TMHP02

Hydraulic
Accumulators
Karl-Erik Rydberg

Linköping University / IEI / Flumes

karl-erik.rydberg@liu.se
Accumulator data and applications
•  Volume: 0.1 – 400 litre
•  Pressure level: 10 – 1000 bar (350 bar)
•  Storing of potential energy
•  Suspension systems
•  Pulsation and chock damping

Karl-Erik Rydberg
Gas loaded accumulators
Bladder and Piston types

Nitrogen-
gas

Karl-Erik Rydberg
 System applications
* Small accumulators, up to 1 litre volume, are commonly
used in suspension systems (vehicles and machineries) and
for pulsation damping (mobile and industrial hydraulic systems).
* Big accumulators are used for energy storage (heavy
vehicles and machineries).

* Industrial processes with varying power consumption.

Energy from acc. The primary power source is
designed according to the system
Power

Average power average power. The power peaks

are handled by the accumulator.
Without accumulator the primary
mover must be sized for max
Working cycle Time system power demands.

Karl-Erik Rydberg
 System with varying load flows

pa
F v+
Safety valves
v-
qp qa qL
pp v+
εp

0
np Time
v-

Accumulator charge when qL < qp, è qp – qL = -qa

Accumulator discharge when qL > qp, è qp + qa = qL
Pump flow: qp > 0 when pamin < pa < pamax; pa = pamax è qp = 0
 Accumulator
steady state
characteristics

⎡ ⎛ p ⎞1/ n ⎤ ⎛ p1 ⎞
1/ n

ΔV = V1 − V2 = V1 ⎢1 − ⎜⎜ 1 ⎟⎟ ⎥

⎢⎣ ⎝ p2 ⎠ ⎥⎦
=> V2 = V1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ p2 ⎠
p1 Adiabatic or p0
V1 = V0
ΔV isothermal
process p1
p0
V0 = 1/ n
n = 1,5 – 2,5
⎛ p1 ⎞
1 − ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ p2 ⎠
Karl-Erik Rydberg
Real accumulator char. - Gas compression

•  Pressure rises
•  Temperature rises

Karl-Erik Rydberg
Real accumulator char. - Heat transfer

•  Pressure falls
•  Temperature falls
•  Time constant?

H
H

Karl-Erik Rydberg
Real accumulator char. - Gas expansion

•  Pressure falls
•  Temperature falls

Karl-Erik Rydberg
Real accumulator char. - Heat transfer

•  Pressure rises
•  Temperature rises

H
H

Karl-Erik Rydberg
Polytropic exponent for real nitrogen (Θ = 20oC, Θ = -25oC)

Karl-Erik Rydberg
Accumulator - Energy capacity
1− n
⎡ ⎤
p1V1 ⎢⎛ p1 ⎞ n
E12 = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − 1⎥ n > 1,0
1 − n ⎢⎝ p2 ⎠ ⎥
⎢⎣ ⎥⎦

P2/p1 = 2,5 P2/p1 = 2,0

Karl-Erik Rydberg
Damping of pressure transients / pulsations

Karl-Erik Rydberg
 Accumulator-Pump-Motor for Energy
Recovering in Hydraulic Boom Control

Karl-Erik Rydberg
 Hydraulic series hybrids with energy
recovering (in acc.) for vehicle appl.
Hydro-mechanical series hybrid for heavy vehicles Hydraulic series hybrid for vhicles

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Hybrid Air; PSA-Citroén-Peugeot
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Hydraulic versus Electric

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Hydraulic accumulators have higher power density (10-20 kW/kg) than electric
batteries (Li-Ion: 0.5 kW/kg), which gives higher energy recovering at fast brakings.
Accumulator applications – Counter balance
system in fork lifter (VECTOR C15 / BT)

Accumulator

Karl-Erik Rydberg