Introduction

This page includes a small number of basic notes and calculations to enable
selection and sizing of various hydraulic components including .
Pipes
Pumps
Motors
Air Blast Coolers

Accumulators
Linear Actuators
Heat Loss form Reservoir
Power loss from pipe friction

The calculations are simplified and should only be used for initial design
purposes. Theoretical ideal values for the pumps and motors are calculated if
1(100%) is included for the efficiency .
Actual efficiency values are obtained
from suppliers literature.
Approximate efficiencies are provided in my notes of
pumps and motors.
Note effieciency values used on this page are between 0 and 1 to represent
efficiencies between 0 and 100%.
I have tried to include supplementary unit equations to identify the factors used,
as I have based the units generally on practical working units and not absolute
units eg. litres/min as opposed to m3 /s, and bars as opposed to N/m2. I have
also assumed that gauge pressures are used.
I have created a excelcalcs spreadsheet for convenient access to all of the
equations found on this page for members of Exelcalcs.com . This is located
at ExcelCalcs.com calculation Simple Hydrostatic Transmission system
calculations

Units

= fluid density ( kg / metre3 )

l = length (metre)
A = pipe dia (metre2 )
di = Pipe inside diameter(mm)
V = Volume (metre3 )
q = flow rate (litres /min )
t = time ( s )
= angular velocity ( rad /s )
n = rotational speed ( rev/min )
v = velocity ( m /s )

F = Force(N)
T = Torque ( N.m )
p = Pressure ( bar = 10^5 Pa = 10^5
N/metre2 )
K = Bulk Modulus ( bar = 10^5 Pa = 10^5
N/metre2 )
= Dynamic viscosity (Pa.s )
= Kinematic viscosity (metre2.s )
W = Work /Energy (Joule = N.m)
Po = Power (W = J/s = Nm/s )
T = Temperature ( deg. C)
= Efficiency

Pipe sizing
The recommended flow velocities for hydraulic fluid are listed below.

ref webpage Pneumatics / Hydraulics

Pump Suction...0,6 - 1,2 m/s
Delivery flow...2,0 - 5,0 m/s
Return flow...1,5 - 4,0 m/s
The calculation of the fluid velocity is the flow ( q ) / pipe bore area ( Ai )

q = flow rate (litres/m )

di pipe inside dia (mm)
v = flow velocity (m/s )

Hydraulic Power due to pressure in flowing hydraulic oil

The hydraulic power in the flowing fluid in a hydraulic piping is simply the flow
rate (q) x the pressure of the fluid (p)

q = flow rate (litres/min )

p =pressure (bar)

Hydraulic Pump Calculations

Notes on the various types of positive displacement hydraulic pumps are found
on webpage Positive displacement pumps. The calculations below relate most
specifically to Piston pumps, vane pumps and gear pumps operating a pressures
in excess of 70 bar.

The pump fluid delivery is the pump displacement per revolution x the rotational
speed

>
vp = displacement /rev (cc /rev )
n = revs/min
q = litres /min
v = Volumetric Efficiency

The pump drive power required at the shaft =

vp = displacement /rev (cc /rev )

n = revs/min
p = pressure (bar)
p = pressure (bar)
Shaft power kW
m = Mechanical efficiency

Hydraulic Motor Calculations

The speed is the fluid flow rate q divided the motor displacement/rev

vm = displacement /rev (cc /rev )

n = revs/min
q = litres /min
v = Volumetric efficiency
The motor drive power available at the shaft =

vm = displacement /rev (cc /rev )

n = revs/min
pi = input pressure (bar)
po = discharge pressure (bar)
Po=Shaft power kW
v = Volumetric efficiency
m = Mechanical efficiency

The motor torque available at the shaft =

vm = displacement /rev (cc /rev )

n = revs/min
pi = input pressure (bar)
po = discharge pressure (bar)
Po=Shaft power kW
m = Mechanical efficiency

Air Blast Cooler Calculation

Three simple methods of specifying a cooler are provided.
One simply estimates the cooling requirement based on the efficiency of the hydraulic motor.
This results in the minimum cooler requirement.
The second method is based on a cooling requirement as a ratio of the input power . This is
more conservative
The third results from testing the system operating conditions to estimate the cooling
requirement.
On arriving at a cooling requirement based at a circulating fluid flow rate, the air
blast cooler is specified to remove the heat when the oil is at a desired
maximum temperature and at the worst case ambient (air) temperature

Heat developed based on motor efficiency

pf = (1-

m ) . pm / m

pf = heat power to fluid

m = motor efficiency
pm= motor power output shaft power
Heat developed based on Input power
This simply assumes that the overall efficiency of the system (pumps, motors,
and valves result in losses of about 30%)
pf = 0,3 . pe
pf = heat power to fluid
pe= electric motor power /input power

Heat developed based on temperature rise of reservoir

pf = (T. coil.

oil.V )/ t

pf = heat power to fluid

t = Temperature increase (C)
coil = specific heat of oil (kJ/deg.kg)
oil = density of oil (kg/m3 )
V = reservoir volume (m3 )
t = time for temperature rise (seconds)
Rating of Air Blast cooler
p01 = m.pf /(T1 - T3)
p01 = Thermal rating of cooler (kW /Degree (C))
m = coiler safety margin
T1 = Desired oil temperature (deg. C)
T3 = Ambient Air Temperature (deg. C)

