hydraulics

Hydraulics is, concerned with the transmission of power, rather than the transmission of
signals.
Hydraulic systems enable the transfer of power over large distances with infinitely
variable speed control of linear and rotary motions..
The equipment itself is safe and reliable, and overload or supply failure situations can be
safeguarded against.
Hydraulic systems are used for steering gear , mooring and cargo handling deck
machinery.
Hydraulic systems utilize pumps, valves, motors or actuators and various ancillary
fittings.
Spool valve
The spool position may be controlled by a mechanical linkage to the error detecting unit
or by some other control medium such as an electric solenoid.
When the spool is in the mid-position both channels 1 and 2 are closed off

When the spool is moved to the right, the high pressure supply is directed into channel l
and exhausts from channel 2.
When the spool is moved to the left, the supply is fed into channel 2 and exhausts
through channel 1.
Where the valve opening, i.e. the spool movement, is small, it is assumed that the rate of
flow of oil is proportional to the valve opening.
Swash plate
Any inclination of the swash plate results in a relative movement of the pistons in the
cylinder bores .during rotation.
As the pistons move away from the port they draw in oil to the cylinder.
After passing top dead centre the pistons begin to move towards a separate set of ports
and pump oil out through these ports.

When the swash plate is vertical no pumping takes place.

The two sets of ports can be either suction or discharge depending upon the direction of
movement away from the vertical.
The boost or auxiliary supply pump provides a much higher discharge pressure
Hydraulics/open loop

.One type of open-loop circuit has a fixed displacement pump and a throttle or control
valve connected in parallel with the hydraulic motor, see Figure .
A separate valve can be used to change the direction of oil flow to allow the motor to
drive in either direction
The open-loop circuit takes oil from the tank and pumps it into the hydraulic motor.
A control valve is positioned in parallel with the motor.
When it is open the motor is stationary, when throttled or closed, the motor will operate.
The exhaust oil returns to the tank.
This method can provide steeples control.
Hydraulics/open loop
Low pressure systems use the open-loop circuit and are simple in design.
If the equipment is large, it overheats after prolonged use
Hydraulics/closed loop
In the closed-loop circuit the exhaust oil is returned direct to the pump suction. Since the
oil does not enter an open tank, the system is considered closed..
One arrangement of a closed-loop system uses a variable-delivery hydraulic pump, see
Figure. Infinitely variable speed control of the motor is therefore achieved by varying the
pump output volume.
The pumping unit operates continuously at constant speed, even in a zero-delivery
situation.
A small booster pump is used to keep the system charged with oil at a fixed pressure.
Reversal of the motor is achieved by a continuous movement of the pump control from
forward through neutral, to reverse.
This arrangement prevents the load driving the motor. An expansion tank, pressure
control valves and a filter are again included. Hydraulic symbols have been used in the
above two figures. Many pneumatic symbols are similar except that the arrowheads are
not shaded in. The arrowhead direction distinguishes a pump from a motor.
Hydraulics/marine use
In shipboard applications where many different items of equipment may have to operate
simultaneously, individual units tend to be uneconomical and a ring main or central
supply system can be used
. Where the open-loop system is employed, several fixed displacement pumps are used,
together with automatic flow control which combines the deliveries of a number of
pumps to meet the maximum flow requirements, or selects only one pump for high
pressure duty, as required .
If a closed-loop system with variable capacity pumps is used, it feeds a high pressure
manifold.
The number of pumps in use is determined by the load and each will be automatically
switched on or off.
The manifold acts as a ring main to supply all hydraulic services on the ship. The
operation of either system can be centrally controlled from a suitable location.
Hydraulic supply system
Depending upon the amount of hydraulic equipment in use on a ship, individual power
packs or a large power plant may be fitted.
The difference is largely one of size.
A fairly typical unit is shown in Figure.

