April 2016www.fluidpowerworld.com
Electrohydraulic controls improve ship stability p.40 Understanding proper air preparation p.48 Spotlight on offline filtration p.56
PAGE 32
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Few bright spots for 2016 from economist
2 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Paul J. HeneyEditorial Director
On Twitter @DW_Editor
Sarah Hunter of Oxford Economics painted a less-than-rosy picture at the recent NFPA Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Here’s a recap of some of what she shared with the audience of fluid power manufacturers, distributors and users.
• Growth in the global economy has been barely greater than 2%, which is the slowest growth since 2009, when we had “an outright contraction.” Much of this, she feels, is due to financial stress from the system. And things are not going well in Japan, Europe, Brazil and Russia.
• On the positive side, households are enjoying the low oil prices. Spending is up for households, which will support growth and become a key positive driver again. Property prices are still going up and new houses are being built. Hunter said that if we see a decline in construction or property prices, we could go from an “amber alert” to a “red alert” status for the economy as a whole.
• Quite a few developed economies are already experimenting with what are deemed negative interest rates or negative policy rates. That seems to be the new circuit breaker, and the question is: Will that work?
• For the U.S., Hunter’s firm is calling it “a muffled whistle,” which she said means a weak end to 2015 and a not exactly positive start to 2016. Growth in Q4 of 2015 was less than 1% per annum on an annualized basis. For Q1 of 2016, they will hopefully see things squeaking up toward 2%, but there are downside risks, too, so it likely will be below that number.
• The headwinds for the U.S. are predominantly external, and from two main places. One is weaker global growth; there’s slow growth in China, which makes the news a lot, but it’s a widespread phenomenon. Other emerging markets are struggling, as well. The second is that the U.S. is also having to battle the strengthening of the dollar. The dollar is strengthening against pretty much every currency over the last year or so, and has moved by quite a lot in some cases. That is a challenge because it makes us more expensive compared to everyone else producing elsewhere in the world. This is particularly felt in industry and manufacturing.
• When you dig into the data, only 26% of the manufacturing sector is actually contracting at the moment. The problem is those areas are contracting by a lot and they’re able to pull down the average. It’s not a downturn like it was in 2009, where it was wholesale— everyone was struggling. It’s very targeted at the moment. Because of that, Hunter’s firm doesn’t expect to see a recession across the whole economy. FPW
Editorial 4-16 FPW_Vs2.MD.indd 2 4/13/16 5:01 PM
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EDITORIAL
Editorial Director Paul J. Heney [email protected]@dw_editor
Managing EditorMary [email protected]@dw_marygannon
Associate EditorMike [email protected]@dw_mikesantora
Assistant EditorMichelle [email protected]@wtwh_michelle
Contributing EditorJosh Cosford@FluidPowerTips
Contributing EditorKen [email protected]@fpw_kenkorane
Contributing EditorCarl Dyke@carlindustry
VP, Creative ServicesMark Rook [email protected]@wtwh_graphics
Art DirectorMatthew Claney [email protected]@wtwh_designer
Graphic DesignerAllison [email protected]@wtwh_allison
Traffic ManagerMary Heideloff [email protected]
Production AssociateTracy Powers [email protected]
Director, Audience DevelopmentBruce Sprague [email protected]
4 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016
2011- 2015
www.nfpa.com
MARKETING
Marketing ManagerStacy [email protected]@wtwh_stacy
Marketing and Events CoordinatorJen Kolasky [email protected]@wtwh_jen
Marketing CoordinatorLexi Korsok [email protected]@medtech_lexi
Digital Marketing SpecialistJosh Breuler [email protected]@wtwh_joshb
Digital Marketing InternAly [email protected]@wtwh_aly
APRIL 2016 • vol 3 no 3 • www.fluidpowerworld.com
NEW MEDIA/WEB/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
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Web Development SpecialistPatrick Amigo [email protected]@amigo_patrick
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Digital Media ManagerPatrick [email protected]@wtwhseopatrick
Online CoordinatorJennifer [email protected]@wtwh_jennifer
Digital Marketing SpecialistAndrew [email protected]
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FLUID POWER WORLD does not pass judgment on subjects of controversy nor enter into disputes with or between any individuals or organizations.
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FLUID POWER WORLD does not endorse any products, programs, or services of advertisers or editorial contributors. Copyright© 2016 by WTWH Media, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher.
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Staff Page_Fluid Power World 4-16.Vs3.MD.indd 4 4/13/16 6:08 PM
It has performance capabiliti es uniquely designed to improve and withstandPower applicati on needs. Quniton™ proves to signifi cantly reduce fricti onand eliminate the need for external lubes. It improves the overall assemblyand/or installati on process ulti mately, enhancing system effi ciency. It serves to withstand wear and abrasion with intermitt ent actuati on all while maintaining it’s unique performance capabiliti es.
Power Industry applicati ons: •Safety Valves •Flow & Pressure Control •Process Control Systems Connectors •Pump Diaphragms •Meters •Pumps •Lip Seals •Power Transfer Couplings •Actuati on Cylinders •Motors •Hydraulic Seals •Natural Gas Valves
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16
14
6 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016
ON THE COVER Modern construction machinery relies on electrohydraulic controls and hydraulic hybrid technology to improve efficiency and operations. Image courtesy of Dana Holding Corp.
32
D E PA R T M E N T S
02 Editorial 08 Korane’s Outlook
10 Association Watch
14 Energy Efficiency
16 Design Notes
20 Research & Development
24 Fundamentals
28 Maintenance
30 Training
63 Product World
68 Ad Index
40
48
Apr
il 20
16 Contents | v o l 3 n o 3 | f l u i d p o w e r w o r l d . c o m
48
2015
revenue over $3 million
56
F E AT U R E S
MOBILE HYDRAULICSHydraulics define the evolution of
construction machineryEfficiency and controllability are key choices construc-
tion equipment manufacturers look for in modern hydraulic technologies.
MARINE HYDRAULICSElectrohydraulic controls
improve ship stabilityEven the roughest seas are no match for the power
density, speed and accuracy of hydraulics.
PNEUMATICSWhy you need to understand proper
air preparationPneumatic products, systems, and machines
require clean compressed air to operate efficiently and reliably.
FILTRATIONOffline filtration ensures clean-
running, efficient machinesPortable filter carts and permanently mounted sytems are key tools for keeping your hydraulic fluid contami-nant free. Here’s a rundown on how they work and a
spotlight on several models.
Contents_FPW 4-16_Vs3 MG.indd 6 4/13/16 6:11 PM
Yates 4-16.indd 7 4/13/16 4:17 PM
The looming crisis in hydraulic repairQuality, cost and overall value have always been important considerations when it comes to hydraulic repairs. But some industry experts say the influx of aftermarket replacement parts, mostly from China, have tilted the value scale to the low end—and equipment users are the ultimate losers. As a bit of background, the major-ity of hydraulic repair shops in the U.S. are small, “mom-and-pop” shops that do everything from crimping hose to fixing pumps. They say the big hydraulic component manufacturers generally have viewed them with a laissez-faire attitude in terms of engineering support and availability and price of repair parts. Hydraulics manufacturers counter that small shops rarely invest in the latest technology, test equipment and training to facilitate high-quality repairs.
Regardless of who’s at fault, economic strains in the slow-growth U.S. market have smaller repair companies under pressure to cut costs. And as a result, it created a foothold for low-cost aftermarket parts. “The Chinese presence in the hydraulic component replacement market is enor-mous compared to 10 or 15 years ago,” said Pat Dearmond, director of marketing and sales with hydraulic remanufacturer Engineering Technology Services. “No doubt the aftermarket route can be cheaper,” he said. And unfocused, saturation marketing over the Internet makes anyone a customer. “We worry that in the long run it takes a toll on quality,” he said. “At ETS, we remind custom-ers of the pitfalls and dangers of reverse-engineered components. Every aftermarket part is copied from an original OEM part and has widely varying degrees of di-mensional tolerances. If they’re too high or too low the result is a pump or motor that fails or underperforms.” He has seen problems like porosity, improper-size bearings and out-of-spec material hardness, just to name a few. That leads to repaired units with poor life, compared to those rebuilt using OEM parts.The insidious side of sub-par quality is that many end users don’t even know if a product like a Parker or Rexroth pump gets
8 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworldonline.com
K o r a n e ’s O u t L o o k
Ken Korane • Contributing Editor
repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts. But if it fails in short order, the original manufacturer often gets the blame. The trend toward substan-dard repairs has some users fore-going rebuilds entirely. Though more expensive, when something breaks they simply replace it with a brand new unit. But it’s better than getting burned spending time and money on a repair that quickly fails, and having to do it all over again. Either way, though, it drives up costs. Hydraulics OEMs seem to be coming around to the fact that substandard parts and repairs hurt their bottom line in terms of both brand reputation and market share lost to aftermar-ket suppliers. The question is, will fluid-power OEMs make the investments to ensure widespread availability of original parts, rea-sonable prices, component repair exchange, and 24-hr turnaround? Or will they cede most of the mar-ket to offshore aftermarket manu-facturers? If it’s not addressed in the next few years, it’s ultimately to the detriment of most hydraulics users. FPW
Image courtesy of Engineering Technology Services
Korane column 4-16 FPW_Vs3.MD MG.indd 8 4/13/16 5:05 PM
MANIFOLD WIRING MADE EASY
© Copyright 2016 Bimba Manufacturing Company. All Rights Reserved.
BIMBA BRANDS I ACRO I MEAD I MFD I PNEUMADYNE I TRD
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ASSOCIATION WATCHASSOCIATION WATCH
10 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
The National Fluid Power Association has elected Tricia Fulton, the Chief Financial Officer at Sun Hydraulics, to be the Chair of the Board of Directors for the 2016–17 fiscal year. Fulton is the first woman to hold the position in the Association. The election took place during NFPA’s 2016 Annual Conference in San Antonio in early March. Her appointment will begin July 1. Fulton has been involved with the association for a number of years. She became part of the NFPA Board of Directors in 2012 and was elected to the Executive Committee in 2014. During her time on the Board, she was involved in the Inclusiveness Strategic Task Force. The Task Force set recruiting strategy, particularly aimed at distributors, and also set strategy to increase engagement among existing members, particularly younger professionals. Her other activities include chairing the Future Leaders Network from 2012–14, becoming the first Future Leaders Chair to have a voting seat on the Board, and chairing the Econ & Stats Committee from 2013–15. During her time on the Econ & Stats Committee, a number of committee initiatives broadened the scope of the data available to NFPA members, and increased engagement in the association’s market information services.
