Fluid Power Systems (ME353)

Fall 2012
Lecture 2

Fluid Power Standards

and Symbols

Standardization
Standards affect our daily
activities:
Health and safety issues
Quality of manufactured
goods
Service industry
Standards can be defined in
many ways.
In manufacturing, a standard is
usually a set of specifications
that define a procedure or
product

 In general, the standardizing process is

carried on by:

Trade and business associations

Scientific and professional societies
General membership associations
Testing and certifying groups
Consortia with a common interest
Government

 International standards-coordinating
organizations exist to assist the many groups
involved in standards development
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is
the primary American coordinating group
International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) is the international coordinating group

Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

 Professional organizations provide related services to the fluid

power and other industries
They provide:
Technical information
Training
Standardization
Product testing services
Examples of professional organizations include:
American Petroleum Institute (API)
ASTM International
ASME
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL)
Standards from the American Petroleum Institute affect
common items such as motor oil.

 The four professional organizations in the fluid

power area are:

National Fluid Power Association (NFPA)

Fluid Power Distributors Association (FPDA)
International Fluid Power Society (IFPS)
Fluid Power Educational Foundation (FPEF)

These four professional organizations act in the areas of:

Manufacturers and distributors association activities
Standards development
Professional society functions
Educational promotion

 Typical standards include information on:

Scope
Purpose
References
Definitions
Identification statements
General rules of the standard
Appendices

Fluid Power Symbols and

Circuit Diagrams

 Symbols are used in all parts of the world for

designating components in fluid power circuits

 Knowledge of common symbols is

considered a valuable tool for anyone
working in the fluid power field
The types of symbols most often
encountered in the fluid power field are:

Graphic
Pictorial
Cutaway
Combination

 Graphic symbols are the most common symbol

type
Relatively simple to draw
More easily standardized than other types
The intent of a graphic symbol is to
represent the:
Type
Functions
Operation
External connections
Does not show the actual
construction of the unit

 Fluid power graphic symbols

consist of basic figures:
Lines
Circles
Squares
Triangles
Dots
Arrows

 For example:
Circles are used to represent components such as pumps,
motors, and pressure gauges
Squares depict valves and conditioning units
Other graphic elements designate the operating medium of the
system, direction of movement, or the source of system energy
For example, a small, equilateral triangle shows the type of
fluid and the direction of energy flow

 A number of mechanisms are used to control the valves in

a fluid power system:
Muscular
Mechanical
Electrical (solenoid)
Pressure (pilot)
Feedback
Control mechanisms are
shown on the end of the
general valve graphic symbol

 Pictorial symbols consist of

line drawings of the exterior
shapes of fluid power
components

Cutaway symbols are miniature

section drawings of the
components

Pictorial symbols and cutaway symbols are very useful in training and other
applications
Pictorial symbols and cutaway symbols do not adapt well to standardization

 Joining of lines in a circuit is represented by a

graphic symbol, which is a dot
Lines that cross without joining are shown as an
arc crossing without a dot

 Basic graphic symbols for energy conversion devices are the

circle and the rectangle
Pumps, compressors, and motors are depicted by circles
Cylinders are represented by rectangles
A capsule is the symbol used to show energy storage devices in
both hydraulic and pneumatic systems
Accumulators are the storage devices found in hydraulic
systems
Air receivers are the primary pneumatic storage devices

 One or more box shapes serve as the basic symbol for control
valves
Each box represents a single valve position.
Boxes are drawn with contiguous sides when the symbol
depicts a multiple-position valve

Basic valve graphic symbols.

 Symbols for pressure control valves are shown as normally

open or normally closed
Normally open valve is open at rest, allowing flow through
the valve
Normally closed valve is closed at rest, blocking flow
through the valve

 Simplified symbol for an adjustable flow control valve shows

an orifice with an arrow drawn diagonally across it.
Arrow indicates the orifice is adjustable
When appropriate, symbols also indicate pressure and
temperature compensation

 A number of reservoir symbols are

shown in a typical circuit diagram
Only one reservoir exists in
most systems
Using multiple reservoir
symbols reduces the
complexity of a diagram by
eliminating the return lines
extending from the components
to the reservoir

Lines returning to the

reservoir

 Fluid-conditioning devices include filters, separators, air dryers,

lubricators and heat exchangers
Basic graphic symbol for fluid conditioning devices is a square
shown resting on one corner

 A number of measuring instruments and specialized

electrical switches are represented by individual symbols
Basic graphic symbol for measuring instruments is a
circle
Basic graphic symbol for switches is a square

 Circuit diagrams provide a variety of information about fluid

power systems for use during system assembly, operation, and
testing.
Schematic diagrams
Component lists
Sequence of operation
Circuit diagram schematics must:
Include all components and connections
Be logically arranged so it is possible to easily follow the
operating cycle of the system