A hand pump is provided in addition to the electric pumps and each discharges through
non-return valves.
Accumulator mounted on the tank to damp out pressure fluctuations.
Double return line filters rated at 10 microns with condition indicators and alarms are
also provided.
It is made up of a base frame upon which two electric motor driven pumps are flexibly
mounted.
A reservoir oil tank of appropriate capacity provides the oil supply for the pumps.
This tank is fitted with suction strainers.
suction isolating valves, a level gauge, and vent.
Pressure switches may be used to provide automatic stop and start of the pumps but result
in numerous stops and starts.
A pressure unloading valve would enable the pump to run continuously but aeration of
the recirculated oil can be a problem.
. This pressure change will adversely affect the operation of certain types of valves, in
particular flow control valves. A solution to this problem is to use variable volume pumps
which are pressure compensated.
Any departure from system pressure would result in a pump output which is adjusted to
make up the lost volume and hence the system pressure.
The pump would run with zero output volume when the pressure was steady and no
recirculation would take place.
The type of pump used in the system may be fixed or variable volume.
Gear pumps are fixed volume and provide a pressure range up to 80 bar. Vane pumps are
also fixed volume and provide a pressure range up to 210 bar. Piston pumps are variable
volume and provide a pressure range up to 700 bar.
During operation of the hydraulic power system, oil temperature control is important. A
small heater and thermostat are provided to ensure correct temperature and hence
viscosity when starting.
Once operating it is necessary to cool the oil, and on larger systems a cooler will be
fitted. Small units may cool sufficiently by heat loss from the tank and pipe works
Correct system operation relies largely on the cleanliness of the oil in the system. Up to
three different kinds of filter may be fitted in the system.
Suction filters at the tank are usually coarse mesh strainers.
Pressure filters are positioned in the pump discharge lines just upstream of control
assemblies.
Return oil filters clean the oil before it returns to the tank.
One type of accumulator is shown in Figure, together with the symbol used in circuit
diagrams.
If the hydraulic fluid is under pressure then the gas above the piston (usually nitrogen)
will be compressed.
If the valve between the accumulator and the hydraulic system is now closed, then
energy is stored in the accumulator.

Accumulator/two functions
1)If a system power failure occurs the valve can be opened and the accumulator will
provide a pressurized oil supply for emergency duties.
2)if the valve is left open as the system pressure falls the gas in the accumulator will
expand to re pressurize the oil and minimize any pressure fluctuations
Hydraulic deck machinery
The operations of mooring, cargo handling and anchor handling all involve controlled
pulls or lifts using chain cables, wire or ropes.
Hydraulic systems are made up of an oil tank, pumps, control valve, hydraulic motor
and pipe work.
The oil tank and pump are common to all equipment, acting as a central pumping unit,
employing either low or medium pressure oil supplies.
The open-loop circuit takes oil from the tank and pumps it into the hydraulic motor. A
control valve is positioned in parallel with the motor. When it is open the motor is
stationary; when throttled or closed the motor will operate
Cargo tank valve control
Cargo pumps and piping systems are installed on tankers to discharge and load the liquid
cargo.
Separate ballast pumping systems are also used for ballast-only tanks which are filled
during ballast voyages.
Most piping systems use several ring mains along the tank length, ,with branches off to
the individual tanks.
Several cargo pumps are used and by various arrangements of the valves in the system
any pump could discharge any tank.
Isolating valves, usually in pairs, can also enable a particular 'parcel' of oil to be
separately loaded and discharged without contamination.
The control and operation of these many valves is usually hydraulic.
The hydraulic ring main employs a system similar to that described earlier for deck
machinery.
. Manual control using hydraulic valves ensures a positive opening or closing action of
the valve but results in a large control panel.
Explosion-proof solenoid valves may be mounted on the deck near to the valve and an
electric push-button in the control room would be used for valve operation..
Cargo valve /status indication
Limit switches can be used for valve opening and closed mode
Synchro,s can be used for valve position indication
Synchro transmitter moves along with the valve movement which moves the receiver
located in the cargo control room
valve position indication
pneumatic bellows which indicate according to the air pressure present due to actuator
movement,
electrical indication from actuator-operated potentiometers