Tricia Fulton to Chair NFPA Board of Directors
Edited by: Mike Santora • Associate Editor
NFPA seeks commitments for Proposed Fluid Power and Applied Mechatronics Training and Education Center (FAMTEC)The funding application for FAMTEC is moving forward. If successful, funding through the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) will be awarded and launch a nationwide network of technical and community colleges that provide education and produce qualified candidates for the technical workforce needs of the fluid power industry. Twice before, the NFPA has given notice of its ongoing work in this area. As a result, 19 community colleges and 24 industry members have expressed interest in supporting this activity. The NFPA is now entering a new phase in its planning process. Binding commitments from interested community college and industry partners will be necessary so it can determine the most viable communities for the initial FAMTEC locations and engage the most committed stakeholders in the final planning and grant submission process. This is a major new initiative for the NFPA but, if successful, it has the potential to improve the quality of the fluid power technical workforce in the U.S.
The NFPA has elected Tricia Fulton to be the Chair of the Board of Directors for the 2016–17 fiscal year.
FPW 4-16 Dept Assoc Watch Vs3.MD MG.indd 10 4/13/16 5:13 PM
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ASSOCIATION WATCH
4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 1312 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Fluid Power Innovation and Research Conference The next Fluid Power Innovation and Research Conference (FPIRC) will be held October 10–12, at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis in Minneapolis. The NFPA and the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) invite both industry and academic researchers to submit a short abstract of their work for consideration as a presentation at the conference. Presentations should address fundamental or applied research or innovative development in fluid power or closely related fields. FPIRC will be co-located and held in conjunction with the ASME Dynamic Systems and Controls Conference, October 12–14.
and other engineering topics atwww.engineeringexchange.com
Discuss This
2016 Industry and Economic Outlook ConferenceThe Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC) is an economic event for everyone in the fluid power supply chain. NFPA members and non-members alike are invited to attend. The event will take place August 15–17 at the Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, Ill. Focusing on the opportunities and threats associated with the economy as they relate specifically to the fluid power industry, the IEOC features industry experts that share the hard data
and critical insight needed to help fluid power business leaders translate economic trends into competitive intelligence. Registration for the conference will open in May. FPW
NFPA nfpa.com
The IEOC event will take place August 15–17 at the Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, Ill.
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FPW 4-16 Dept Assoc Watch Vs3.MD MG.indd 12 4/13/16 5:14 PM
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14 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Compressed air fail: Questionable weekend requirement
Ron Marshall • For the Compressed Air Challenge
An equipment parts fabricator was concerned with its high utility costs, so decided to bring in a compressed air auditor to study the compressed air system. An industry downturn had reduced its production demand considerably, so plant management was looking to significantly reduce operating costs. The plant compressor is a 75-hp load/unload controlled unit. A few years ago, a similar compressed air study was done—it showed 24 hour × 5 day per week operation. The new audit showed that the plant compressed air system was now operating on a 24/7 basis. In addition to this, there appeared to be a high-flow, short-duration event occurring every 10 minutes that kept the compressor loaded at a level higher than previous. The auditor questioned why the system was running full time; the plant
maintenance supervisor indicated that there was a special requirement in the boiler room. On investigation, it was found that the plant boiler required a small amount of air, less than 1 cfm for controls. A small 1-hp reciprocating compressor had previously been installed to supply this requirement, but had been removed due to failure. This removal required the 75 hp to run to replace it, and while doing so, all the plant leaks and transient demands had to be supplied too. Calculations showed that running the compressor during the weekend consumed about $12,000 of electricity per year. Purchase of a $500 compressor for boiler control duty could save this consumption. Further to this, due to lower production, the main compressed air could be turned off at night, saving even more energy. The transient demand was investigated and found to be a desiccant air dryer
installed on a laser. This dryer had not been maintained for years and had developed a large leak between towers, due to a valve failure. There were four desiccant air dryers running on a 24/7 basis in the plant even though the associated lasers operated only during daytime hours, sometimes being shut down for extended periods. Plans are to purchase a small compressor and maintain the dryers. These will be turned off when not required. Leakage studies are ongoing and likely to result in significant additional savings. Management is pleased that these kinds of savings were identified. Learn more about compressed air efficiency in our next Compressed Air Challenge seminar in your area. FPW
Compressed Air Challengecompressedairchallenge.org
FPW 4-16 EnergyEfficiency_Vs2.MD.indd 14 4/13/16 5:07 PM
Introducing the New Genuine Metaris® Telescopic CylinderWith major design improvements over other competitors’ cylinders like a bleederless design, a low friction dual lip rod seal and having all stages chrome plated, the Metaris® MH Series Single Acting Telescopic Cylinder is your perfect replacement solution. Our cylinders are engineered for smoother and faster operation, no mis-staging, no seal adjustments are necessary and our dual lip rod seal has a longer seal life than V-packing. The MH Series Cylinders are fit, form and function interchangeable withother manufacturers’ cylinders on the market today.To learn more, give us a call or visit us at METARIS.CoM
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www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 17
DESIGN NOTES Edited by: Mike Santora • Associate Editor
Finn-Power crimpers open new opportunities
Garrett Mine Supply recently changed its name to Garrett Industrial Supply. The
company had decided the change was needed to reflect its product line and services to
industries other than mining. “We started out with just mining products; today we serve paper
manufacturing, timber industry, drilling industry, and repair shops with hose being a fairly large
commodity,” said Jeremy Whitacre, director of operations.
Garrett’s corporate headquarters is located in Oakland, Md., but the company has three stores and a number of welding and repair shops. When the Morgantown location needed to replace an older model crimper, it chose the Finn-Power FP120 for the job.
FP120The Finn-Power FP120 from Lillbacka is a high-speed, high-production model crimper with a crimping force of up to 280 tons. It can adjust and crimp to exact dimensions and can do so in 0.01 mm increments. The FP120 is designed with soft and even die movement, using a twin-
16 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
1
2
1. The FP175 is used when the
operation requires crimping of
very large hoses or reduction of
big pipes. It can also be used
for connecting parts requiring
extremely high forces.
2. With a crimping range of
up to 320 mm, the FP120 is
designed with soft and even
die movement, using a twin-
pump hydraulic system that
eliminates pressure shock dur-
ing crimping. The FP120 is also
operated by push button, pedal
(optional), back stop device, or
using semi-automatic function.
FPW_DESIGN NOTES 4-16_Vs3.MD MG.indd 16 4/13/16 5:26 PM
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 17
pump hydraulic system that eliminates pressure shock during crimping. The FP120 is designed to handle large jobs with speed and efficiency. These models are full-scale production units. What distinguishes them are their larger die opening, strength and speed. These production units can also accommodate small and larger assemblies. The large pass-through head design makes them suitable for crimping elbow assemblies, flange pieces and oddly-shaped parts. In addition, the FP120 also has a versatile control system, flexible changeover from serial to single-piece production, and is operated by push button, pedal (optional), back stop device, or using semi-automatic function. “We purchased the FP120 specifically for hydraulic hose,” said Whitacre. “At that time, we didn’t stock any of the other industrial hoses, and we only serviced the mining industry and MRO operations. That was what the crimper was designed for. When we are crimping hydraulic hose, we only have 0.006 in. in tolerance to crimp the diameter to.”
Efficiency leads to new industries“One of the best features of the FP120 for production crimping is the switch in the backstop that will automatically crimp the hoses,” continued Whitacre. “You just adjust the cycle. If you need to move metal half an inch, there is no need to let the machine fully cycle between each crimp. You can set the cycle parameters so when you crimp it with the switch in the backstop, you are minimizing the travel times for the dies. So you are making the process faster.” But the FP120 also had other uses for Garrett. Since 2011, there has been a dramatic decline in the coal mining market. “As the coal mining business declined, we entered the oil and gas industry and soon realized that our crimping capabilities were not what they needed to be to service that industry. Our machines weren’t big enough.” In late 2011, Garrett purchased a larger FP175 crimper that the company uses on all its industrial hose from 2 to 12 in.
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The FP175 is used when the operation requires crimping of very large hoses or reduction of big pipes. It can be also be used for connecting parts requiring extremely high forces. The FP175 has a crimping range of up to 320 mm, a variety of larger die sets available, horizontal construction available upon request and an included foot pedal. “Each crimp is the same. When it crimps to a certain tolerance, it’s always spot on. It is critical that these hoses are crimped correctly. A failure could be catastrophic, not only in injury, but also environmental cleanup,” said Whitacre.
New capabilities...new opportunitiesWhitacre also explained that the FP175 gave them new capabilities. “When coal started declining in 2011, we were still learning the oil and gas market. Today, there are a many other industries that we can now service, such as construction companies.” FPW
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Wireless control and hydraulics work together to help crane soar
18 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 19
DESIGN NOTES
Tiffin Loader Crane’s primary focus is providing lifting, loading and
handling solutions for material handling problems. The previous system of
wired controls for calibrating and testing truck and rail weighing scales led
to high shock loading and reduced component life. In addition, it made it
difficult to perform fine movements. Proactively seeking wireless solutions
in an industry that does not typically use them, Tiffin installed a custom-
engineered system to better operate its trolley and winch functions. Magnetek and S. G. Morris created a system solution that offers an integrated package of wireless control and hydraulics, allowing for smoother and easier operations. Enhancing equipment performance and simplifying adjustment capabilities were the goals of the new system install on the industrial scale certifying equipment. Scale test and calibration equipment determines the amount of loaded cargo and ensures the load is within road or rail limits. Several turnkey packages are available including enclosed Class 8 Truck van bodies or knuckle-boom
flatbed configurations. Precision weights, which are carried by a mobile transporter in the truck body, are dispatched with trolley and winch systems that raise and lower the carrier and weights to and from the ground; 3,000 to 6,000 and 8,000 lb test carts calibrate the railroad and heavy capacity truck scales. A receiver output energizes the blocking valve, which can impede movement, to allow hydraulics to enable the trolley and winch control valves. An external limit switch is used to break the command signal to the winch coil at the proper time. This prevents the winch function from lifting a load too far and damaging itself. If the e-stop button on the Flex Pro is used, the blocking valve signal is interrupted and inhibits oil from entering the hydraulic control valves. The Flex Pro/MHR wireless radio control system operates the trolley function that transfers the scale carrier and testing weights in and out of the truck trailer. The wireless transmitter allows the operator to run the trolley further from the drop zone than the previous system, integrating a safer design. A Flex
Here, Tiffin’s test carts
calibrate railroad and
heavy capacity truck
scales.
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4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 19
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In this image we see the trolley and winch systems raise and
lower the carrier and weights to and from the ground.