Hydraulic Accumulator
It may be necessary for an hydraulic system to work with a pump operating at
constant speed while the motor or cylinder is not working at a steady speed.
An accumulator acts as an hydraulic flywheel to even out the energy flow and
enable a lower pump specification for a given duty.
An accumulator is often placed close to the pump with a non-return valve
preventing flow back to the pump, when the accumulator is used to smooth
pulsations.
It also helps protect the system from fluid hammer. An additional
benefit is the surplus energy that can be stored while the pump is subject to low
demand. The designer can often use a smaller-capacity pump relative to a
short term high flow demand.
The outflow of energy from a discharging
accumulator can be greater, for a short time, than the pump could develop. The
precharge is the pressure of the gas in the accumulator with minimum hydraulic
fluid in the fluid side. A gas accumulator is precharged with nitrogen gas, to the
desired pressure, when there is no hydraulic fluid in the accumulator.
A rule of thumb for bladder accumulators is to set the precharge pressure to
approximately 80% of the desired minimum hydraulic system pressure. A rule of
thumb for gas piston accumulators is to set the precharge pressure to
approximately 90% of the of the desired minimum hydraulic pressure. hydraulic
system pressure.

The useable volume Vu (litres) is the volume of fluid an accumulator will deliver
as the system pressure falls from the maxiumum pressure p max (bar) to the
minimum presssure pmin (bar).

Hydraulic cylinder
The hydraulic force exerted by an extending Hydraulic Cylinder is calculated
shown below. Please not the seal friction and fluid backpressure is not taken
into account . The resulting forces will therefore be a little high The
backpressure can easily be accounted for by calculating the resultant extending
or retracting force as F1 - F2

The hydraulic force produced by a ram or single acting cylinder is calculated

using the same equations as shown below.

Heat Loss From Reservoir

In operating a hydrostatic transmission system comprising pumps and motors
and/or actuators there are significant mechanical losses. The result in the
hydraulic fluid heating.
If the losses are significant there may be a need to
include a cooler in the system to remove the excess heat.
This calculation
provides a quick estimate of the natural losses to the environment. The simple
calculation is based on the reservoir being located in an area such that the
ambient air can freely circulate over all of its surfaces. I have obtained the
value of C by considering a number of values found on the links below and on
my webpage. Thermal design of Gearboxes

Heat loss from reservoir Q = C.(Tf - Ta).A

Q = heat loss (kW)
C = heat loss coefficient. For a steel tank a value of C =
0,0145 kW/ 0C / m2 is reasonable
Tf = Temperature of Fluid (0C)
Tf = Max ambient temperature ( 0C)
A = Area of tank surface exposed to a flow of air (m2)

Approximate Power Loss due to head loss in piping

It is possible to easily calculate the approximate head loss in the pressure piping
of a hydrostatic system.
Using the methods identified webpage Pipe Flow
The assumptions made in these calcs are

1) The tubing is smooth bore cds/ cfs

2) The estimate does not include for filters, valves,
heights etc.
3) The properties of the oil i.e density and viscosity are
approximate
4) The friction values f are approximate.
First it is necessary to calculate the Renold number for the flowing fluid

Mineral oil as used for hydraulics systems has a density of approx 850 kg/m 3
I list a few approx. viscosity values below
Viscosity cP

oil grade

at 40o C

Hydraulic oil ISO

32
Hydraulic oil ISO
46
Hydraulic oil
ISO68
Hydraulic oil ISO
100
Hydraulic oil ISO
150

at 100

27

4.7

39

5.9

57

8.7

82

9.4

125

12

It is normal to use a Moony chart to evaluate the friction factor f based on the
tube roughness and the Renold number.
To simplify this process I have determined some approximate friction factors
based on a range of Re numbers and assuming the tube is smooth bored
Reynolds
Number range
0-2500

Friction
factor (f)
64/Re

2500 - 10

0,03

104 -105

0,02

10 -10

0,016

The head loss if fluid metres is simply calculated as follows

It will be necessary to detemine the flow path from the pump to the actuator
estimate the pipe length and number of elbows and tees to complete the
calculation for the pressure side. Then repeat the process for the return route
which should have lower velocities and a larger diameter
The pressure loss and the power loss is calculated from the total pipe head loss
as follows

Example :
Consider a hydrostatic power transmission system. The tube from the pump to
the motor is 20mm i.dia, 20m long, and includes 3 elbows and 2 tees .
The
flow rate is 50 litres/min and the oil is grade ISO 68 at 40 deg.C
Viscosity = 57cP, Density = 850 kg/m3.
Fluid velocity = 2,65m/s Using equation at Pipes
Re Number = d.v. /=795 (laminer) and as a result f =
0,081
head loss h = ( f.1000.L/d + 3.f.30 + 2 .f* 60).v2 /19.62 =
35m
Pressure loss

P= h..9.81/ 10^5 = 2,91 bar

Power loss = Q.P/600 = 0,24 kW

The return leg from the motor to the reservoir is 25 mm i.dia, 20m long, and
includes 3 elbows and 2 tees .
The flow rate is 50 litres/min and the oil is
grade ISO 68 at 40 deg.C
Viscosity = 57cP, Density = 850 kg/m3.
Fluid velocity = 1,7 m/s Using equation at Pipes
Re Number = d.v. /=632 (laminer) and as a result f =
0,101
head loss h = ( f.1000.L/d + 3.f.30 + 2 .f* 60).v2 /19.62 =
15m
Pressure loss

P= h..9.81/ 10^5 = 1,25 bar

Power loss = Q.P/600 = 0,10 kW

Total power loss as pipe resistance = 0,24 + 0,10 = 0.34
kW.
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