Hydraulic

General:
• The main task of the accumulator is to take a specific amount of
oil under pressure from the hyd. System and store it until it is
required within the system

• As the fluid is under pressure, accumulators are treated as

pressure vessels and must be designed taking into account the
max. operating pressure.

• In order to store energy in accumulators, the fluid in an

accumulator is Weight or Spring loaded or pressurized by a Gas.

• Therefore a balance is maintained between the pressure in a fluid

and the opposing pressure produced by the weight, spring or
pressure created by the gas.

Hydraulic
Hydraulic
Types of Hydraulic accumulator

Hydraulic
 Types of
Accumulators

Accumulator, Weight Loaded

Accumulator, Spring Loaded

Accumulator, Gas Charged

(Hydro-pneumatic Accumulator)

 The gas charged accumulator is the most common.

 The construction may be of the bladder, piston or
diaphragm type.

Hydraulic
 Weight loaded
accumulator

the weight loaded accumulator is the

only hydraulic accumulator where the
oil pressure remains constant
regardless of amount filled, however a
large volume of space is required for
the weight

Hydraulic
Spring accumulator

Outside springs

Hydraulic
 Spring accumulator

Inside spring

Owing to the limited permissible spring deformation the amount of

energy that may be accumulated by spring accumulators is
minimal.
Hydraulic
 Gas accumulators

Membrane accumulator

Bladder accumulator
Piston accumulator

Hydraulic
 Piston
Accumulator

Piston accumulators are used on roller mill AVD systems, connected to

the lower part of the hydraulic cylinder.

Hydraulic
 Piston accumulator
Piston accumulators comprise a fluid and a gas chamber
with a piston as a gastight separating element.
The gas side is pre-filled with nitrogen.
The fluid chamber is connected to the hydraulic circuit.
when the pressure rises the piston accumulator absorbs
fluid and the gas is compressed.
When the pressure drops the compressed gas expands,
displacing the accumulated pressure fluid in the circuit.

Hydraulic
 Piston Accumulator

Nitrogen Fill Valve

The accumulator will not become damaged at high fluid/gas pressure

ratios, as would a bladder accumulator.

Hydraulic
 Membrane
Accumulators
Welded type

1 – gas fill screw

2 – pressure container
3 – membrane
4 – valve plate
5 – fluid port Screwed type

Hydraulic
 Gas Charged
Accumulator
Gas-filled
Bladder

Hydraulic
Fluid

An accumulator is used
as a “spring” in a
hydraulic system.
Hydraulic
 Bladder
Accumulator

Hydraulic
 Bladder
Accumulator
Nitrogen

Hydraulic
Fluid

Hydraulic Pressure Hydraulic Working Hydraulic Working

Below Pre-charge Pressure at Pressure at
Pressure Minimum Maximum

When hydraulic pressure increases fluid flows into the

accumulator.
When hydraulic pressure decreases, fluid flows back into the
system.
Hydraulic
 Bladder Principles

Hydraulic Fluid is Incompressible *

Gas is Compressible

* Hydraulic fluid will only compress about 0.5% per 1000 PSI.
If more compressibility is needed an accumulator is used.

Hydraulic
 Accumulator
Functions

Shock Absorption

Energy Source (to supplement pump )

Emergency Power

Thermal Expansion Protection

Hydraulic
 Bleed-down
Accumulator in a Circuit
Valve

 The check valve will keep the pressure trapped in the system.
 For safety purposes accumulators need to have a means to bleed down
this pressure when the system is shut down.

Hydraulic
 Accumulator
in a Circuit

 An accumulator stores hydraulic energy.

 It can be used to supplement pump flow for short periods of time, as on
this kiln thrust roller system.

Hydraulic
Accumulator
in a Circuit

Accumulators can be
used for shock
absorption, as in this
hydraulic roll press
application.

Hydraulic
Accumulator
Charging
Danger!
Do not charge
with air or oxygen!

The accumulator is pre-

charged with nitrogen,
typically to 50-80% of the
expected average operating
hydraulic pressure (check the
specifications of the system
supplier).

Hydraulic
 Nitrogen Bottle Accumulator
Note:
 Nitrogen fittings have left hand threads.
 Caution! Use only dry nitrogen.
 Never use oxygen or air as an explosion could occur.

