Types of Hydraulic Accumulators
A hydraulic accumulator is typically a pre-charged reservoir where an internal hydraulic fluid is stored under pressure, which is supplied by an external force. The external force can be a pump, an engine, an air cylinder, or a hydraulic spring. Hydraulic accumulators may also be used to maintain hydraulic pressure, for example, to prevent accumulations of sludge and dust in the accumulator tanks, to recover a reduced amount of the hydraulic fluid for reuse to ensure lubrication of the hydraulic system, to provide oil or gas flow at low temperatures after a hydraulic system failure, and/or as a safety device to allow access for authorized personnel. In addition, they may be used in many instances to collect water that must be removed from an air source, such as when a leaky air conditioning compressor collects water that must be extracted. There are two types of hydraulic accumulators : positive displacement and negative displacement. The positive displacement accumulator, also c...