Pro radio remote control incorporates proportional technology and offers precise management and smooth movement of all functions. The MHR controller is easily adjustable, which allows it to be modified to operate correctly with existing valves. Adjustments were made on-site and there were no problems with startup and operation processes. A plug-and-play installation detected and replaced the previous system. The new controls produced smoother tracking and lifting motions for the trolley and winch as well as softer acceleration and deceleration movements for the truck ramp. Steadier movements decreased the risk of dropped loads and potential damage to equipment. The system improvement included simpler adjustment and training periods, which diminished the necessary on-site repairs. Tiffin was trained to modify the system without using a computer, which allowed the company to save time and money. Sourcing for Tiffin was eased by S. G. Morris’ integration of a complete hydraulic system, including Magnetek’s wireless controls. FPW
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RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
20 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Setting The Standard For Solar Storage
Pneumatic systems are notoriously inefficient. Granted, in recent years researchers and manufacturers alike have made great strides in increasing energy efficiency in fluid-power systems to improve sustainability and save money. Such innovations range from no-leak systems and high-flow valves to low-friction cylinder seals and variable-speed compressor drives. But such advances are often incremental at best. Now, researchers at Vanderbilt University hope to double the efficiency of common pneumatic actuators by recovering and reusing energy that is currently wasted. In a project termed Pneumatic Exhaust Gas Recovery, sponsored by the NFPA, graduate student Tyler Gibson detailed the research in a recent webcast hosted by the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power. The primary goal of this research is to develop a way to retrofit current pneumatic systems and improve their efficiency, and keep costs lower than electric alternatives. The motivation of this research is quite simple, said Gibson. Pneumatic equipment consumes roughly 0.5 Quads (0.5 quadrillion BTUs) of energy annually in the U.S. and that correlates to $10B worth of energy per year. But the average efficiency of industrial pneumatic systems is only about 15%, so billions of dollars are wasted annually due to inefficiency.
Raising efficiency from 15 to 30% would correlate to $1.5B in annual savings, according to a 2012 Dept. of Energy report. Thus, there is enormous room for improvement with significant resulting benefits. Researchers are exploring several methods to boost pneumatic efficiency. The main effort to date involves exhaust gas recovery, with work headed by graduate PhD candidate Joshua Cummins and undergraduate Christopher Nash. Pressurized air exiting a pneumatic cylinder—which typically vents to atmosphere—is instead routed to an accumulator where it is efficiently captured as strain energy,
Converting pneumatic exhaustinto hard cash
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Ken Korane • Contributing Editor
Strain-energy accumulator with quick-disconnect fitting
Image courtesy of Joshua Cummins and Eric Barth, presented during the CCEFP Webcast 17 June 2015. NSF Grant EEC-0540834.
FPW_Research 4-16_ Vs2.MD.indd 20 4/13/16 5:45 PM
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 21
and then reused as necessary in other pneumatic processes. In essence, a strain-energy accumulator (SEA) is a rubber accumulator housed in a rigid cylindrical container. The SEA attaches to the exhaust port of a pneumatic system and inflates like a balloon to store the still-pressurized exhaust gas. In a basic two-cylinder system, high-pressure plant air would power the first cylinder, and its exhaust would flow to the SEA. The stored gas would then be ported as needed to a second cylinder to do more work. And, in fact, SEAs have been used to power secondary pneumatic systems at pressures lower than the primary actuators, said Gibson. In theory, another accumulator and a third cylinder could be powered by the second, and so on.
In addition, electrically controlled valves can meter flow from the accumula-tor so the secondary process uses only the required gas, and not completely exhaust each cycle. The rest would be saved for another actuation. (View a circuit at enfieldtech.com.) Maximum energy efficiency would theoretically increase 33% using exhaust gas recovery. But even a 20% increase would result in significant savings in pneumatic power, said Gibson. Such a system does create backpressure in the primary cylinder, explained Eric Barth, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt and the project advisor. But pneumatic automation systems run at either too high a pressure, or are locally regulated down to a lower pressure to save energy. “Our
system is an alternative to either of these where the system would be running on the correct differential pressure between the supply and the ‘backpressure’ of the accumulator. Tests have shown that our system can save more energy than the regulator method,” he said. And an SEA does not affect the speed or force of the first cylinder. In a two-cylinder arrangement, the system can be sized for a wide range of operating pressures that depend on the specific process. Barth envisions many practical industrial applications. “Nearly any system with multiple pneumatic actuators could be retrofitted with this technology to save energy,” he said. In one recent application, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign demonstrated a pneumatic
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A related idea being pursued is a dynamic Pneumatic Elastomeric Accumulator (dPEA). A dPEA combines a boost converter and an accumulator, using the latter as an energy-storage element. It’s analogous to an electrical Ćuk converter. Researchers plan to build and test systems and validate models. If successful, they’ll install such converters on real-world equipment to gage actual improvements in pneumatic efficiency. FPW
Pneumatic exhaust gas recovery demonstrator Image courtesy of Joshua Cummins and Eric Barth, presented during the CCEFP Webcast 17 June 2015. NSF
Grant EEC-0540834.
powered ankle-foot orthosis with an SEA that reportedly increased device efficiency by 25%. Further testing on various industrial systems is forthcoming, said Gibson. A second, alternative approach to the SEA method is to dynamically convert exhaust to usable energy, although those efforts are mainly theoretical at this point, said Gibson. One proposed device is a pneumatic boost converter, which would convert low-pressure, high-flow exhaust energy into high-pressure, low-flow air that can be directly fed back into the supply line. It is analogous to an electrical dc-to-dc boost converter, but instead of using an inductor, switch and diode that boosts voltage by storing energy in the inductor, the pneumatic equivalent would use an inertia (possibly a small piston), valve and check valve. They’re currently modeling the concept in Simulink and hope to draw conclusions soon.
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24 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
How do you select a vacuum cup?When it comes to gripping and moving anything from cola cans to car fenders, vacuum cups on end-of-arm tooling are incredibly versatile devices in many automated handling systems. They come in countless types, sizes, constructions and materials to suit widely varying applications. Here are some general engineering considerations for choosing the right one for a particular task.
Ken Korane • Contributing EditorFUNDAMENTALS
Construction. Suction cups are available in various geometries, such as simple, circular types for general-purpose handling; extra-deep cups for round or highly curved surfaces; and oval shapes for picking up long and narrow products. These cups often include molded-in structural details like exterior reinforcing ribs for added strength or interior nubs for better contact with a mating part.
Shape. Suction cups come in two general shapes, flat and bel-lows. Flat vacuum cups are best for handling workpieces with flat or slightly curved surfaces, such as metal and glass plates, plastic sheets and wooden boards. Properly designed, they have good rigidity and stability to handle high shear forces and can withstand forces and accelerations from fast automated-handling movements.
The B75P suction cup from Piab is an example of a bellows cup.
Bellows suction cups, on the other hand, have one or more accordion-like convolutions. This lets them compensate for varying workpiece heights and handle parts with uneven surfaces. Evacuat-ing the bellows also creates a lifting action that can be useful to lightly grip fragile parts, like electronic parts or even chocolate candy. Bellows versions are typically used for handling curved parts like car body panels, pipes and tubes, injected molded plastic parts, and non-rigid packaged goods or shrink-wrapped products.
Interior volume. A corollary to cup shape is its interior volume. That’s important because this is the volume that must be evacuated to create a vacuum—and the holding force—to actually grip and pick up a workpiece. Flat cups have a relatively small inner volume and, thus, evacuate quickly and can grip in a short time. The total inner volume of all the cups in a system, as well as that of tubing and connectors, must be added to determine the total volume of the gripper system. From there, engineers can calculate the evacuation time based on vacuum flow capacity and, ultimately, how quickly the system can pick up a part. Finally, also
consider how long it takes to supply air to the cup, to purge the vacuum and
release the workpiece.
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FUNDAMENTALS
Materials. Vacuum cup suppliers offer a wide variety of options to suit specific application requirements. Typical examples include nitrile rubber (NBR) that’s economi-cal, offers excellent oil resistance and is a first choice for general-purpose applica-tions; silicone for food-grade applications; natural rubber for handling wood; poly-urethane for excellent wear resistance and high strength; and fluoroelastomers for high chemical and weathering resistance. Other common materials include options like PVC and EPDM, as well as proprietary formulations from specialty chemical manufacturers. Some come in anti-static versions for handling electronics.
Environment. Depending on the ap-plication and setting, suction cups might need to tolerate rough or porous surfaces or withstand ozone, oils, washdown sol-vents or steam. Operating and workpiece temperatures can be a concern, too. Some silicone products, for example, offer a tem-perature operating range from around −20 to 350° F (−30 to 180° C) and fluoroelasto-mers to nearly 400° F (200° C).
Of course, in addition to selecting the type of suction cup, engineers need to deter-mine the holding force based on param-eters like cup size, vacuum level, ambient air pressure, leakage rates, product weight, workpiece surface coefficient of friction, and the magnitude and direction of loads and accelerations. We’ll address those next month. FPW
26 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016
This SAXM suction pad from Schmalz is an example of a flat vacuum cup. Here, it handles sheet-metal parts.
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Edited by: Paul J. Heney • Editorial DirectorMAINTENANCE
Heat in a hydraulic system can be confusing because of our limited capacity to relate to the temperatures involved. Just because you can’t hold your hand on it, it doesn’t mean it’s classified as hot, and to put it in perspective, hydraulic oil viscosity is specified at 100° F. As temperature rises, oxidation rate accelerates and lubricity deteriorates. Of primary importance to a hydraulic system is ensuring oil is within its optimal viscosity range, and depending on the fluid chosen, this could mean a temperature range anywhere between 100 and 140° F. Although choosing oil with higher viscosity will prevent it from thinning out “as the heat gets hot,” it can’t prevent oxidation or other issues such as varnish. It’s best to keep your oil cool, relatively speaking. A well designed, efficient hydraulic system will not require a hydraulic cooler. If your system uses a load-sensing variable displacement piston pump, unless heat is being added through the environment, there is little need for an externally
28 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
What heat means to your hydraulic systemplumbed cooler. These systems will waste minimal energy in providing your machine with the right amount of pressure and flow required at that moment. However, because of the cost and complexity of a load-sensing system, these systems are sadly rare. Using an extra-large reservoir may reduce your requirement for a cooler, but because of size and space limitations (especially on mobile machinery), giant tanks are rarely an option. A cooler is any device that can take the heat generated by or added to a hydraulic system, and dissipate it to the environment. The two primary types are liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid. A basic liquid-to-air cooler is simply a radiator; essentially a spot heater with no fan, but conducts heat from the oil to its atmospheric surroundings. By adding the convection effect of forced-air, a fan blowing across the cooler increases its cooling capacity exponentially. Forced-air coolers are the most common style, as they come in a wide range of sizes, and are
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FPW Maintenance 4-16_Vs4.MD MG.indd 28 4/13/16 6:00 PM
What heat means to your hydraulic system
available in dc voltage for mobile machinery, or high-voltage for industrial environments. The quality of the heat exchanger itself can vary vastly as well, ranging from the tube-and-fin type you see on the transmission oil cooler of a pickup truck to the high-flow welded aluminum types you find on a Spring Cup car. If you want to ramp up the cooling power in a smaller space, the most efficient cooler is the liquid-to-liquid. Water is vastly more efficient at transferring heat, so any cooler that allows oil heat to conduct to coolant heat will provide maximum cooling effectiveness. The downside, of course, is that you need continuous coolant or water flow. If you’re a steel mill sucking in tons of river water every second, you probably don’t mind. But if you’re a small machine shop, you probably don’t want to hook a garden
hose up to your cooler just to keep your machine’s draw bar cylinder cool on a hot day, so liquid-to-liquid is just not an option. And just as with forced-air coolers, the quality of a liquid-to-liquid cooler varies significantly. The basic shell-and-tube cooler is still highly efficient, because of the thermal conductivity of water, but you have to throw a lot more water at them to get them to perform well. The most efficient coolers are the brazed plate type, which are extremely effective at transferring heat. Regardless of your method in oil cooling, what is important is to keep it within a reasonable window of viscosity while preventing the damage that occurs at high temperature. FPW
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 29
Industrial hydraulic oil coolers, like this
BOL series, help dissipate system heat
into the environment. The BOL series is
available for air-to-oil or water-to-oil
cooling in brazed aluminum plate and
bar or brazed plate construction,
respectively. Image courtesy of Thermal Transfer Products, an API Heat Transfer Co.
