Performance Benefits Offered by Hydraulic-Oil Coolers
Heat kills hydraulic systems. That’s why hydraulic oil coolers are widely used in a diverse range of agricultural, mobile, manufacturing and industrial settings. They remove excess heat generated by energy losses in a system, as well as that from external sources such as engines, furnaces and even the surrounding environment.
In fact, coolers are often essential for designing temperature-optimized hydraulic systems that keep oil temperatures within a limited range. Such circuits are basic prerequisites for cost-efficient operation, as they provide a number of benefits including:
1. Maintaining the correct temperature keeps oil at its recommended viscosity, ensuring mechanical components are properly lubricated and hydraulic devices run at peak efficiency. Letting oil temperature rise beyond recommended limits can reduce the life of a system due to poor lubrication, higher internal leakage, a higher risk of cavitation, and damaged components.
2. Keeping temperatures down also helps ensure the oil and other components last longer. Excess heat can degrade hydraulic oil, form harmful varnish on component surfaces, and deteriorate rubber and elastomeric seals.
3. Operating within recommended temperature ranges increases a hydraulic system’s availability and efficiency, improving equipment productivity.
4. Finally, with more machine uptime and fewer shutdowns, it reduces service and repair costs.
Considering the benefits hydraulic-oil coolers offer, it’s apparent that accurately sizing them is a paramount concern for design engineers. Undersizing obviously allows higher-than-recommended oil temperatures. But oversizing hurts system efficiency as well, by reducing temperatures below the recommended range and increasing costs with a larger-than-necessary purchase.