Introduc*on  to  Hydraulic  Fluids  

At  the  end  of  this  video,  you  should  be  able  to:  
•  List  the  roles  of  a  hydraulic  fluid  
•  Select  which  fluid  proper;es  are  most  important  for  a    specific  applica;on  
•  Explain  the  role  of  fluid  addi;ves  
•  Explain  the  benefits  and  challenges  of  using  water  as  a  hydraulic  fluid  
Hydraulic  Fluids  Serve  Various  Roles:  
•  Primary:  
–  Transmit  Power  

•  Secondary:  
–  Lubrica;on  
–  Sealing  
–  Heat  Transfer  /  Cooling  
Source:  www.hydraulicspneuma;cs.com  
Many  Important  Fluid  Proper*es  
Primary:  
 
Viscosity Bulk Modulus Density
 
• Flow  Resistance   • Compressibility   • Mass  /  Iner;a  
 

Secondary:  
Heat Capacity Vapor Pressure Lubricity
• Thermal  Iner;a   • Cavita;on   • Boundary  Lubrica;on  

Flash Point Oxidation Foaming

• Fire  Hazard   • Oil  Breakdown     • Air  Release  
Specialty  Fluids  &  Addi*ves  
•  Mineral  Oil  Addi;ves:  
–  Oxida;on  &  Corrosion  Resistance  
–  Foaming  Reduc;on  
–  Lubricity  
–  High  Viscosity  Index  
•  Fire  Resistant  Fluids   Source:  www.quintolubric.com  

–  Oil  /  Water  Emulsions  

–  Synthe;c  Fluids  (Phosphate  Esters)  
•  Biodegradable  Fluids  
–  Vegetable  Oil  Base  
–  Polyglycol  Base  
–  Synthe;c  Ester   Source:  www.hydraulicspneuma;cs.com  
Water  Hydraulics?  
•  30X  Lower  Viscosity  
•  Higher  Bulk  Modulus  
•  BeZer  Thermal  Proper;es:    
–  Heat  Capacity  
–  Thermal  Conduc;vity  

But,  
•  100X  Higher  Vapor  Pressure  
•  Poor  Lubricity  
•  Corrosion  
    

Fluid  Compressibility  
At  the  end  of  this  video,  you  should  be  able  to:  
•  Calculate  the  compressibility  of  hydraulic  fluid  
•  Describe  situa;ons  where  fluid  compressibility  is  important  
•  Calculate  the  resonant  frequency  of  a  hydraulic  cylinder  
Hydraulic  Fluid  is  Compressible  
Weight Bulk  Modulus  
  − dP
β=
V,  P   V+dV,  P+dP   dV
V
 β oil ≈ 1.5 − 1.9GPa
β H 0 ≈ 2.2GPa
2

Source:  Huayong  et  al.,  2011,  “Measurement  of  Effec;ve  Fluid  Bulk  
Modulus  in  Hydraulic  System,”  J.  Dyn  Sys  Meas  Control,  v  133.  
Compressibility  Can  Be  Important  
•  Precise  Posi;oning  
•  Resonance  
•  Compressible  Energy  Losses  

P,  V   Piston

Cylinder

Source: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/0180560404021.png
Resonance  of  Long-­‐Slender  Cylinder  
A  

l1 l2
L   Simplifica;ons:  
 l1 + l2 ≈ L
 −ΔV −ΔL 1 ΔF  
= = Spring equation:  ΔF = k ΔL Acap ≈ Arod
V L β A
dropping minus sign
  ΔF β A Natural Frequency:
k= =
ΔL L   keq β A l1 + l2
Considering 2 Oil Columns: ωn = =
m m l1l2
k1 k2 keq
m = m  lowest freq : l = l = L
1 2 2
 keq = k1 + k2   βA
ωn = 2
βA βA l1 + l2 Lm
= + =βA
l1 l2 l1l2
Resonance  Example  
A  

l1 l2
L  

A  =  1.2x10-­‐4  m2  
L  =  0.2  m  
m  =  10  kg  
  βA
ωn = 2
Lm
    

Fluid  Iner+a  
At  the  end  of  this  video,  you  should  be  able  to:  
•  Calculate  the  hydraulic  iner7a  in  a  conductor  
•  Describe  situa7ons  where  fluid  compressibility  is  important  
•  Calculate  the  iner7al  pressure  due  to  a  changing  flow  rate  
Hydraulic  Fluid  has  Iner+a  
A
Assump7ons:  
P1   P2   •  Incompressible  
•  Inviscid  
L

dv
F =m
dt

ρ AL dQ
ΔPA = Highest Inertia:
A dt •  Long Slender Pipe
ρ L dQ Hydraulic  
ΔP = Iner7a  
A dt
Water  Hammer  at  Faucet  
Source: http://www.irrigationdirect.com/

A=π(0.06  m)2=1.13x10-­‐4  m2  

Q  =  10  lit/min  
P1   P2  

L=  10  m  
Close  faucet  in  10  ms  
Find:  Iner7al  Pressure   ΔP = ρ L dQ
A dt