UPDATED 3/27/2015 4:00 PM FPW Maintenance 4-16_Vs4.MD MG.indd 29 4/13/16 5:58 PM
TRAINING
30 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
David Marlowe • Owner/CEO • DMAR Technical Training and DMAR Business Centers USA
• Section 1: The transfer of mechanical energy into fluid velocity/fluid power • Section 2: The regulation of fluid power through the use of various valves • Section 3: The conversion of fluid power to mechanical energy by the use of an actuator
Section 1 • Power source: engine, electric motor, air motor • Pump: vane, gear, rotary screw or piston
To understand how work is accomplished, one must first understand that it is nothing more than a transfer of electrical energy (electric motor) to mechanical energy (motor shaft to pump shaft) to fluid power (potential energy) to the cylinder/motor where the potential is converted
The basics of hydraulic circuitryTo date, we have discussed everything up to the discharge side of the hydraulic pump. In the last article we discussed the importance of a thoroughly thought-out, planned and executed proactive maintenance program and the benefits of maintaining the system instead of just operating it. Now, we will explore hydraulic circuitry by breaking the typical fluid power system into three general sections.
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David Marlowe • Owner/CEO • DMAR Technical Training and DMAR Business Centers USA
to kinetic energy which provides work (Force × Movement = Work).
Energy being defined as: “the ability to do work”Work is defined as: Force × Distance
In both dynamic and positive displacement pumps, the same action is accomplished by converting the mechanical energy to velocity into the fluid being pumped. Positive displacement pumps, such as the gear, vane, rotary screw and piston types, are used almost entirely in industrial fluid power systems—where pressure is more important than volume.
Section 2 • Pressure control valve: relief valve, pressure reducing or bypass valves • Flow control valves: needle, non- compensated or compensated valves • Directional control valves: 2-way, 3-way, 4-way or 5-way valves
Fluid power is only present in a system when the fluid is in motion and has a higher pressure than atmospheric. The amount of fluid power flowing in a pipe is directly proportional to its gauge pressure (measured in psi) and the rate of its flow (measured in gpm). Various valves are used to regulate maxi-mum pressure and flow rate. Pressure con-trol valves include the relief valve (safety), pressure reducing and bypass valves. Flow control valves regulate the flow by restrict-ing the flow such as the needle or flow control valve. In a system using a cylinder, the flow must be directed to either side of the pis-ton to allow the piston to extend or retract the cylinder rod. This action can only be accomplished by reversing the flow to each side of the piston. Here, a directional control valve—which is 2-way, 3-way or 4-way—is used.
Section 3 • Mechanical power outlet: hydraulic motor, cylinder or rotary actuators
Because fluid power is not often used in its fluid state, it must be converted into mechani-cal energy to accomplish work either in a linear or rotary motion. Fluid from the pump is converted into motion to complete the work. Cylinders are the most common choice, as they are used in linear applications. In rotary applications, users most often use hydraulic motors, which are available in gear, vane and piston styles, as well as the less commonly used gerotor or gerolor (orbital or roller star). The least com-mon component is the rotary actuator, which is specifically used in high-torque, heavy-duty motion applications.
The simplest hydraulic systemA simple jacking system (bottle jack) is a hydraulic system that creates a high force (100 tons) at a very slow speed. The primary function of the bottle jack is to multiply and transmit force. A one-piece unit, the jacking system consists of a reservoir, hand pump, ram and valving—all contained in a common enclosure (housing). Although the bottle jack is a basic hydraulic system design, it transfers energy from the energy source to the work piece just like the more advanced hydraulic systems. FPW
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32 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Mobile machinery can use different types of drive technology to increase fuel efficiency, such as the Spicer PowerBoost hydraulic hybrid system.
Image courtesy of Dana Holding Corp.
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Hydraulics define the evolution of construction machinery
4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 33
If you asked my 20-year-old self to describe the typical day on a construction site, I’d probably have described the stereotypical scene: five guys standing around watching a sixth dig a ditch. Even if there was ever any truth to that statement, I have a hard time believing the mammoth construction industry could survive if it didn’t keep pace with the rest of the exponentially advancing modern world. A critical piece of the construction puzzle is the machinery used to make the work faster, safer and more efficient. Excavators, loaders, graders and dump trucks are common at every construction site, and some of these machines rely on hydraulics for every part of their operation, including the drive wheels in most cases. Although the case for hydraulics in off-highway machinery is strong even without the influence of technology, construction companies want to do the job faster and more efficiently.
Josh CosfordContributing Editor
Efficiency and controllability are key choices
construction equipment manufacturers look
for in modern hydraulic technologies.
FPW_Mobile Construction_4-16_Vs6 MG.MD.indd 33 4/14/16 12:08 PM
development of supplier related equipment for Wärtsilä during his previous employ-ment at Denison Hydraulics and Parker Hannifin. I asked Leusden what he feels are the current popular trends in hydraulic technol-ogy for construction equipment. “Currently, there is a very strong development of control by wire instead of the conservative direct control,” he said. “The reason for this is electronics are easier to implement, and manufacturing costs are decreasing with the amount of products becoming available. “Manufacturers of construction equip-ment are also focusing on cutting costs dur-ing manufacturing of their machinery, and a great part in which costs can be reduced is the assembly of machinery components. In addition, manufacturers of construction equipment components have realized being able to offer plug-and-play solutions greatly enhances selling opportunities. Nowadays, suppliers offer electronic solutions for is-sues that could not have been dealt with hydraulically, such as with hitch control (EHR electrohydraulic hitch control),” Leusden
Although my knowledge of fluid power is decent, I’m no construction industry ex-pert. To help me with this specialty, I’ve em-ployed the help of Wouter Leusden. Leusden started his career as an electrical engineer, but soon found himself incapable of solving non-electrical related issues. He took the op-portunity to study mechanical engineering, and soon found a job as a service engineer on board vessels equipped with hydraulic driven cargo pumps, where his experience guided his fluid power career. At Bosch Rexroth, Leusden specialized in safety of machinery and European Guide-lines, and part of his extensive training was product driven. Next to designing the safety related control systems, he had the op-portunity to present his knowledge at trade fairs, and also trained customers as well as colleagues in machine safety. At present, he works for Wärtsilä as product warranty manager, which requires that he supports all departments involved in product sales, development and so on, with market information gained in the warranty period. Also, he has been closely involved in
34 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
continued. EHR provides benefits to trac-tors, such as improved highway perfor-mance when the tractor is hitched to an implement, and reduces soil compaction on sensitive fields.
The advantage of power densityThe mobile hydraulic industry prides itself in using high-pressure systems to take ad-vantage of the power density of hydraulics, which is the primary reason construction machinery relies exclusively on hydraulic actuators. I asked Leusden what the cur-rent standard for construction machinery hydraulic pressure is, and where he sees it going in the future. “Power density is directly related to effort of equipment manufacturers to minimize space and weight and at the same time be able to increase the power capac-ity,” he said. “Component suppliers are able to offer pumps that can handle higher pres-sures while being able to save on weight and dimensions. The current standard rises up to 450 bar nominal pressure for closed circuit pumps.
Electronic controls, including joysticks, controllers and displays, help encourage safe and reliable operation of mobile machinery. These JS1-H joysticks from Danfoss are designed for heavy-duty mobile machinery.
M O B I L E H Y D R A U L I C S
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M O B I L E H Y D R A U L I C S
“Inaddition,componentsuppliersaredevelopingproductsbasedonthemarketrequirementsinsteadofequipmentsuppli-ersdesigningaccordingtowhatsupplierscanoffer,”Leusdencontinued.“Powerden-sityisnottheonlypositivedevelopment,aselectrohydraulicdynamicsarebecomingmoreimportant.Therealizationofstable,dynamicallyefficientelectrohydrauliccontrolsystemswillprovideusersmoreprecisecultivationandsmootheroperation,increasingsafetywhileprovidinglesswearandtearofauxiliaryequipment.”
Electronic controlsTheindustrialhydraulicmachinemarkethaslongbeenintegratedwithadvancedelec-tronicsinthecontroloffluidpower,whichwasanaturalevolutionsinceindustrialhydraulicshavelongbeenelectricallyoper-ated.Iaskedhimifconstructionmachineryhasadoptedelectroniccontrolinthesamewayindustrialhydraulicshas,andifthereisanypotentialforelectricpumpcontrol,suchaswithaservomotorandfixedpumpcombination.
