Analysis of the causes of excessively high hydraulic oil temperature in hydraulic cylinders
Hydraulic system is an indispensable part of modern mechanical equipment and is widely used in industry, construction, agriculture, transportation and other fields. As a key component in the hydraulic system, the performance of the hydraulic cylinder directly affects the working efficiency and reliability of the entire hydraulic system. The increase in hydraulic oil temperature is one of the common faults of the hydraulic cylinder, which not only affects the working efficiency of the hydraulic cylinder, but also may cause damage to the hydraulic system and even endanger the normal operation of the entire equipment. This article will analyze the reasons for the high temperature of the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic cylinder and propose corresponding solutions.
1. Reasons for high hydraulic oil temperature
The main function of hydraulic oil is to transmit power, lubricate various moving parts, cool the system, etc., and the high temperature of hydraulic oil will lead to a decrease in oil viscosity and poor lubrication effect, which will cause the performance of the hydraulic system to decline. There are many reasons for the high temperature of hydraulic oil, which can usually be attributed to the following aspects:
1.1 Excessive flow of hydraulic oil
The flow rate in the hydraulic system is a key parameter to ensure the normal operation of the hydraulic cylinder. If the flow rate of hydraulic oil is too large, it may cause the high-speed flow of hydraulic oil to generate large friction heat, which will lead to an increase in oil temperature. Especially when the hydraulic cylinder is loaded with a large amount of oil, the oil flow rate is too high and the phenomenon of oil temperature increase is more significant.
1.2 The working pressure of the hydraulic pump is too high
The hydraulic pump is the core component of the hydraulic system and is responsible for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy. If the working pressure of the hydraulic pump is set too high, the load of the pump will increase, which will lead to a decrease in its working efficiency, and the heat generated during the energy conversion process will also increase, eventually leading to an increase in the temperature of the hydraulic oil. Especially under high load and high pressure working conditions, the problem of increased hydraulic oil temperature is more prominent.
1.3 The viscosity of the hydraulic oil is too low
The viscosity of the hydraulic oil is the basis for the normal operation of the hydraulic system. It can effectively reduce friction, reduce wear and maintain lubrication. If the viscosity of the hydraulic oil is too low, the fluidity of the oil increases, the friction resistance decreases, and the energy conversion efficiency of the hydraulic system is reduced. When the hydraulic system is running, if the viscosity is insufficient, the heat generated by friction and impact will accumulate rapidly, causing the oil temperature to rise.
1.4 Overload of the hydraulic system
The excessive load of the hydraulic cylinder will directly increase the pressure burden of the hydraulic system, so that the hydraulic pump needs to provide greater pressure to maintain the normal operation of the system. If the hydraulic system runs in an overloaded state for a long time, it will not only increase the working pressure of the pump, but also cause the oil temperature to rise rapidly. Especially when the hydraulic cylinder is frequently operated and the load fluctuates greatly, the overload phenomenon is particularly significant.
1.5 Failure of the cooling system
Hydraulic systems are usually equipped with a special cooling system to reduce the temperature of the hydraulic oil. Radiators, coolers and other equipment play a vital role in the system. If the cooling system fails or is improperly maintained (such as the radiator surface is covered with dirt, the coolant flow is insufficient, etc.), the heat cannot be released in time, causing the oil temperature to continue to rise. In addition, the radiator is not designed properly or is too small in size, which may not effectively reduce the temperature of the hydraulic oil.
1.6 Hydraulic oil contamination
The quality of the hydraulic oil is directly related to the working performance of the hydraulic system. If the hydraulic oil is contaminated (such as the entry of moisture, air or impurities), the fluidity and lubricity of the oil will decrease, which will increase the friction inside the system and generate more heat. In addition, contaminants may also cause damage to the hydraulic cylinder seals, further exacerbating the increase in oil temperature.
1.7 Excessive ambient temperature
The hydraulic system is not only affected by internal factors when working, but external environmental conditions also play an important role. In a high temperature environment, the temperature of the hydraulic oil will rise more easily. For example, in summer or when the equipment is exposed to the sun, the heat dissipation effect of the hydraulic oil is weakened, which can easily lead to an increase in oil temperature.
