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WhitePaper EHA - June 2012
WhitePaper EHA - June 2012
Key takeaways
Electro-hydrostatic actuation
∑
June 2012
1. Introduction
2. Actuation Technologies
The electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA) converts power
from electric to hydraulic to mechanic. An electric servo
In the following, we give a brief overview of the most
motor drives a bidirectional, variable speed pump which
important actuation technologies: electro-mechanical,
is connected to the two chambers of a hydraulic cylinder.
hydraulic and electro-hydrostatic. At the end of this
Depending on the flow, the axis is extended or retracted. In
paragraph, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages
contrast to the hydraulic system, the power control is done
of each system.
by the pump. Varying the speed of the pump means varying
the flow and thus the hydraulic power. The pressures in the
2.1 Electro-Mechanical Actuation chambers are load-dependent. This enables the electro-
Electro – Mechanical Actuation
hydrostatic actuator to use energy most efficiently and
deliver power on demand.
L1
L2
L3
~
=
=
~
Due to the energy efficiency of the system, the hydraulic
PE
1
3.1 Balanced electro-hydrostatic actuator
Chamber A
Unbalanced EHA
Chamber B
F
1 1 Hydraulic cylinder
2
3
Radial piston pump
Motor
F 2
4 Check valve
5 Low pressure reservoir
2
High pressure 2 1
MediumBalanced
pressure
Low pressure
EHA Unbalanced EHA
F
1 Hydraulic
Gas low pressure cylinder
reservoir 1 Hydraulic cylinder
3 3
2
Gas fail safe Radial piston pump
accumulator 2 Radial piston pump
2
3 Motor 3 Motor
4 Check valve 4 Check valve
5 Low pressure reservoir 5 Low pressure reservoir
High pressure 3 High pressure
4
Medium pressure Medium pressure
4
Low pressure Low pressure
Gas low pressure reservoir Gas low pressure reservoir
Gas fail safe accumulator Gas fail-safe accumulator
5
4
5
Figure 3.1: Balanced electro-hydrostatic actuator Figure 3.2: Unbalanced electro-hydrostatic actuator
5
A balanced electro-hydrostatic actuator as shown in Figure Figure 3.2 shows an EHA whose chambers A and B have
3.1 is characterized by a hydraulic cylinder with two or more unequal volumes. Such unbalanced actuators are used in
chambers (A and B) with equal volumes. A bidirectional, variable most applications. The functionality is principally the same
speed, fixed displacement pump is driven by an electric servo as of the balanced actuator. There is just one difference:
motor. The hydraulic system is self-contained: the hydraulic since the volumes of the chambers are unequal, hydraulic oil
oil is contained in a closed circuit and stored in a pre-charged needs to be stored into and supplied from the accumulator in
accumulator which is partly filled with oxygen. The axis velocity greater quantity. The flow balance of a differential cylinder
is proportional to the speed of the radial piston pump. In order can be realized by a double stage pump.
to realize a hydrostatic gearbox, a four quadrants pump is
In order to e.g. extend the axis, both pumps are connected to
needed. The pressures in the cylinder chambers depending on
chamber A. Pump number 1 moves hydraulic oil from chamber
the load force.
B to A, pump number 2 supplies the missing oil volume from
In order to move the axis to the right, the pressure line (red) the piston accumulator to chamber A.
of the pump is connected to chamber A while the suction side
Drive shaft
The energy efficiency of an electro-hydrostatic system largely Comparison of two motor and pump systems at zero, part and maximum load [5]
depends on the characteristics of the pump. For this reason, we give
a short summary of pump and motor systems’ efficiency.
This chart shows that the combination of an electric servo motor and a variable
In order to control the power output of an electro-hydrostatic system, speed, fixed displacement pump has a
it is necessary to control the flow. better efficiency in most cases. This especially occurs for zero load and part
This can be done in two ways: using either a fixed speed variable load situations. For this reason, Moog’s electro-hydrostatic actuation systems
displacement pump or a variable speed fixed displacement pump. are equipped with variable speed, fixed displacement pumps.
1 1
x
Balanced EHA
Accumulator Recharge F
1 Balanced cylinder
F
with third chamber
11 2 2/2 way valve 11
3 3/2 way valve
7 7
4 Throttle
3 2 Radial piston pump 3 2
p 5 5 5
6 Motor
ssure 7 Pilot operated pressure
4 6 relief valve 4 6
8 1 8 1
8 Check valve
Balanced EHA x
Balanced EHA
voir Low Movement
9Fail-Safe pressure reservoir Fail-Safe Movement
Balanced EHA
Unbalanced
6
1
1
Motor EHA
Hydraulic cylinder Balanced EHAx
Unbalanced
6
1
1
Motor
F
Hydraulic cylinder
7 Pilot operated pressure 7 Pilot operated pressure
Fail-Safe Movement 4 Fail-Safe Movement 4
1 Balanced cylinder
1
2
8
2
3
relief
Radial
Check
valve
Hydraulic
Radialvalve
Motor
cylinder
piston pump
piston pump 1
28 F
Balanced cylinder
6 1
2
8
2
3
relief
Radial
Check
valve
Hydraulic
Radialvalve
Motor
cylinder
piston pump
piston pump
2
with third chamber Low pressure with third chamber
9
3
4 Motor
Check valve reservoir 9
3
4 Low
Motor
Checkpressure
valve reservoir
2 2/2 way valve 10 11Fail safe accumulator 2 2/2 way valve 10 11Fail safe accumulator
4
5 Check
Low valve reservoir
pressure 4
5 Check
Low valve reservoir
pressure
3 3/2 way valve 11 Pilot pressure line 3 3/2 way valve 11 Pilot pressure line
5 Low pressure
Fail-safe reservoir
pressure 5 Low pressure
Fail-safe reservoir
pressure
72
4 Throttle 4
10 Throttle 9 10
High
3 pressure 2 High
3 pressure
5 Radial piston pump 2 5 Radial piston pump 2
Medium pressure 5 Medium pressure 5
6 Motor 6 Motor
Low pressure Low pressure
3
7 Pilot operated pressure 7 Pilot operated pressure
4 Gas low pressure reservoir 3 valve 4 Gas low pressure reservoir
relief valve 6 relief 6
Gas fail-safe 8accumulator Gas fail-safe 8accumulator
8 Check valve 8 Check valve
9 Low pressure reservoir 9 Low pressure reservoir
Figure 3.4: Fail safe accumulator
10 Balanced electro-hydrostatic actuator: standard mode of operation Fail safe electro-hydrostatic
10 Balanced
Figure 3.5: accumulator actuator: charging mode of operation
11 Pilot pressure line 11 Pilot pressure line
4
10 9 10 9
4
In the standard mode of operation as shown in Figure 3.4, In the charging mode, as illustrated in Figure 3.5, the pump
the pump delivers the hydraulic oil from chamber A to B. delivers hydraulic oil from the low-pressure accumulator to
Chamber C is connected to the low-pressure accumulator. the high-pressure accumulator
5 The 3/2 way valve as well as
This connection is established by the 3/2 way valve which is in the 2/2 way valve is5 in energized position. The axis remains
energized position. static.