“Infact,duetothelowcostofelec-troniccontrolsonpumpsinparticular,manufacturersofpumpsareabletoofferpumpcontrolsthatnormallyaretakencareofbyseparatevalves,thuseliminatingtheneedofextraequipment,andalsosavingoncustomercosts,”Leusdensaid.“Thisknowledgeisdirectlyderivedfromtheexperiencecomponentmanufacturershavegainedfromtheindustrialsolutions. “Animportantpartofthesedevelop-mentsistheimplementationofsafety-relatedcontrolsystems,whicharealreadycommonlyusedinindustrial(hydraulic)controls.Equipmentonmobileplatformsisregardedas‘machines’accordingtothedefinitionoftheEuropeanMachineryDirective2006/42EC.Toreducerisks(andliabilityofmanufacturers),safety-relatedcontrolsystemsarebecomingpartofmo-bilemachineryaswell.TheEuropeanDirec-tiveonMachineryforcesmanufacturestolookatthestateoftheart.Withelectrical/hydraulicsafetyrelatedcomponentsavail-ableonthemarketspecificallydesignedtoprotectpersonnelandalsobystandersfrom
risks,mobilemachineryequipmentmanu-facturersareabletocombineelectroniccontrolswithacertainlevelofreliability. “Thisreliabilityisestablishedbythemanufacturerofthecomponentsbymeansoftestand/orsimulationoffaults,”hecon-tinued.“Inaddition,performancehistoryofcomponentsisusedtodeterminethereliabilityaswell.Often,thesecomponentsperformthetasks(processandsafety)withouttheuseofadditionalequipment.Asimpleexampleisanelectronicjoystickconnectedtoacontrollerthatactivatesahydraulicvalve.Whenanoperatorletsgoofthejoystickduetoasafetybreechinthesurroundingareaoftheconstructionmachine,thecontrollerwillde-energizethepowertothehydraulicvalvesafelyandthevalvewillreturntoasafe,de-energizedpo-sitioncreatingasafestopofthemachine. “Thereliabilityofthecompleteloop—joystick,controllerandvalve—canbeevaluatedwiththesafetystandardISO13849.Thereliabilityofthecomponentsintheloopisthencalculatedandaso-calledPerformanceLevel(PL)isderived.TheheightofthePerformanceLevel(atoe)istomatchtherequiredPerformanceLevel(PLr)setduringtheobligatoryriskassess-
36 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Hydraulic hybrid technology, like Dana Corp.’s Spicer Power-Boost system, encourages machine energy efficiency, par-ticularly in machines like front loaders. In turn, this advanced solution provides lower costs by reducing fuel consumption considerably. This is done by capturing otherwise wasted energy and putting it to work in the vehicle.
FPW_Mobile Construction_4-16_Vs6 MG.MD.indd 36 4/13/16 3:36 PM
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M O B I L E H Y D R A U L I C S
ment. If all is done well, the manufacturer of the construction equipment has done everything in his power to manufacture a safe machine corresponding to the environ-ment in which it is to be used. Included in the manufacturer’s evaluation is also the reasonably foreseen misuse of the ma-chinery. The risk assessment can be done also with the use of a standard, ISO 12100. Needless to say, these two standards make a strong duo. “The cherry on the cake is that these two standards are also harmonized under the European Machinery Directive, which actually means that the use of these standards gives the manufacturer of the equipment a presumption of conformity ac-cording to the Machinery Directive require-ments,” Leusden concluded.
Hybrid technology on the rise Because construction machinery are mostly wheeled vehicles, I posit that some form
of hybrid technology would be beneficial to the construction industry, especially because of the rapid stop/start cycles of equipment such as front-end loaders. I asked Leusden if he agrees with my
assumption that there is a future in hybrid-ization in the construction industry, either with hydro-pneumatic accumulators, or perhaps electric hybridization, to which he responded:
38 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Dana Corp. has tested its Spicer PowerBoost hydraulic hybrid technology on a va-riety of machines, including a Manitou MLT960 Eco-Booster 6-ton telehandler ma-chine. Results showed a reduced fuel consumption averaging 15% across a range of duty cycles when compared with the standard MTL960 configuration.
Bosch Rexroth uses its advanced hydraulics solutions, including its EHR electrohydraulic hitch control to assist with space and energy consumption of modern continuously variable transmissions (CVT).
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“The future is here already! Bosch Rexroth, for example, can deliver hydrau-lic drive solutions with CVT (continuously variable transmissions) specifically devel-oped for energy savings. Another type of energy saving principle is the use of the flywheel with which suppliers are not only able to save on fuel consumption, but also able to meet the regulatory requirements such as TIER 4 final and Euro Stage IV.” In this application, the flywheel is spun up to speed by absorbing inertial energy from the machine, such as has been used on F1 cars. Other examples of hybridization have already been developed in garbage trucks. They use a combination of a central pump/motor and hydro-pneumatic accumulators. The accumulator(s) will provide extra energy to the pump/motor—which is attached to
the transmission—during acceleration. During braking, the fluid then pumps back into the accumulator(s), storing energy that would typically just be lost as heat from the vehicles brakes. This type of hybrid system can be seen on front-end loaders as well. Finally, I gave Leusden the chance to peer into his crystal ball, and tell me what he sees coming in the next 20 years of con-struction equipment technology. “Hydraulics in the construction indus-try will continue to be more safe, more reliable and especially more fuel efficient,” he predicted. “Main drivers for this are the regulatory requirements on safety, fuel consumption and total cost of ownership. The latter point will trigger (if not already present) suppliers of parts and equipment to develop components that last longer, need less service and are more robust.
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 39
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With technology evolving, suppliers also will develop tools to troubleshoot the equipment from distance through the Internet. With being able to monitor or even control equipment remotely, security of data and control will follow suit.” So it’s clear hydraulically driven construc-tion machinery will not only stay current, but also lead some other industries in the use of electronics and other technologies. So much depends economically and environmentally, that obsolescence is just not an option. FPW
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Electrohydraulic controls improve ship stability
40 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Imag
e: is
tock
phot
o.co
m
Even the roughest seas are no match for the power density,
speed and accuracy of hydraulics.
M A R I N E H Y D R A U L I C S
Richard Meyerhoefer Regional Applications Specialist
Delta Computer Systems
Marine Hydraulics_Vs3.MD.indd 40 4/14/16 1:03 PM
For more than a century, large ships have used
stabilizing fins to smooth out their ride through rolling seas.
The force that fins produce is related to the angle of the fin
and the speed of the vessel through the water (Figure 1).
Fin systems are typically moved by hydraulics (Figure 2) and
require active control. They are designed to use the speed
of the sea water (while the ship is under way) to generate
stabilizing force. This same force must be overcome by the
hydraulics if the fin is to change direction. The traditional way of controlling these devices is to use rotating distributors, small electric motors that produce sinusoidal electric drive to operate variable-delivery hydraulic pumps. The pumps connect to cylinders, which move the fins in a cyclic motion. More recently, PLCs have been employed to drive proportional hydraulic valves. Typically, the fin controls have been designed and supplied by the manufacturer of the fin, but one control system integrator, Pinfabb SRL of Genoa, Italy, has made a business of retrofitting new fin control systems to improve the performance of older fins’ controls. Pinfabb was the first company in the world to implement digital stabilizer control technology back in 1994, and today is the only company producing stabilizer controls that reduce ships’ energy consumption by saving fuel.
Problems with controlling stabilizer finsControlling the fins can be a difficult task, due to the following factors: • Though the two fins that are typically used on a ship are controlled independently—with two different hydraulic power units—their motion must be synchronized to keep the ship stabilized. Otherwise, the comfort on board could deteriorate, and safety could be compromised as well. • The stabilizer fins are large and heavy pieces of equipment (6 to 15 tons each, depending on ship size), but to stabilize the ship as it rolls in the sea, they need to move very accurately and quickly—up to 15 to 20° per second. • The stabilizing fins are typically not balanced. If the hydraulic unit that operates a fin is switched off, the fin will fall to the maximum downward angle. This is an important factor to consider in calibrating the fin position for the controller. • Finally, consider the fact that the fins must be able to be extended outside the ship during navigation in rolling seas, but stowed so as not to create drag at other times. If there is a problem with a fin that makes it unable to retract, the ship will be unable to dock at the next port and the smooth sailing of the vessel may otherwise be affected.
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Finding a motion controllerThese stabilization control issues are well understood by Pinfabb’s experienced engineering team. The company has been upgrading open-loop fin controls with closed-loop electronic controllers for years, and began looking for a better control system that offered higher performance and more precise operation. The Pinfabb engineers first tried using PLCs to control variable speed hydraulic pumps, but found that this method couldn’t move the fins fast enough—or with adequate precision to meet their energy-saving design goals. Then Pinfabb CTO Matt Fabbricotti tried some board-level computers as controllers for the hydraulics, but he wasn’t fully satisfied by these. Fabbricotti looked for a reliable controller with some special capabilities for electrohydraulic controls. Discussions with his local hydraulics distributor brought him to the RMC-75E from Delta Computer Systems. As the Delta controller can control two motion axes simultaneously, only one motion controller unit was required to handle the positioning of both fins. Fabbricotti installed the controller directly on one of his customers’ ships and was quickly able to get it working. “This was the moment when I decided
to implement the RMC-75E motion controller on all our products,” he said. “Its ease of use, reliability and the easy way that the motion of the axes can be plotted and adjusted using Delta’s software, together with the large amount of control settings that are supported by the controller, made me fall in love with this product.” In the Pinfabb system, the RMC75E can get its position feedback for the stabilizing fins from different sources. Because the system the company installs is a retrofit to whatever fin controls were previously in place, the sensors that are used can vary depending on what type of mechanical connection to the fins the Pinfabb designers can achieve. Often, position information comes from potentiometers connected with the rotational movement (up and down) of the fin, but sometimes rotary encoders and linear transducers are used.
The role of the PCThe motion controller (Figure 3) connects to an industrial PC that evaluates the data regarding the ship motion. The Pinfabb PC uses this data to optimize the fin angle in a way that permits the ship to lose less energy as it travels compared to using traditional fin control. The PC computes the most optimum angle of attack that the fins must have, and then sends motion instructions to the RMC through Ethernet. In turn, the motion controller rotates the fin by activating a proportional valve that operates a cylinder, called the tilting cylinder, which moves the fin up and down, changing its angle. In some cases (depending on the manufacturer of the fin system), rotation is done using a hydraulic vane motor, which is mounted inside the fin and acts like a bi-directional rotating piston. Pinfabb’s industrial PC (which contains an Intel i7 processor, 16 GB RAM and 128-GB solid-state disk) is also connected to hydraulic pressure and fluid level sensors, which it uses
M A R I N E H Y D R A U L I C S
42 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Figure 1. The force that stabilizer fins apply to act against the rolling effect of the sea is related to the fin angle and increases as the speed of the vessel increases.
Figure 2. A view of the hydraulic plant inside the ship (within the red oval).
