Multi-Outlet Hydraulic Pump Control for Pressure-Decoupled Loads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid power systems with a single pump and multiple actuators face inefficiencies due to the inability to match instantaneous pressure requirements, leading to energy losses and reduced overall efficiency, especially when multiple actuators operate simultaneously at different pressures.
Innovation Solution
A system that couples independent fluid services from a pump or pump/motor to multiple actuators, allowing for complete decoupling of load pressures and enabling each service to operate at the required pressure, with a control system managing valve states and fluid connections to meet operator demands while preventing interactions between load responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pump supplies multiple actuators in parallel, then the system structure is simple, but the pressure requirements of multiple actuators cannot be matched, leading to energy losses
Solution Approach 1:
The single pump is segmented into multiple independent pump services, each capable of operating at different pressures. This allows each service to be matched to specific actuators with corresponding pressure requirements, eliminating the energy losses associated with pressure throttling while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system dynamically switches between different operational modes (single pump mode, multiple pump services mode, pump/motor mode) based on the instantaneous requirements of multiple actuators. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize pressure matching for each actuator while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators operate simultaneously at different pressures, then the system functionality is enhanced, but the overall efficiency reduces to around 30%
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into multiple independently controllable services, each capable of operating at different pressures simultaneously. This segmentation allows multiple actuators to operate at their optimal pressures without throttling losses, maintaining high overall efficiency while enhancing system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pump service is assigned a specific pressure level matched to the requirements of particular actuators. This local quality approach ensures that each actuator receives fluid at the precise pressure needed for its operation, eliminating the 70% efficiency loss that occurs in traditional load sensing systems when multiple actuators operate simultaneously.
3Productivity
If load sensing control is used, then single actuator operation is reasonably efficient, but multiple simultaneous actuators cause poor efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is segmented into multiple independent services that can operate simultaneously at different pressures. This eliminates the fundamental limitation of load sensing systems where a single pressure supply must serve all actuators, thereby preventing throttling losses when multiple actuators operate concurrently while maintaining high efficiency for single actuator operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system provides universal functionality by operating in multiple modes: single pump mode for simple applications, multiple pump services mode for simultaneous multi-actuator operation, and pump/motor mode for energy recovery. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high efficiency across all operating scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets, each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads. A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets connected to one or more of the loads is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.