P
W-X I L1 ~ =
X1 M0 X0
M1
M0 + L2
L3 = ~
X1 M0 W-X I L1 ~ PE
=
+ L2
X2 M1
D L3 = ~
T0 PE
X2 D
T0
Client Moog
Figure 3.7: Communication layout and control philosophy for an electro-hydrostatic actuator
Client Moog
3.5 Control of the electro-hydrostatic actuator Electro-hydrostatic actuation technology can be applied for
different applications and e.g. for power generation.
An electro-hydrostatic actuator is powered by electric energy. Beside energy efficiency, one of the crucial needs of the power
The hydraulic system is self-contained there is no need for an generation business is the ability to protect the turbine in the
external hydraulic power supply. case of overload or electric shutdown. Therefore the fail-safe
Figure 3.7 illustrates the communication layout and control option is for these applications mandatory.
architecture for the actuator. At the client’s side, the machine Even if the control of the turbine can also be carried out
cabinet is used to define the parameters for the movement by electro-mechanical or hydraulic actuation, the electro-
of the axis, thus customizing the motion. Moog designed the hydrostatic technology has considerable advantages over both
axis cabinet containing a motion controller and a frequency these alternatives:
converter and the actuator itself.
Advantages of electro-hydrostatic actuation compared to
The control philosophy is based on two interdependent closed- hydraulic actuation:
loop systems:
• Significant energy saving during standard operation
• The frequency converter receives feedback concerning the
• Greatly reduced risk of oil leaks and fire hazards as the
motor temperature and position. Based on this feedback,
system is self contained and the volume of the hydraulic oil
the frequency converter controls the speed of the electric
is reduced compared to hydraulic actuation
servo motor.
• Easy maintenance since the actuator gets a life-time filling
• The motion controller receives feedback concerning the
of hydraulic oil
hydraulic circuit and the axis: temperature and pressure
values of the hydraulic oil as well as the position and velocity Advantages of electro-hydrostatic actuation compared to
of the axis. Based on this feedback, the motion controller electro-mechanical actuation:
gives input to the frequency converter which adjusts the • The fail-safe options of an electro-hydrostatic actuator are
speed of the motor if necessary. more cost and energy efficient
Moog’s EHA are equipped with synchronous motors which are • The fail-safe mode is less maintenance intensive and
characterized by their low motor inertia and high torque, which independent from the standard mode of operation, thus
positively effects the dynamic behavior. providing a real redundancy
• When environmental cleanliness plays a crucial role Plastic machines and die casting
• When fail-safe operation is necessary • Energy efficiency plays a crucial role: since the machines
remain for a considerable amount of time in zero load or
part load modes, electro-hydrostatic actuation is far more
energy efficient than hydraulic actuation.
• Environmental cleanliness is also an advantage as the self-
contained electro-hydrostatic actuation system greatly
reduces the risk of leakages of hydraulic oil.
[1] Berbuer, J. Neuartige Servoantriebe mit primärer Achim Helbig has been with Moog since 2004 in the position
Verdrängersteuerung, Dissertation , RWTH Aachen, of Senior Applications Engineer, Team Manager Hydraulic
1988 Systems and Innovation Projects Manager. Prior joining Moog
he has worked in the Dresden University and did his PhD.
[2] Boes, C. Hydraulische Achsantriebe im digitalen
Regelkreis, Dissertation, RWTH Aachen, 1995
[3] Hahmann, W. Das dynamische Verhalten von
Servopumpen und ihr Verhalten in Regelkreisen,
Dissertation, RWTH Aachen, 1973
[4] Helbig, A. Energieeffizientes elektrisch-
hydrostatisches Antriebssystem am Beispiel der
Kunststoff-Spritzgießmaschine, Dissertation,
Technische Universität Dresden, 2007
[5] Helduser, S., Rühlicke, I. AIF Abschlussbericht Nr.25/
B9953, IFD TU-Dresden, 1996
[6] Lodewyks, J. Der Differenzialzylinder im
geschlossenen hydrostatischen Getriebe,
Dissertation, RWTH Aachen, 1994
[7] Neubert, Th. Untersuchungen von
drehzahlveränderbaren Pumpen, Dissertation,
Technische Universität Dresden, 2002
[8] Waffner, W.D. Design Issues of Electrical Actuation
for Aircraft Primary Flight Controls, Moog Technical
Bulletin 157, 1985
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