All system components in a circuit diagram should be identified

with a code number to allow easy identification

 A wide variety of technical information can

be included in a circuit diagram

System prime mover information

Flow rating of pumps
Level of filtration
Conductor sizes and weights
Actuator sizes
Pressure settings of valves
Other appropriate information

Hydraulic Fluid
The Energy Transmitting Medium

Functions of a Hydraulic
Fluid
Transmitting the energy to do the work of the system is the primary function of
liquid in a hydraulic system
The fluid is just as important as any of the hardware components
When selecting a fluid, consider its:

Lubricating power
Viscosity
Viscosity stability
Ability to operate in cold temperatures
Oxidation resistance
Ability to separate from water and dirt
Resistance to foaming
Fire resistance

Fluid Properties &

Specifications

1- Density ():
It is defined as a fluid mass per unit volume.

= mass / volume
In the BG system has units of slugs/ftand in SI the
units are kg/m.
The density of a gas is strongly influenced by both
pressure and temperature, but for liquids variations in
pressure and temperature generally have only a small
effect on the value of density.

Density of water as a function of temperature.

The change in the density of water with large variations in
temperature.

 Temperature increases result in expansion of hydraulic fluid,

and a corresponding reduction in density.

The specific volume, v is the volume per unit mass and is

therefore the reciprocal of the density-that is,

v = V/m = 1/

Specific Weight ( ):
It is defined as a fluid weight per unit volume. Thus, specific
weight is related to density through the equation

g
Where g is the gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s ).
In the BG system has units of lb/ftand in SI the units
are N/m.

 Specific Gravity (SG):

It is defined as the ratio of the density of the fluid to the density of
water at 4C (39.2F), and at this temperature the density of water is
1.94 slugs/ft or 1000 kg/m . In equation form ,specific gravity is
expressed as:

SG = / 1000
Since SG is the ratio of densities, then it is dimensionless quantity
and its value does not depend on the system of units used.

 Specific gravity and API gravity

provide comparisons between the
weights of a volume of a substance
and an equal volume of distilled water
Specific gravity can be used with
any material
API system was developed
primarily for petroleum oils

Distilled water has a specific

gravity of 1.0
Distilled water has an API
gravity of 10.0

2- Compressibility of Fluids and Bulk

Modulus (Ev):
A property that is commonly used to characterize compressibility
is the bulk modulus of elasticity, Ev , defined as:

where dp is the differential change in pressure needed to create a differential

change in volume, dV , of a volume V. The negative sign is included since an
increase in pressure will cause a decrease in volume.
The above relation is used with liquids to calculate the volume change due to
pressure change.
For gases the gas low is used
P1 V1 / T1 = P2 V2 / T2
where P and T are the absolute values

 Bulk modulus of hydraulic

fluids increases slightly with
pressure, but decreases sharply
with increases in temperature

3- Viscosity
It is a property describe the resistance of the fluid to the
motion either it is internal resistance between the fluid layers
or between the fluid and the solid boundaries.

For liquids, it is found that the shear stress is proportional to

the rate of shear strain ( Velocity gradient)

 Where the constant of proportionality is called the absolute

viscosity, dynamic viscosity, or simply the viscosity of the
fluid
It can be readily deduced that the dimensions of viscosity
are MLT ,Thus, in BG units viscosity is given as lb.s/ft
and in SI as N.s/m or Pa.s .

 The Kinematic Viscosity

It is defined as the ratio of the absolute viscosity to the
fluid density .i.e.,
The dimensions of kinematic viscosity are L/T and the BG
system are ft/s and SI are m/s.
Important Note:
Dynamic viscosity is often expressed in the metric CGS (centimeter-gram second) system with units of dyne. s/cm. This combination is called a
poise.
In the CGS system, kinematic viscosity has units of cm/s, and this
combination is called a stoke.

For Dynamic viscosity : 1 pa.s = 10 poise = 1000 cp

For kinematic viscosity : 1 m2/s = 104 St = 106 cSt

The effect of temperature on

viscosity

Viscosity of hydraulic fluid is

relatively unaffected by pressure
up to approximately 20.7 to 27.6
MPa Changes in viscosity must
be accounted for above these
pressures.

