’t terribly great when it
comes to lubrication.
- Petroleum-based
fluids: This mineral-based fluid is frequently used to offer
pumps and other system pieces better lubrication, stability, and
corrosion resistance. They do have the tendency to build up sludge,
however, which can worsen the machine’s performance.
- Synthetic fluids:
These man-made hydraulic fluids are designed specifically for
providing exceptional fluid stability, lubrication, and more. They
work perfectly within a wide range of temperatures and even under
high pressure. Their disadvantage? They’re costly, more toxic, and
may be incompatible with standard sealing materials.
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| Function of hydraulic
fluid: |
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Power transmission: To transmit power, which is the primary
function.
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Lubrication: To lubricate various parts, so as to avoid
metal-to-metal contact and reduce friction, wear and heat
generation.
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Sealing: To seal the moving elements to avoid leakage.
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Cooling: To carry away the heat generated in the system and to
dissipate the heat through a reservoir or a heat exchanger.
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Contaminant removal: To carry along the contaminations to the
tank, where they can be removed through filters.
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| Properties of
hydraulic oil |
| As we can see from the
aforementioned categorization, hydraulic oils have to possess certain
properties to be able to meet the requirements of the hydraulic systems
and operating conditions. Whether it is heavy-duty or an application
that does not have such extreme working conditions, hydraulic oil needs
to be: |
- Non-compressible
- Stable in terms of
viscosity and in a range of operating and climatic temperatures
(high and low)
- Fire-resistant
- Non-corrosive
- Anti-wearing
- Resistant to water
contamination
- Durable.
- Non foaming
- Anti gumming
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