Hydraulic pumps are an essential part of some of the major machinery and equipment that are used to complete vast and complicated tasks. If you have ever worked with construction, manufacturing, or industrial equipment, chances are high that you were using some kind of hydraulic pump. Keep reading for more information on the pumps.
How Hydraulic Pumps Work
The hydraulic pump is a simple machine, but it achieves the highest levels of pressure when compared to other pumps. Speaking in general terms, the pump takes mechanical energy and turns it into hydraulic energy. Hydraulic pumps apply pressure to hydraulic liquids and initiate the process of positive displacement. Positive displacement includes the expansion and contraction of the cavities inside of the pump. The liquid inside of the cavities are then allowed to leave the pump at a high pressure level. Although there are other pumps that have similar operations, the hydraulic pump is one of the most preferred.
Primary Uses for Hydraulic Pumps
Hydraulic pumps are used for creating very high fluid pressures in order to work efficiently. With that being said, these pumps are typically included in high-powered equipment, such as construction machinery (forklifts, scissor lifts, back hoes), manufacturing equipment, industrial machinery, and elevators.
There are also a variety of pumps. Your use of the pump will determine which kind of hydraulic pump you will need. You may be in need of a gear pump, which is the simplest form of the hydraulic pump. Rotary vane pumps have more power than gear pumps, but are typically used for medium pressures. Screw pumps are typically used at low pressures for high level flows. Radial piston pumps are used for smaller sized flows at high pressures.
Choosing the Right Hydraulic Pump
Hydraulic pumps come in all different varieties. To determine what pump you will need, there are some determining factors you must first figure out. The most common factors are figuring out the needed pressure, the flow rate of the fluids, the power of the pump, efficiency numbers, and the temperature needed for operation.
Hydraulic pumps are essential to carry out specific functions that include moving fluids at high pressures. If you need to use a hydraulic pump, it is important to know what pump you need and the specifications you should meet with the pump.