Hydraulic
 Accumulator
Charging

 For a stiff spring system, use a low pr-echarge pressure.

 For a softer system, use higher pr-echarge pressure.

If this sounds backwards, think of it this way:

 A system with no gas at all would have maximum stiffness.
 A system with a lot of gas in it will be softer.

Hydraulic
 Bladder Accumulator
Charge Limits

Maximum charge = 90% of system hydraulic pressure

Minimum charge = 25% of system hydraulic pressure

• Above 90% pre-charge, the bladder can become damaged from

chafing on the anti-extrusion valve.
• Below 25% pre-charge, the bladder can become damaged from
folding and collapsing. At very low pre-charge a pinhole puncture can
form at the gas valve.
• It is important to review the accumulator pressure whenever changes
are made to the system pressure.

Hydraulic
 Accumulator Charging Kit

The pressure reducer is needed if the nitrogen bottle pressure is greater

than the accumulator maximum working pressure.

Hydraulic
 Accumulator Charging
1. System hydraulic pressure must be zero and open to tank during
charging.
2. Charge with nitrogen only – no air or oxygen.
3. Charge to pressure specified by the equipment supplier.
4. Allow nitrogen to enter slowly (15-20 minutes) so as not to cause
freezing and cracking of the rubber bladder.
5. Check nitrogen pressure after temperature has stabilized.
6. Adjust charge pressure to allow for difference between ambient and
operating temperature:
7. P ambient = P operating x ambient temp + 273ºC
operating temp + 273ºC

Hydraulic
 Accumulator Charging
Ambient Temperature º F
System Operating Temperature º F

The accumulator charge pressure must be adjusted

when the ambient temperature is different from the
system operating temperature.

Hydraulic
 Bladder Repair

Bottom Reparable Top Reparable

Bladders can be replaced. Make sure the bladder is well-

lubricated before insertion so it doesn’t chafe on the shell when
it is charged.

Hydraulic
 Bladder Storage

To avoid damage (dry out and cracking) to rubber

bladders:
 Store at room temperature, 50-70ºF.
 Lay flat in sealed box, Do not bend for extended periods of time.
 Do not expose bladder to lights, especially sunlight or fluorescent
lighting.
 Shelf life under good conditions is only 3-5 years. Discard old
spares and replace regularly.

Hydraulic
 Accumulator
Safety

 Use inert gas (nitrogen) only.

 Do not weld on accumulator shells.
 Inspect shells and valves regularly for damage.
 Do not overcharge. Use a pressure regulator if the nitrogen bottle
has a higher pressure than the accumulator working pressure.
 Make sure the accumulator is fully void of all fluid and gas
pressure before disassembly. Warning! New accumulators are
usually shipped with a certain amount of pre-charge.

Hydraulic
In some hydraulic systems
require a Large amount of oil or
Short cycles….Accumulators
must be used in order to
achieve an economic solution

The feature of this are:

 Possibility of using smaller
pump
 Lower installed power
 Less heat produced
 Simple servicing and
installation

Hydraulic
Accumulator as a safety element
They are used in hydraulic systems
for Emergency operation to carry out
specific actions when faults occur.

Emergency examples:
1. Closing of partitions like flaps
2. Operation of high power switches
3. Operation of quick shut off
systems

Hydraulic
Emergency braking
Accumulators may be
used for emergency
operation of brakes

Hydraulic
 Emergency
Lubrication

In some machine it is a must

to maintain the lubricating film
on bearings.
If the lub pump fails, the
pressure can be kept constant
by accumulator until the
Machin has stopped or other
pump has built up the required
pressure.

Hydraulic
Compensation of leakage oil
The hyd. Tensioning force in a
hyd. Cylinder may be maintained
if the losses due to leakage in the
system are compensated for.

The features of this are:

1. No continuous operation of the
pump
2. Low heat produced and hence
low operating cost
3. Long service life of the system

Hydraulic
Damping of shocks and vibrations

Hydraulic
 Hydraulic springs

Accumulators are used to tension

machine vehicle chains in order to
avoid transfer of shocks from the
drive chain.

Vehicle
suspension

Hydraulic