Hydraulic System Maintenance and Hydraulic System Repair

Hydraulic System Maintenance and Hydraulic System Repair

Hydraulic System Maintenance and Hydraulic System Repair
Hydraulic machines power the moving parts of many industrial machines by applying the force of a fluid under pressure. Some systems are very small and simple, others are high pressure versatile systems with complex servo valve and pump sequences. Regardless of size or complexity, proper maintenance of BOTH the system and hydraulic fluid is crucial to maximizing uptime and reducing repair costs.

Hydraulic Oil Care
Hydraulic fluids are the lifeblood of the hydraulic system. The hydraulic fluid transmits pressure and energy, protects against leakage, minimizes wear and friction, removes heat, removes dirt and wear particles, and protects surfaces from rust. Mineral oils derived from petroleum are traditionally used in hydraulic systems, but some different applications use fire resistant, synthetic and biodegradable fluids. There are four main purposes important for hydraulic oils to achieve optimum service life: Control temperature - Pumps, engine pipe
Heat develops in the hydraulic oil due to strain by means of its hardware and pressure relief valves. In conventional systems, extreme temperatures
It causes oxidation and may cause varnish and sediment deposits in the system. On the contrary, operating at very low temperature will create condensation in the oil tank and increase the possibility of pump cavitation. Typical industrial hydraulic system temperatures generally range from 45 to 65 C. Mobile-type hydraulic system temperatures can rise up to 120C. Choosing the appropriate grade of hydraulic oil is critical to ensure cold start, high temperature equipment protection and optimum system efficiency. Keep systems operating with a water-based hydraulic fluid below 60ºC to prevent water evaporation. Deposits caused by the deterioration of hydraulic oil can clog valves and oil suction strainer and cause fine tolerance servo valves to jam and / or operate slowly. To allow the heat to radiate out of the system, the oil tank
keep the outside clean and remove any obstructions in the surrounding area. Make sure the oil cooler is working properly and keep the air-cooled radiators free of dirt. Normal temperature drop for most chillers is between 3 and 6ºC. Oil tanks should be filled to the proper level to allow the oil to remain in the tank long enough to settle the water and dirt and carry the heat out. Oil degradation can be even more damaging in modern equipment using servo valves. High pressure (up to 275 bar), high temperatures and small oil tanks stress the hydraulic oil. Air bubbles in the oil, minimal residence time of the oil in the tank, and high pressures can cause localized overheating of the hydraulic oil. This, combined with oil oxidation, results in nitrogen fixation, which will clog the oil filters and cause the servo valves to stick.