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M A R I N E H Y D R A U L I C S
44 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016
Figure 3. The Pinfabb ship stabilizer control panel, showing the RMC75E motion controller at right. Also shown from the left are the 24-Vdc power supply (used to power the RMC75 and the proportional valves), an Ethernet switch (used to connect the RMC75 and the automation panels with the industrial PC), and a 12-Vdc and 5-Vdc power supply (used to power the fin angle feedback and acceleration sensors). Above the RMC is the angular acceleration sensor that is used to monitor the ship’s movement.
to monitor the plant and inform the operators of any alarms or malfunctions. The PC also manages the rigging in and out of the fins. When the fins are not used by the crew, they are kept inside two pockets made in the hull, so that they do not affect the hydrodynamic performance of the vessel. When the stabilizing fins are needed, the PC issues the command to rotate them into position. Precise angular positioning of the fins by the RMC75 at 0° is critically important to support the retraction operation, as the hole in the hull leaves a clearance of just 6° (±3°) for the fin as it is stowed.
Compensating for problems with aging hydraulicsThe mark of a good retrofit is to leave as much of the underlying mechanical structure intact as possible. This can save a lot of cost versus buying and installing new mechanical components. To enable such cost savings, the RMC controller’s closed-loop control algorithms can compensate for hydraulic systems that show signs of wear. For example, the older fin hydraulics that Pinfabb’s new controls must operate are typically more challenging to control than newer hydraulic components in maintaining the fin at the zero angle. Additionally, there could be some oil leakage from inside an older fin piston that could affect the positioning of the fin. “With RMC, we were able to control fins that have some serious problems (like leakages) without the owner needing to spend money restoring the mechanical side,” said Fabricotti. “The RMC is fast and can be really well adjusted to optimize the piston movements.”
Marine Hydraulics_Vs3.MD.indd 44 4/13/16 6:23 PM
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M A R I N E H Y D R A U L I C S
The RMC75E controller is programmed and the motion is tuned using Delta’s software package called RMCTools. “Programming the RMC is very easy and intuitive,” said Fabricotti. “We used Delta’s Plot Manager software to produce motion plots that show us how the fins are moving and how we could make them move better.”
Energy savings and reliability While providing a smoother ride for passengers and cargo, the use of stabilizers also reduces the ship cruise speed, which costs energy. In particular, the ship can be slowed and energy can be wasted when the
Figure 4. The Pinfabb PC displays fin angles and how well the stabilizer system is working on a screen on the ship’s bridge and in the ship’s engine control room.
fins are set at too great an angle or when they are moved at the wrong times. The key to minimizing the energy penalty is operating the stabilizing fins precisely and smoothly in all conditions and at all speeds. The Pinfabb team has measured the energy required to propel a ship using conventional fin controls, and with the new closed-loop electrohydraulic motion controller in place. The results show that the energy required to move the ship at a given speed is significantly less with the system incorporating the RMC75E. “And, just as important, the new control system has proven to be highly reliable,” said Fabbricotti. “We work in an
environment that is very stressful, so it is important for us and for our customers to have confidence in the motion controller used.” FPW
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Why you need to understand proper air preparation
48 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
A I R P R E P A R A T I O N
Pneumatic products, systems, and machines
require clean compressed air to operate
efficiently and reliably.
Michael Guelker Product ManagerPneumatic Actuators and Air Supply ProductsFesto
Potential Captions
1. For the high-res file, called “Image of Air Preparation assembly with Handling system and valve terminal”
· “”
2. For the file “Image of Air Preparation assembly for End of Arm tooling”
· “Air Preparation assembly containing two filters, regulator, safety shutoff valve, safety exhaust valve, a pressure sensor and distribution block. It provides air to end of arm tooling on a robot. The safety exhaust valve dumps the air pressure to the tooling in an emergency situation, which may be triggered by an E-Stop button or a light curtain sensor.”
3. For the file “Image of Air Preparation assembly for Woodcutting machine”
Air Prep 4-16_Vs5.MD.indd 48 4/14/16 1:52 PM
Particles, water and oils in compressed
air reduce the service life and functionality of
components and systems. They also impair
productivity and energy efficiency. Being aware of
how to achieve proper compressed air quality—and
the filters needed to achieve the recommended
air quality for common industrial applications—is
critical to a well-run plant.
Air preparationThere are three variables to air preparation: compressed air purity, compressed air quantity (flow) and air pressure. Depending on the system requirements, coordinating these three variables ensures a high compressed air quality and forms the basis for selecting the proper service unit components. The required compressed air purity increases both the running performance and the efficiency of pneumatic systems and can ensure compliance with legal specifications in industries such as the food and beverage industry. The flow quantity is largely determined by flow cross sections and the design dimensions of the machine. In general, provided the design is the same, larger components have higher flow rates. Optimized operating pressure increases the efficiency, minimizes wear and reduces power consumption. To coordinate the compressed air purity, compressed air quantity, and pressure for the specifications of a system, the correct individual components must be selected. These components include on/off valves, pressure build-up valves, pressure regulators, water separators, filters and drying units.
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4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 51
Why filtering is necessaryAtmospheric air contains dust and dirt particles, not to mention considerable amounts of moisture in the form of humidity. The air produced by a compressor will be hot, wet and dirty. So the first step is to filter out these contaminants, starting with removing the moisture. This is typically achieved with a refrigerated dryer next to the compressor, which simply cools the air to just above freezing (~3˚ C) and removes the liquid that condenses. If the contaminanats are not filtered out, trouble-free operation of the system components, like valves and cylinders, cannot be guaranteed in the long term. Poorly-prepared compressed air can cause seals to swell and wear prematurely, and contaminate control valves. As a result, the right compressed air preparation is essential for reducing machine downtime and idle periods, and for reducing maintenance and energy costs. To help everyone communicate in the same language regarding air quality, international standard ISO 8573 was established in 2010 with definitions
for compressed air quality. The air quality is defined with Class ratings for three types of contaminants: solid particles, water condensate content, and oil content. The Classes range from 1 to 9, with the lower numbers representing higher air purity. It specifies the maximum permissible levels of contamination and particle sizes for the respective quality classes. The Air Quality Class will help you identify what type of filter, or combination of filters, is needed.
Best Practices—filtration for
common applicationsFollowing are some common applications with the corresponding Air Quality Class, and the type of filtration.
Standard automation components such as valves and cylinders • Quality Class 7.4.4—40 µm filterProportional valves, compact valves, pneumatic tools • Quality Class 6.4.4—5 µm filterPrimary packaging, reduction of odors and oil vapors • Quality Class 1.4.1—5, 1 and 0.01 µm, and active carbon filtersSemiconductor industry, pharmaceutical products • Quality Class 1.3.1—5, 1 and 0.01 µm, and active carbon filters, membrane dryer
The required Air Quality Class or level of filtration is often defined by standard industry guidelines or best practices. Most manufacturers of air preparation equipment can provide reference documentation that define the air quality requirements for different applications and industries. Once you have identified the ideal air purity class for the application, then choose the filters and dryers that are most appropriate. The following provides filter and dryer guidelines.
Filter types and when to use themThere are different types of filter components for removing contaminants such as solid particles, liquid water and water vapor, and oil vapors, as well as odorants and even bacteria
A I R P R E P A R A T I O N
50 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
ISO 8573-1.2010
Class
Solid particles Water Oil
Max. number of particles per m3
0.1 — 0.5 µm 0.5 — 1 µm 1 — 5 µm
Massconcentration
mg/m3
Vapor pressure dew point∘C
Liquid
g/m3
Total oil content (liquid, aerosol and vapor)
mg/m3
0 Stricter requirements than Class 1, defined by the device user
1 ≤ 20,000 ≤ 400 ≤ 10 — ≤ −70 — 0.01
2 ≤ 400,000 ≤ 6,000 ≤ 100 — ≤ −40 — 0.1
3 — ≤ 90,000 ≤ 1,000 — ≤ −20 — 1
4 — — ≤ 10,000 – ≤ +3 — 5
5 — — ≤ 100,000 — ≤ +7 — —
6 — — — ≤ 5 ≤ +10 — —
7 — — — 5 - 10 — ≤ 0.5 —
8 — — — — — 0.5 - 5 —
9 — — — — — 5 - 10 —
X — — — > 10 — > 10 > 10
7. 4. 4For example, the purity class for standard pneumatics at Festo is 7.4.4
7 = The class for solid particles4 = The class for water4 = The class or oil
Air Prep 4-16_Vs5.MD.indd 50 4/13/16 6:43 PM
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A I R P R E P A R A T I O N
and viruses. For most automation applications, the focus is to remove solid particles and water.
Water separators remove condensate, either with a centrifugal design or a coalescing principle. • A centrifugal separator causes rotary motion in the air, forcing particles to accelerate in a radial outward movement. Once they reach the outside, they drain into the bowl. Centrifugal separators are effective for removing water droplets and dust and dirt particles greater than 5 µm. No maintenance is required for this process. • A coalescing separator flows the air from the inside to the outside of the filter element. These filter cartridges must be replaced regularly.
Filters are used to remove particles, condensate and oil. • Coarse/particulate filters have a pore size of 5 to 40 µm. The air flows past a centrifugal separator and then through the filter element.
The filter elements are often a sintered material, like polyethylene or bronze. • Fine and micro filters remove particles smaller than 1 µm, 0.01 µm. The air flows through the filter cartridges from the inside to the outside. Solid particles get stuck in the filter cartridge, clogging it up. Fluid particles, such as condensate or oil, coalesce or attach to larger droplets, which flow off and are caught in the filter bowl. It is important to cascade your filters to avoid premature clogging of the filter element. For example, if 1-µm filtration is needed, we recommend a 5-µm filter upstream so that the 1-µm filter does not become clogged with larger particles. • Activated carbon filters bond hydrocarbon residue, odorants and oil vapors. They are used to remove odors, in applications such as food packaging and handling pharmaceutical products. • Sterile filters ensure that the air is free of germs.
This air preparation assemblycontains a filter, multiple manifold pressure regulators, manual and electrical on/off valve, and a pres-sure sensor. It provides air to multiple valve terminals, which control various different actuators that move and clamp wood while the sawing process is performed.
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Dryers are used to remove water vapors beyond the capability of the fine and micro coalescing filters, and are classified according to the pres-sure dew point that can be achieved. The pres-sure dew point defines the temperature to which compressed air can be cooled without the water in it condensing. If the temperature is below the pressure dew point, condensate will form. Even if the temperature is subsequently increased, this condensate will remain and can lead to corrosion of components. • Refrigeration dryers are commonly located downstream from the plant’s air compressor. The air is cooled to just above freezing in a cooling unit, and the condensate that falls off is drained away. The pressure dew point achieved is around 3° C. To avoid condensation, it is recommended that the pressure dew point needs to be 10° C below the ambient temperature. A refrigeration dryer is sufficient for systems whose operating temperature never drops below 13° C. • Membrane dryers lower the pressure dew point, for example by 20° C. The air flows longitudinally through a bundle of parallel, hollow fibers. During this process, water vapor diffuses because of a partial pressure drop from the inside of the fibers to the outside. The vapor is drained out using purge air. Due to the purge air, the maintenance-free membrane dryer has a certain amount of constant bleed/air consumption. • Adsorption dryers are used when pressure dew points of −40 to −70° C are required. The dryers use molecular forces to bond gas or vapor molecules to a drying agent, such as desiccant beads. Since the drying agent is regenerative, two chambers are required; while drying takes place in one, in the other, the drying agent has time for cold or warm regeneration. In devices with cold regeneration, some of the dried air is used to dry the adhesion agent. When warm regeneration is used, the water evaporates as heat is applied. The drying agent must be replaced periodically, for example after 8,000 hours of service.
