Hydraulic System

Lesson 2 – The Hydraulic System
Hydraulics is a technology and applied

science using engineering, chemistry, and
other sciences involving the mechanical
properties and use of liquids. At a very basic
level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of
pneumatics, which concerns gases.
Hydraulics allows machines to transmit force

from one point to another using an
incompressible fluid. In most cases, this also
increases the force applied at one end for a given amount of effort.
Hydraulics work on the same principle as the mechanical lever, a simple machine that
functions like a seesaw. If one end of the lever is pushed down, the other end moves up. If
the lever is well designed, then a machine can lift a very heavy object without much effort.
This is especially true when the lever’s fulcrum is close to its load.
With a variety of applications, hydraulic systems are used in all kinds of large and small
industrial settings, as well as buildings, construction equipment, and vehicles. Paper mills,
logging, manufacturing, robotics, and steel processing are leading users of hydraulic equipment.
As an efficient and cost-effective way to create movement or repetition, hydraulic system-based

equipment is hard to top. It’s likely your company has hydraulics in use in one or more
applications for these reasons.
We'll provide more information about hydraulic systems in this article, including covering the
definition and basic designs and components.
Hydraulic System Components

The major components that make up a hydraulic system are the reservoir, pump, valve(s)
and actuator(s) (motor, cylinder, etc.).
Reservoir
The purpose of the hydraulic reservoir is to hold a volume of fluid, transfer heat from the
system, allow solid contaminants to settle and facilitate the release of air and moisture from
the fluid.
Pump
The hydraulic pump transmits mechanical energy into hydraulic energy. This is done by the
movement of fluid which is the transmission medium. There are several types of hydraulic
pumps including gear, vane and piston. All of these pumps have different subtypes intended
for specific applications such as a bent-axis piston pump or a variable displacement vane
pump. All hydraulic pumps work on the same principle, which is to displace fluid volume
against a resistant load or pressure.
Valves
Hydraulic valves are used in a system to start, stop and direct fluid flow. Hydraulic valves
are made up of poppets or spools and can be actuated by means of pneumatic, hydraulic,
electrical, manual or mechanical means.
Actuators
Hydraulic actuators are the end result of Pascal’s law. This is where the hydraulic energy is
converted back to mechanical energy. This can be done through use of a hydraulic cylinder
which converts hydraulic energy into linear motion and work, or a hydraulic motor which
converts hydraulic energy into rotary motion and work. As with hydraulic pumps, hydraulic
cylinders and hydraulic motors have several different subtypes, each intended for specific
design applications.
Hydraulic Circuits
Transporting liquid through a set of interconnected discrete components, a hydraulic circuit is a

system that can control where fluid flows (such as thermodynamic systems), as well as control
fluid pressure (such as hydraulic amplifiers).
The system of a hydraulic circuit works similar to electric circuit theory, using linear and discrete
elements. Hydraulic circuits are often applied in chemical processing (flow systems).
Hydraulic Pumps
Mechanical power is converted into

hydraulic energy using the flow and
pressure of a hydraulic pump. Hydraulic
pumps operate by creating a vacuum at a
pump inlet, forcing liquid from a reservoir
into an inlet line, and to the pump.
Mechanical action sends the liquid to the
pump outlet, and as it does, forces it into
the hydraulic system.
This is an example of Pascal’s Law, which is
foundational to the principle of hydraulics. According
to Pascal’s Law, “A pressure change occurring
anywhere in a confined incompressible fluid is
transmitted throughout the fluid such that the same
change occurs everywhere.”
Pascal's law states that when there is an increase in pressure at any point in a confined fluid,
there is an equal increase at every other point in the container.
Hydraulic Motors
The conversion of hydraulic pressure and flow into torque (or a twisting force) and then
rotation is the function of a hydraulic motor, which is a mechanical actuator.
The use of these is quite adaptable. Along with hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic
pumps, hydraulic motors can be united in a hydraulic drive system. Combined with
hydraulic pumps, the hydraulic motors can create hydraulic transmissions. While some
hydraulic motors run on water, the majority in today’s business operations are powered
by hydraulic fluid, as the ones in your business likely are.
Hydraulic Cylinders
A hydraulic cylinder is a mechanism that converts

energy stored in the hydraulic fluid into a force
used to move the cylinder in a linear direction. It
too has many applications and can be either single
acting or double acting. As part of the complete
hydraulic system, the cylinders initiate the
pressure of the fluid, the flow of which is regulated
by a hydraulic motor.
How does a hydraulic cylinder work?

In a hydraulic device, a hose or pipe connects a cylinder with a small diameter to a cylinder
with a large diameter. Within the pipe is the non-compressible fluid. By applying a force to
the small cylinder, a much greater force is applied to the large cylinder. The force, in this
case, is multiplied by an amount equal to the difference in the area of the cylinder.
When a cylinder of a diameter A1 applies a force of F1, it travels a distance of d1. The
cylinder connected to it with a diameter of A2 will exert a force of F2 and travel a distance of
d2.
Because the force is greater, the distance that the large cylinder moves will be smaller.
Remember that Work is equal to the force applied multiplied by the distance travelled
(W=fd).
The setup of a hydraulic system can allow machines to do some amazing things. You can
connect two cylinders with pipes or a flexible hose across a long distance. This lets you put
the first cylinder in one room, and the second cylinder in another part of a building, easily
transmitting the force around corners or through walls.
Hydraulics are often used for moving parts of mechanical systems that need to lift or push
heavy objects. The landing gear in an aircraft use several hydraulic cylinders to move the
wheels into place and to cushion the aircraft's landing.
What is a hydraulic power unit?
In simple hydraulic systems, the small cylinder has to move a much larger distance than the
large cylinder. That means the small cylinder is limited in the distance it can push or pull. To
make a hydraulic system even more powerful, the small cylinder can be replaced with a
pump. This creates something that works like the small cylinder, but with an infinite “travel
distance.” The pump continues to draw fluid out of a reservoir and pushes the big cylinder
until the reservoir is empty. These hydraulic power units (HPUs) are installed on
construction equipment and heavy lifting rigs. Most large airplanes have HPUs to move the
flaps on wings and rudders. A single HPU can feed dozens of cylinders, limited only by the
pump power and reservoir capacity.
What are hydraulic fluids?
The choice of the fluid inside the hydraulic system is important as it flows under tremendous
pressure, easily thousands of psi (pounds per square inch).
Hydraulic oils are specially formulated so that they function consistently across wide

pressure and temperature ranges. Also, gases do not dissolve into them. This is important
because dissolved gases form bubbles under certain conditions, which can create problems.
Hidden Hydraulics
Hydraulic components are often hidden on machinery. Cars use hydraulics to stop four
tonnes of steel with a light press of your foot (with the help of the brake booster).
Manufacturing and shipping businesses use robots that can lift and move packaging and
other parts using hydraulic-powered arms .

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Lesson 2 – The Hydraulic System

Hydraulics is a technology and applied

Hydraulics allows machines to transmit force

As an efficient and cost-effective way to create movement or repetition, hydraulic system-based

Hydraulic System Components

Transporting liquid through a set of interconnected discrete components, a hydraulic circuit is a

Mechanical power is converted into

A hydraulic cylinder is a mechanism that converts

How does a hydraulic cylinder work?

What is a hydraulic power unit?

What are hydraulic fluids?

Hydraulic oils are specially formulated so that they function consistently across wide

other parts using hydraulic-powered arms .

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