Just like any other system, the hydraulic system will fail from time to time. However, these system accidents can usually be prevented through proper maintenance and early routine inspections. Although the hydraulic system is very reliable, the premise is that it is well maintained, and poor maintenance will lead to high maintenance costs. Here we give three common "signs" before system failures:
1. The oil temperature rises
When the system cannot dissipate heat through the fuel tank or the heat load of the system increases, the temperature of the oil will be higher than 80°C.
High temperature will cause the viscosity of the oil in the tank to decrease, thereby reducing lubrication and possibly causing various leaks.
On the other hand, high temperature will cause the oil to oxidize, which in turn will increase the viscosity of the oil and the formation of deposits and paint films. The increase in viscosity will affect the flow ability of the oil.
Installing a fluid alarm and effectively lubricating system components will help prevent thermal damage. Therefore, the heat exchanger must be checked regularly to remove the debris around the fuel tank.
2. Abnormal noise
Noise is an indicator of aeration or cavitation. One of the pollution forms of hydraulic oil is the mixing of gas in the oil. The air in the oil makes a shocking knock or impact sound as the air is compressed or decompressed.
Aeration can cause overheating, burning of seals, and loss of lubrication, which can damage system components.
Air is mainly mixed in through the inlet of the pump. You can try to prevent it. The main thing is to ensure that the liquid level is not too low, check whether the pump suction line is in good condition, and whether all clamps and accessories are in a tight state.
In addition, when any part of the system has a higher fluid demand than the system's supply, cavitation may occur. It may cause noise, metal corrosion, oil pollution, and worse, directly cause mechanical failure of system components.
Cavitation mainly occurs in hydraulic pumps. Therefore, you must ensure that your inlet filter is not clogged, and replace old and damaged suction pipes in time.
3. The actuator moves slowly
The speed loss of the actuator is caused by external or internal leakage.
Internal leakage will generate heat and pressure drop. We can use an infrared thermometer to check components that may have internal leaks. However, in order to improve efficiency, it may be better to use flow test equipment.