The Latest Innovations and Technology in Hydraulics and its Scope in Future
Hydraulics is a matured industry, but still, it requires improvements to become a part of the digital world. The fact is, current hydraulic industry have several drawbacks. The hydraulic experts are working on these issues for improving energy efficiency, reliability, energy storage, and redeployment capabilities. So, the latest technology in hydraulics will focus on improvements in these areas by reducing the size and environmental hazards.
Today, most of the hydraulic systems are used to lift, pick or grasp things. Such systems have a wide range of application in various industries like construction, manufacturing, automobile, medical, etc. But soon the new hydraulic technology will bring advancements to these existing technologies and applications.
Also Read: Hydraulics Basics for Beginners
The latest hydraulics innovations are focussing on renewable energy applications, smart user interfaces, load sensing valve technology, and hybrid actuation systems. Some of the applications of these are mentioned below.
Hybrid actuation systems
Hybrid Actuation System (HAS) is ideal for harsh power generation environments such as those used with solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric dams. HAS can be combined with an integrated Intellinder sensor, that eliminates the complexity of gun drilling and unprotected external sensors. This system improves efficiency without any complex maintenance.
Smart user interfaces
The hydraulic industry is moving forward to create user interface applications. Already, Parker has succeeded in developing a UX Toolkit software tool that simplifies all applications of the machine. This application included core machine functions, smart control systems, diagnostics or prediction applications that decrease downtime, or GPS monitoring and navigation applications. Using Parker’s pro display HMI module, the desired features can be centralized into a single display and a uniform user interface.
Load sensing valve technology
EQA (Electric Flow Amplifier) EcoFormance technology bring advancements in load sensing valves by improving the machine control. This technology is used in mining, forest and construction machines. Similarly, IQAN connect is another product by Parker that monitor and control mobile machines.
Expandable SKF Quickgrip Bolt
These new generation bolts are used to connect two rotating flanges quickly, reliably and easily. These SKF Quickgrip Bolts can be applied to all types of critical applications such as propulsion systems. It eliminates potential slippage and it can transfer both heavy radial and axial loads.
Hydraulic Design Tools
Most of the current generation hydraulic design tools included one-dimensional modeling. But, soon the industry will convert into two dimensional or 3D modeling. This will improve the project quality and resiliency. This technology can locate and illustrate patterns of flow discharge, water surface elevations, depth, velocity, and shear stress. Thus, it provides accurate data for the planning and design team.
Also Check: Applications of Hydraulic System in Daily Life
Future of the hydraulics industry
A few years back, hydraulic was considered as a dying industry. Because nobody wanted to become a hydraulic professional due to the danger in that field. But now the situation has changed, this industry will be there in the next century also.
Hydraulics is there from the 17th century onwards. When you consider the applications of hydraulics from the past to the present, the growth of hydraulic industry will become clearly visible for you. The early inventions included piston pumps and water clocks and now it has reached on robotics and heavy equipment.
Recently most of the hazardous industrial applications use hydraulic power transmission method. Because electrical sparks will create accidents on potentially combustible atmospheres. Also, the advancements in reactance-based technology will create more opportunity for hydraulics.
