Using the pressure compensated hydraulic pumps: A better way to control the pump pressure

Pressure compensated hydraulic pumps refer to the pumps that are being controlled in terms of the pressure they hold within. The term “pressure compensated” refers to the fact that these hydraulic pumps can be pressure controlled or compensation can be done in the pressure of the flow held by them. This is done with the pressure compensator that is being built into the pump to automatically reduce or sometimes, stop the flow inside the pump. Let us have a look at several points that reflect the importance of these engineering devices.

Points of importance about hydraulic pumps and their pressure compensators

Following will signify them in brief:
· Hydraulic Pumps: These are an important component of the hydraulic systems used for industrial as well as mobile applications.
· Types of pumps: The hydraulic pump can be classified into two categories which are the non-positive-displacement pumps as the first type and the positive-displacement pumps as the second type. The first type consists of examples like the propeller pumps and the centrifugal pumps.
· Benefits of the pressure compensators in hydraulic pumps: As said earlier as well, the pressure compensator plays the basic role of controlling the pressure of the flow inside the pumps to let proper functioning occur for varying purposes the pump has been built for.
· Several examples of categories in pumps: There can be found many varieties in these hydraulic pumps that are being used for varying purposes and built accordingly. Some of these are the external-gear pumps, rotator pumps, screw pumps and internal-gear pumps.
Crescent seal internal-gear pumps, gerotor internal-gear pumps, vane pumps (balanced as well as unbalanced vane pumps are the two types of vane pumps), piston pumps, axial-piston pumps, inline piston pumps, bent-axis pumps, radial-piston pumps and plunger pumps are also some pump types found in industries.

Working of the pumps

Hydraulic pumps have their own mechanism they work on. So here we are going to brief you about the working of one of the types of these hydraulic pumps.

Following are various steps that are involved in the working of these pumps:

· As said, it is the pressure reaching the compensator setting that initiates the process. So in case of the piton pumps, this pressure at outlet port goes to the compensator setting. It is then that the compensator moves against the force of the spring.
· The pressure of the pump outlet hence gets the way towards the internal servo piston, thus becoming able to move in a preferred direction.
· Next, it is the swash plate that now comes into action. The force generated, resulting from the pressure exerted on the surface area of the servo piston, is responsible for making the swash plate to move to the stroke angle’s lower degree.
· After this, the fluid’s lower flow rate is being produced which is due to the reduction in the piston traveling in the rotating group. This production is at the outer port belonging to the pump.
· Hence the pressure decreases in the system. This decrease is below the compensator setting which leads to the compensator spool to get forced back in the other direction through the spring force.
· This causes the servo piston chamber’s oil to move into the pump’s case. Here the oil is then returned to the tank that happens through the case drain line. Resulting from all these processes in series is the reduction in the force of the servo piston that was keeping the swash plate till the low angle.
· Now it is the swash plate that gets pushed back by the bias spring on the stroke that occurs at a full angle and flow.
· Finally, the pump can now maintain the compensator setting pressure. It can now provide the wanted flow for reaching the pressure setting. Flow is up to the maximum flow rate.
Hydraulic pumps with pressure compensators are necessary for factories as well as many other areas where hydraulic pumps are being used and pressure can go above the maximum desired limit. It helps regulate the flow so that the functioning remains smooth, saving time, money as well as efforts along with reducing the chances for wastage of resources or some mishap due to uncontrolled flow through the hydraulic pumps.