1.8 Unreasonable design
The design of the hydraulic system directly affects its working efficiency. If the design of the hydraulic system is unreasonable, such as too long hydraulic pipelines, too many elbows, and obstructed oil flow, it may also cause the hydraulic oil to generate unnecessary friction heat inside the system. In addition, improper selection or inappropriate installation of system components will also affect the increase in oil temperature.
2. The impact of excessive hydraulic oil temperature
Excessive hydraulic oil temperature will not only reduce the operating efficiency of the hydraulic cylinder, but also have many negative effects on the hydraulic system and related components:
2.1 Decreased lubrication performance
Excessive hydraulic oil temperature will cause the viscosity of the oil to decrease and the lubrication effect to weaken. Poor lubrication will increase friction, lead to increased wear of the hydraulic cylinder and other components, and shorten the service life.
2.2 System leakage
As the temperature of the hydraulic oil increases, the expansion of the oil will cause the system pressure to increase and the burden on the seals to increase. High temperature may also cause aging and softening of the sealing material, resulting in leakage, affecting the sealing performance and stability of the hydraulic system.
2.3 Overload of pumps and motors
Hydraulic pumps and motors will face greater load pressure when working in high temperature environments. Long-term high oil temperature will reduce the efficiency of motors and pumps, and even cause overheating failures, resulting in equipment shutdown or serious damage.
2.4 Oxidation of hydraulic oil
Hydraulic oil is prone to oxidation reaction at high temperatures, producing acidic substances, forming precipitates or colloid substances, further contaminating the oil, and causing the performance of the hydraulic system to deteriorate.
3. Solutions to high hydraulic oil temperature
In order to effectively reduce the temperature of hydraulic oil and ensure the normal operation of hydraulic cylinders and the entire hydraulic system, a series of measures need to be taken to solve the problem of high hydraulic oil temperature:
3.1 Optimize hydraulic oil flow and pressure
Reasonably adjust the flow and pressure of the hydraulic system to avoid long-term operation of hydraulic pumps and systems under high load and high pressure conditions. By optimizing the working parameters of the system, reduce energy waste and reduce the temperature of hydraulic oil.
3.2 Choose suitable hydraulic oil
Choose suitable hydraulic oil according to the working environment and use requirements of the equipment. The viscosity of the hydraulic oil should be adapted to the working temperature of the system, and avoid using oil with too low or too high viscosity. Check the quality of hydraulic oil regularly to ensure it is in the best condition.
3.3 Regularly maintain the cooling system
Check the cooling system regularly, clean the dirt on radiators, coolers and other equipment, and ensure the normal operation of the cooling system. In high temperature environments, increasing the heat dissipation area of the hydraulic system or enhancing the cooling capacity can effectively reduce the temperature of the hydraulic oil.
3.4 Prevent hydraulic system overload
Check the workload of the hydraulic system regularly to avoid overload. Maintain key components such as hydraulic pumps and motors to ensure that their working efficiency is in the best condition and avoid excessive oil temperature caused by overload.
3.5 Control hydraulic oil pollution
Keep the hydraulic oil clean, change the oil regularly, and prevent moisture and impurities from entering the hydraulic system. Use appropriate filters for filtering to maintain the cleanliness of the oil and reduce the impact of pollution on the system.
3.6 Optimize system design
During the design stage of the hydraulic system, the positions of pipelines, oil tanks and radiators should be arranged reasonably to ensure smooth flow of oil and reduce unnecessary friction and heat accumulation. Avoid excessive length and unnecessary bending of hydraulic pipelines to reduce pressure loss in the system.
The over-high temperature of hydraulic oil in hydraulic cylinder is one of the common faults in hydraulic system, which not only affects the working efficiency of hydraulic cylinder, but also may cause damage to the system. Through reasonable selection of hydraulic oil, optimization of system design, regular maintenance of cooling system and control of oil pollution, the problem of over-high oil temperature can be effectively solved to ensure the long-term stable operation of hydraulic system.
www.toringcylinder.com
Ningbo Toring Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
About Author