There are a few different types of drains available for filter units: • Manual-condensate—is drained manually by twisting the drain plug. These require a regular maintenance schedule, for example once per shift.
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Conference2016TechnologyFluid Power
Presented by
J U N E 2 1 - 2 2 , 2 0 1 6M i l wa u ke e S c h o o l o f E n g i n e e r i n g ’ s Ke r n C e n t e r
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I n t r o d u c t i o n t o h yd ra u l i c s p a r t I I
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F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t : f l u i d p o w e r t e c h c o n f e r e n c e . c o m
Carl Dyke, CD Industrial Group
Tom Wanke, MSOE
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Expert Presenters
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FP Tech Conference 3-16_Vs3.indd 54 4/13/16 6:46 PM
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 55
A I R P R E P A R A T I O N
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When to replace a filter elementTomaintainefficientoperationoffilters,thefilterelementsneedtobereplacedperiodically.Howfrequentlythisneedstobedonedependsonvariableslikethequalityofthesupplyairandthehoursofoperationofthemachine.Youcanidentifyapreventivemaintenanceschedule—forexample,toreplacefilterelementseverysixmonths.Amorereliablemethodistousedifferentialpressuresensors,whichmeasurethepressuredrop
betweenafilter’ssupplyandoutputpressure,whichindicatewhenthefilterisbecomingclogged.ThesecanbeelectricalsensorsthatsendasignaltoaPLC,whichcanthenalerttheoperator.Theycanalsobevisualindicatorsonthefilterunititself,wheretheindicatormayshowagreencolorwhenthefilterelementiscleanandaredcolorwhenthefilterelementiscloggingupandneedstobereplaced. Mostpnuematicscompaniesoffercompletelyassembledandtestedairpreparationassemblies,whichmakesorderingandinstallationofairqualitysystemsfastandeasy.Idenfitytherequiredfiltrationorclassesrequiredandworkwithatrustedsuppliertoensurehigherairquailtyandachievelowesttotalcostofownership. FPW
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F I L T R A T I O N
56 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
Portable filter carts and permanently
mounted systems are key tools for keeping your hydraulic fluid contaminant free. Here’s a rundown on how they work and a spotlight on
several models.
FPW_Offline Filtration_4-16_Vs4 MG.MD.indd 56 4/14/16 10:48 AM
Mary C. Gannon • Managing Editor
Without a doubt, clean hydraulic fluid is the ultimate lifeblood of a hydraulic system. Contamination
can reduce efficiency and possibly destroy machinery. That’s why many companies invest in offline filtration
systems, commonly referred to as filter carts or kidney loop systems, for the external filtration of hydraulic
fluids. Although traditionally used only when filtration was required occasionally—or before introducing
new fluids into a system— they are now becoming a crucial part of reliability programs.
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 57
Offline filtration ensures clean-running,
efficient machines
Their function is simple: they clean fluid and pre-vent contamination. Offline filtration supplements online filters, such as return line and pressure line filters, in conditioning and cleaning a reservoir. However, filtration does not always work the way it is supposed to. If inadequately sized or left off completely, filtration can quickly fail, allowing dirt particulates and water into the system. If there isn’t room for online filters as an
aftermarket add-on, said Tony Grythe, EVP, MP Filtri, offline filtration is needed to ensure target cleanliness. Don Krause, general manager, FlowEzy Filters, added that the portability of the
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FPW_Offline Filtration_4-16_Vs4 MG.MD.indd 57 4/13/16 6:48 PM
filter cart is what makes it so valuable to plants or machines that have improper filters. “The beauty of a filter cart is that it is portable. You can clean one machine and then wheel it to the next machine, and so on,” Krause said. “Using portable filtration units to clean process fluids is a very economical way to go. Sure, you can keep changing filters in the system as needed, but then you would have to shut down the system to do that. If you are using a filter cart, you don’t necessarily have to shut the system down. All you have to do is keep recycling the fluid in the system to meet the cleanliness level you desire.” Grythe added that offline filtration is becoming a stable part of most reliability and preventative and predictive maintenance programs. Here, personnel monitor systems and trend data to identify potential problems. Permanently mounted systems improve reservoir cleanliness while portable filters quickly react to a potential contamination-related issue. “Currently, filter carts are being used on a regular basis to maintain optimal fluid cleanliness, rather than in the past when the filter cart might have only been brought out when a problem was identified,” Grythe said. “At that point, it may have already been too late to prevent a catastrophic failure if contaminants had made their way into sensi-tive components of the system. Filter carts remain a key tool in both identifying as well as resolving fluid issues before a major system issue occurs.”
Portable or permanent?The portable filter cart is probably one of the most commonly used offline filtration systems, said Krause. These devices work simply by drawing the fluid out of the reservoir and running it through the filters on the filter cart and then introducing it back into the machine in a different location in the reservoir. “You can put any filters on the cart you need to achieve the cleanliness level required for the application,” Krause said. “And some-times you may need to have a water removal filter on your filter cart. wFilter carts generally use two, or sometimes three, different size filter elements in series before re-introducing the fluid back into the system.” Grythe added that in addition to the filter cart, permanently mounted systems are also common. These are typically mounted to a panel and then either directly on the reservoir or somewhere nearby. Jarrod Potteiger, Des-Case educational services manager, agreed, saying he’s seen a significant increase in the use of permanently mounted kidney loop filtration compared to previous years, when people were using portable filter carts, either periodically or as needed. “I believe this is due to the cost associated with periodically mov-ing portable filtration units from one machine to another as well as the realization that continually maintaining fluid cleanliness provides much better results than intermittent filtration,” Potteiger said. Another growing trend, he said, is “the repurposing of portable filtration from on-demand decontamination to a standard means of transferring clean fluid from storage to service.”
F I L T R A T I O N
Filter cart with ICM The GRF502 series filter cart with inline contamination monitoring is suited for oil transfer from bulk drums to tank as well as reservoir clean up. The suction side features a 90-µm wire mesh element while the discharge side features a 10-µm absolute rated (ßx ≥ 1,000) high-capacity cartridge element. Choice of 3, 6, 10 and 25 µm elements are also available. It comes with a 1-hp, 115-Vac, 1-phase TEFC motor with motor start/stop, cord and plug. A rugged 5-gpm gear pump features an integral relief valve. Wire reinforced clear suction and discharge hose comes with stainless steel wands up to 25 ft. The frame is a steel, two-wheel cart with pneumatic tires for easy transport. Mounted inline contamination monitoring (ICM) unit measures fluid cleanliness. Water and temperature sensor is optional.
MP Filtri mpfiltri.com
1
58 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
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Is new oil clean oil? Just because hydraulic fluid is new doesn’t mean it’s clean. A lot of fluids suffer contami-nation in transport, so many manufacturers recommend filtration before putting new fluid into a system. “Filter carts are also used to introduce new fluid to the system,” Krause said. “We know that from experience, if the filtration breaks down, the system will break down. Proper filtration is an investment and offline filtration is added security to that investment.” This idea is termed “Roll-off Cleanliness” and is practiced more now than a few years back, said Dan Zoller, group product manager, Filter Systems at Hydac and Schroeder. “Roll-off Cleanliness is the term for cleaning a hydrau-lic system before it is shipped to a customer (trucks and ag equipment, for example),” he said. “Our customers have found that clean systems/fluids will reduce the breakdown rate
Hand-held filter The OF7 hand-held kidney loop filter is suitable for transferring and filtering new fluids, maintaining fluid cleanliness and cleaning hydraulic systems after repairs. It features one spin-on element for easy change and choice of 3, 5, 10 and 20 µm elements or water absorbing elements. It is rated for 2.5 or 4 gpm flow rates and up to 4,600 SUS maximum viscosity. It weighs just 27.5 lb without the optional contamination sensor and comes standard with a 110-Vac and 24-Vdc motor; pneumatic motor is optional.
Hydac hydac-na.com
2
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 59
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in the first month dramatically and reduce warranty costs.”
Discover your contamination level Kidney loop systems fitted with a contamina-tion sensor are becoming the norm, too. This is helping users extend the service life of their equipment. “The need to measure the actual fluid cleanliness has become more important. While portable contamination sensors provide a solution, customers like the combination of a contamination sensor with the cart or kidney loop system,” said Zoller. “We have seen an increase in filter carts and kidney loop systems
that have a contamination sensor integrated. Some systems allow the automatic shutdown when target ISO codes are reached and for the collection of data for maintenance records.” Grythe added that this goes hand-in-hand with the growing awareness by reliability departments that filtration is a key part of their reliability program. “With the addition of reliability departments, we have seen an increase in a need to meet the goals and benchmarks set by the facilities’ quality programs. This has necessitated a new addi-tion to the offline filtration product portfolio,” Grythe said. “Filter carts and offline filter
F I L T R A T I O N
Portable oil transfer and filter systemThe Flow Ezy filter cart easily transfers fluids from drums and storage tanks to system reservoirs for fluid conditioning. It recirculates system oil without having to shut down the system and is available with an optional third-stage 3-µm water removal filter. It easily cleans up contam-inated hydraulic oils and can be moved from machinery to machinery. Standard filters include 25 and 10 µm in series with other options available. It comes with the option of a 5- or 10-gpm rated pump.
Flow Ezy Filters flowezyfilters.com
Asset management filtration station AMFS filter carts with integrated contamina-tion and water saturation sensors feature an automatic shut-off of unit when selected ISO target levels are reached. They come with two filters, with 18- or 27-in. housings for high dirt holding capacity in series for staged filtration with choice of 3, 5, 10 or 25 µm elements and a water absorbing element. Modular base eliminates connec-tions between components and minimizes leakage. Base-ported filter provides easy element service from the top. It offers a flow rate of 5 gpm and maximum viscosity of 1,000 SUS. A touch-screen terminal with pull-down menus for programming allows for automatic collection and record keeping of fluid contamination data in MS Excel spreadsheet. By-pass valve allows cart to be used as a transfer cart.
