Answer to Question #207625 in Mechanical Engineering for Bonolo

Question

Give your own analysis (with practical examples) on the circumstances or conditions in which hydraulic accumulators and bottle jacks are used.

Answer 1

Emergency and safety: An accumulator which is kept constantly under pressure is valuable in the event of an electrical power failure as it can provide the flow and pressure necessary to perform an additional function or complete a machine cycle.

Shock or pulsation dampening: An accumulator can be used to cushion the pressure spike from sudden valve closure, the pulsation from pumps or the load reaction from sudden movement of parts connected to hydraulic actuators.

Leakage compensation: An accumulator can be used to maintain pressure and make-up for fluid lost due to internal leakage of system components including cylinders and valves.

Thermal expansion: An accumulator can absorb the pressure differences caused by temperature variations in a closed hydraulic system.

Energy conservation: An accumulator can be used to supplement a pump during peak demand thereby reducing the size of the pump and motor required. The accumulator is charged during low demand segments of the pump cycle time and then discharges during the high demand portions of the circuit.