Severe winters and sweltering summers which more and more often occur nowadays are the reason why machinery designers face many difficulties when designing devices which will be serviceable in extreme ambient conditions. Hence, defining the principles and conditions of safe operation of hydraulically driven machines and devices is essential for their designers and operators. For this reasons the author did a series of tests of hydraulic component and systems in thermal shock conditions (cooled-down components were supplied with hot working medium). The experimental tests were carried out in the laboratory of the Chair of
Conditions that prevail during harsh winters and hot summers pose a serious challenge for machine designers building devices suitable for operation in extreme weather. It is essential for the designers and the users to define the principles and conditions for the safe operation of machines and devices with hydraulic drive in low ambient temperatures. Bearing in mind the above, the author tested the hydraulic motors in thermal shock conditions (cold motors were fed with a hot working medium). This enterprise required the design and construction of a specialized stand for testing hydraulic motors, including satellite motors, in thermal shock conditions. The stand was equipped with the apparatus and a system for measuring the temperature of the moving parts of the satellite motor. The experimental tests were conducted in the laboratory of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk University of Technology. The paper presents the results of tests of a correctly and incorrectly operating satellite motor during start-up in thermal shock conditions. The results concerned the course of oil temperatures, temperatures of heated elements, oil pressures, and the pressure drop in the motor. The influence of the oil pressure drop in the motor on its temperature increase was determined. The distributions of the temperature fields of the heated elements of the satellite motor during start-up in thermal shock conditions were derived by means of computer simulation. The utilization of the distribution of the temperature fields of the motor elements enables the evaluation and analysis of the work of this unit. The conducted tests may determine the conditions for the proper operation of hydraulic motors started in thermal shock conditions.
In many machines and devices there are hydraulic drives. They should operate well in various weather conditions, also in low ambient temperatures. Some malfunctions may occur during operation of hydraulic system in a so called “thermal shock condition”, which happens when frozen hydraulic component (e.g. hydraulic pump, motor or directional spool valve) is suddenly supplied with hot oil. Transient thermal state emerges in these conditions. Particular elements of component warm up differently. This results in different thermal expansion of components during warm up, which is changing the size of clearance between cooperating elements. Experimental tests of hydraulic components in low ambient temperatures were conducted in the hydraulic laboratory of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Gdansk University of Technology. They concerned: orbital motors, satellite motors, gear pumps, spool valves (also proportional), piston pumps, and hydraulic cylinders. It was proved, that in thermal shock conditions some malfunctions may occur, especially with large temperature differences between oil and component. Based on results of the tests of hydraulic components and systems start-up in low ambient temperatures, one can perform a change in components design, change the type of material of components elements, and even prepare a proper procedure to be followed during start-up of cold hydraulic components and systems. In the article discusses some designs of hydraulic components resistant to thermal shock, and how to prepare components to work in low temperatures, e.g. by providing system with an additional heater to ensure uniform heating of elements in components. Change in design of hydraulic components resistant to thermal shock conditions can be obtained through computer simulation method. Analytic and computer simulation methods can be used by engineers who design machines and devices that work in low ambient temperatures.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.