Schroeder Industries schroederindustries.com
4
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units are now being fitted with contamina-tion monitors that can analyze the particle size and distribution in the fluid as well as the water content. “This has become important to com-panies that want to track the condition of their equipment. In the past, it was just assumed that offline filtration was clean-ing up the system; however, it was not known at that time what the condition of the oil actually was,” he continued. “With a contamination monitor, the operator can visually see the cleanliness class of the fluid and water concentration. He or she then knows if the filter cart has done its job and can log the condition of the fluid when complete.”
Don’t be fooled by priceSpace is always a premium in any industrial setting. So smaller units are always entering the market. Smaller can sometimes mean less expensive, but these smaller units could be so loaded with extra accessories that you may be paying for more than you need. Manufacturers warn users not to base a selection on price alone. “Fifteen years ago, a simple filter cart was used to clean and transfer fluids. Today, we see more and more companies offering filter carts with all the bells and whistles and getting away from simple, lower cost, filter carts that will get the job done effi-ciently,” said Krause. “Do your due diligence
Kidney loop systems
fitted with a contamination
sensor are becoming the
norm, too. This is helping
users extend the service
life of their equipment.
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FPW_Offline Filtration_4-16_Vs4 MG.MD.indd 61 4/14/16 2:09 PM
in shopping for filter carts. Always compare pricing to make sure you aren’t paying for something you have no use for.” For example, he said, be careful when select-ing a cart that contains a number of extras, such as various sample ports, bypass valves, cord reels, relief valves, fancy gauges, ISO quick disconnects, various pump and motor sizes and hose reels. Of-
ten on carts like these, the cost is much higher. Grythe also cautioned against shopping
based on low prices alone instead of looking at the actual specifica-tions and whether they will work for their application. This could result in many filter carts being undersized for the application.
“It has happened many times that a customer will receive a filter cart for use with their high viscos-ity gearbox oils, but it has spin-on filter elements that are under-sized,” Grythe said. “If the filters are already at 50%+ of indication range at clean startup, they are
62 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
and other engineering topics atwww.engineeringexchange.com
Discuss This
F I L T R A T I O N
5Portable filter cartPortable, offline filtration system is suitable for mineral-based industrial fluids and a wide range
of applications including decontaminating systems, flushing new or repaired systems, dispensing oil, pre-filtering new oil, evacuating used oil, topping off reservoirs and collecting oil samples for analysis. It comes standard with an automatic pressure relief valve and dual-stage filtration. It features 12-ft hose assemblies with various quick connect options and pneumatic wheels. Flow rates, filter bypass, hose-end connection sizes and types, and more
can be customized. Micron ratings of filters are also customizable, with choices of Beta 200 at 3, 6, 12 and 25 µm, as well as water removal filters. Other micron ratings are available by request.
Des-Case Corp.Descase.com
not even using half of the filter elements’ dirt-holding capacity and will be changing filter elements quite frequently.” Usually, it is the companies that are conscious of the importance of a good reli-ability program and the ability to trend and measure data to prevent failures before they occur that have a better handle on their filtration requirements. “These companies are aware that a larger filter means longer service interval, and that the ability to monitor the fluid condition while transferring and filter-ing at the same time is invaluable in their predictive program,” Grythe said. “We have seen OEM manufacturers that are able to save tens of millions of dollars per year in contamination-related warranty claims just by implementing a strictly regimented fluid cleanliness program in their manufactur-ing facilities, which includes contamina-tion monitoring and offline filtration. This positive trend has made users aware of the importance of selecting the offline filter based on what is needed for the application rather than on price alone.” FPW
FPW_Offline Filtration_4-16_Vs4 MG.MD.indd 62 4/14/16 1:12 PM
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 63
PRODUCT WORLDPRODUCT WORLD
Bent-axis motorDanfoss Power Solutionspowersolutions.danfoss.com
The H1B210 is available with DIN and SAE flange, and has a rated high-
speed capability of 3,850 rpm at 20% motor displacement. The maximum
working pressure is 450 bar. The new frame also offers competitive shaft
speeds, an integrated loop flushing device, and an optional integrated
speed sensor. The H1B210 frame is intended for applications with high
installed power, such as forwarders, harvesters, combines, crawlers
and shredders. The new frame size also enables customers to use a
cost-efficient drop-box transmission for high corner-power applications,
including wheel loaders, dumpers and telehandlers.
Modular valve systemLinde Hydraulics linde-hydraulics.com
The VT1 modular system allows for up to seven
user functions. Each function is controlled by
a high-pressure directional spool valve, with
possibilities to include secondary pressure and
flow controls. The modular system also allows for
flows of up to 600 L/min per function and 420 bar
nominal pressure. It is convertible between the
hydraulic and electro-hydraulic version whenever
required.
FPW_Product World_4-16_Vs6.MD.indd 63 4/14/16 9:49 AM
PRODUCT WORLD
64 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016
Bellows suction cupsFIPAfipa.com
Made of oil-, ozone-, and wear-
resistant polyurethane composite
material, SP-BX series Varioflex
bellows suction cups feature a
dimensionally stable body (60°
shore) that prevents buckling over
a broad range of shear forces,
and a soft, extremely low-marking
sealing lip (30° shore) that delivers
a perfect seal on surfaces ranging
from oil-free metal sheets to hot
injection-molded plastics. SP-BX1
cups are available in diameters
spanning 16 to 160 mm and have have 1.5 bellows to compensate for material
height differences. Available in diameters spanning 16 to 77 mm, SP-BX2 series
Varioflex bellows suction cups have 2.5 bellows to accommodate material handling
applications that require both height and angle compensation.
Maintenance-free rotary vacuum pumpsPiscopisco.com
Rotary Vacuum Pumps achieve long-
term maintenance-free operation (3 years, 24/7) through the use of super engineered
plastic. Furthermore, minimum clearance between the rotor and cylinder wall of the
pump results in a virtually contactless design and a reduction in sliding parts. The
fully balanced design of the pumps provides minimal vibration (approximately 1⁄10
the vibration of competitor models) and exceptional accuracy. Other features include
virtually silent noise levels (<58 dB [50 Hz]), lightweight (23 lb), compact
(4.9 × 15.6 × 7.1 in.) and low energy consumption.
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www.fluidpowerworldonline.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 65
Pressure transmittersTT Electronicsttelectronics.com
TPL series pressure transmitters offer 0.5 to 4.5 V ratiometric
output and a ±0.25% non-linearity, hysteresis and repeatability
specification (BFSL) over a wide operating temperature range
of -40 to 125° C. Gauge pressure is detected using a four-arm,
active strain-gauge bridge incorporating highly stable resistors.
The resistors are fused to a high purity ceramic element and
changes in pressure on that element result in bridge voltage
changes, conditioned by onboard processing electronics.
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Linear position sensorsAlliance Sensor Groupalliancesensors.com
ME series sensors can withstand intense shocks and vibration,
and operating temperatures up to 85° C for standard products
and 125° C for custom units. ME sensors use a simple coil
design rather than “time-of-flight” technology or resistive
film. They are available in full ranges from 2 to 36 in. (50 to
900 mm) with either analog dc voltage or current outputs, a
linearity error less than or equal to ±0.1% of Full Scale Output,
and a -3 dB frequency response of 500 Hz. The sensors are for
embedded use in measuring the ram position
of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders
in industrial, mobile or subsea
applications.
66 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
PRODUCT WORLD
Cordless hydraulic pumpEnerpacenerpac.com
Enerpac’s XC-series cordless pumps are now available in
both single-acting and double-acting valve configurations.
Featuring a lightweight design with integrated handle and
carrying strap, the pumps can be easily transported from
job to job. They also feature a unique bladder reservoir
that eliminates venting, prevents contamination and
provides leak-free operation in any position. XC-series
pumps are also equipped with an efficient electric motor
powered by an industrial grade 28-volt, Lithium-Ion
battery. XC-series cordless pumps will actuate a hydraulic
tool as fast as a basic electric powered pump and create
up to 10,000 psi of pressure.
Electronic valve driversHydraForcehydraforce.com
HydraForce has expanded its family of electronic valve drivers with
the addition of the ECDR-0506A—a 6-input, 5-output proportional
valve controller. The ECDR-0506A is the third in the HydraForce
lineup or proportional valve drivers—joining the one-output EVDR-
0101A and the two-output EVDR-0201A.
It’s ideal for streamlining the control of hydraulic proportional
valves used for transmission control, fan drives, steering, joysticks
or attachments. All three valve drivers are easy to configure without
writing code, using free HF-Impulse software.
FPW_Product World_4-16_Vs6.MD.indd 66 4/14/16 1:15 PM
www.fluidpowerworld.com 4 • 2016 FLUID POWER WORLD 67
For further information about products on these pages visit the Fluid Power World website @ www.fluidpowerworldonline.com
Top-ported medium pressure filterSchroeder Industriesschroederindustries.com
The aluminum-bodied GHHF has all the features
of Schroeder’s smaller GH filter, in a higher-
flow size. Suitable for charging large hydrostatic
transmission circuits as well as surge locations
in open circuits where traditional spin-on filters
fail, the GHHF is designed to match traditional
spin-on assembly porting and mounting
patterns. It has a max flow rating of 100 gpm
and a max operating pressure of 725 psi, with
both visual and electrical indicator options.
Double-acting piston sealTrelleborg Sealing Solutionstss.trelleborg.com
The Zurcon Glyd Ring D incorporates two special grooves
in the D-shaped profile of the seal to sustain an oil film
for sufficient lubrication of the seal against its counter
surface, ensuring adequate friction. It is manufactured
from Zurcon Z13 polyurethane (PU) material, which has
been specially developed to cope with pressures of up
to 500 bar (7,250 psi) at both sides of the seal and at
temperatures up to 120° C (248° F). This gives the seal
long life, even under demanding conditions. Offering
superb mechanical and elastic properties, the seal loses
none of its resilience over time and can be used in hydraulic cylinders
with lower quality inner walls.
Miniature vacuum switchesPiabpiab.com
Specially designed to facilitate vacuum sensing in decentralized ejector based systems,
Piab’s miniaturized vacuum switches VS4015/VS4016 (plastic) and VS4118/VS4128
(metal) are available with either push-in or thread connections. These switches are
versatile and easy to use in vacuum sensing applications. Also available is a T-adapter,
enabling multiple vacuum switches to be connected in series with one common output.
The durable, digital output vacuum switches are delivered pre-set, eliminating risk of
human error during installation or operation.
FPW_Product World_4-16_Vs6.MD.indd 67 4/14/16 9:50 AM
68 FLUID POWER WORLD 4 • 2016 www.fluidpowerworld.com
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Co-Founder, VP SalesMike Emich508.446.1823 [email protected]@wtwh_memic
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April 2016
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Electrohydraulic controls improve ship stability p.40 Understanding proper air preparation p.48 Spotlight on offline filtration p.56
PAGE 32
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