 Friction is the resistance to movement between two surfaces in contact

The amount of friction depends on:
Roughness of the surfaces in contact
Force pushing the surfaces together
Lubrication reduces friction between two surfaces by placing a layer of
liquid between them
A properly selected liquid produces a film that separates the surfaces and
allows them to freely move past each other
A film of hydraulic oil fills irregularities in contact surfaces

 Viscosity is the internal resistance to flow of a liquid

A liquid with the proper viscosity provides a strong film
that:
Greatly reduces friction between the bearing surfaces of
component parts
Provides a seal between those parts

 Viscosity changes as temperature and pressure of a liquid

change
Warm fluid flows easier than cold fluid
Viscosity index is the rate of viscosity change in
relation to temperature change
The higher the viscosity index number, the lower the
rate of viscosity change

4- Pour point is the ability of a fluid to flow when cold

Important to consider if a hydraulic system is exposed
to cold weather
Should be 6 C below the coldest-expected ambient
system operating temperature

 Flash point is the temperature at

which the fluid vapors form a
flammable mixture with air
Fire point is the temperature at
which the fluid is vaporizing
rapidly enough to support
combustion
Typical operating temperature
range for hydraulic fluid in the
reservoir is 44C to 60C
Operating the system in this
temperature range will result in
an acceptable fluid service life
Maintaining the proper reservoir
fluid temperature is important

 Oxidation rate of a hydraulic fluid is affected by:

Temperature
Air entrainment in the fluid
Contact with metals used in the construction of a system
Contaminants, such as dirt and water, that enter a system
A variety of ASTM standards provide test specifications to
establish rust-, corrosion-, and oxidation-prevention capabilities
of hydraulic fluids
These factors are critical to the service life of system component
parts and the fluid itself

 Demulsibility and foaming characteristics of hydraulic fluids may be

determined by test procedures detailed in ASTM specifications
Results of these tests indicate the ability of a hydraulic fluid to separate
from water that has entered the system and resist foam formation when
air is introduced through components
Petroleum-based fluids must have the ability to easily separate from
water
Select a fluid that resists emulsification
Drain accumulated water from the bottom of the reservoir
Foaming increases fluid oxidation
Caused by air being drawn into system inlet lines or churned into
reservoir fluid
Increases air/fluid contact because of bubble surface area

Fire Hazard:
The possibility of fire exists to some extent in
many hydraulic applications
Petroleum-based fluids can supply adequate safety
levels in many systems
Fire-resistant fluids using water or synthetic bases
are required when higher fire protection is needed

Commonly Used
Hydraulic Fluids

 Although water is readily available and inexpensive, it is not

used alone:
Poor lubricant
Promotes rust
Freezes
Rapidly evaporates at temperatures within the operating
range of many typical hydraulic systems
Most common hydraulic fluid in use consists of petroleum
base blended with additives to produce the desired operating
properties

 Biodegradable hydraulic fluids reduce the harmful effects of

fluid spills on soil and waterways
Biodegradable fluids are:
Primarily vegetable-based oils
Easily broken down by organisms found in nature
Biodegradable fluids are important when reducing
environmental impact

 Soluble-oil emulsion hydraulic fluids are used in metal

forging, extrusion equipment, or other large applications
Fluid designated as an oil-in-water emulsion contains only
1% to 5% percent oil
Extremely fire resistant
Requires typical additives
Subject to freezing
Water-in-oil hydraulic fluids contain approximately 60%
oil and 40% water
Limited anti-wear characteristics
System operating pressures limited
Has limited use because of instability and maintenance
needs

 Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids will not burn without

sustained exposure to an ignition source
Water-oil emulsions
Water-glycol fluids
Synthetic fluids
Water-in-oil emulsion fire-resistant fluids contain
approximately 40% water in an oil base
Not to be confused with soluble-oil emulsions and highwater-content fluids
Called inverted emulsions because water is suspended in oil,
rather than oil in water

 Water-glycol fire-resistant hydraulic fluids usually contain 40%

to 50% water with the remainder a polyglycol
Polyglycol is similar to automotive antifreeze
Fluids adversely affect some seal materials and paint
All synthetic fluids provide excellent fire resistance
- Phosphate esters are the most common synthetic hydraulic
fluids
All synthetic fluids meet the basic requirements of a hydraulic fluid:
-Appropriate viscosity
-Good high-pressure performance
-Good lubrication
Disadvantages of synthetic fluids include:
-Special seal material requirements
-Tendency to dissolve paint
-Environmental toxicity level must be carefully considered before
using in sensitive areas

Hydraulic Fluid Additives

 Chemicals are used as additives in hydraulic fluids to increase

the stability and overall performance of the fluid
Extreme-pressure and anti-wear agents help prevent metal-tometal contact of bearing surfaces to reduce friction and wear
Viscosity-index improvers reduce changes in viscosity as the
fluid changes temperatures
Pour-point depressant allows the fluid to flow freely at lower
temperatures (This is important for fluids used in systems that
are exposed to winter weather)
Oxidation of hydraulic fluids is caused by:
Heat
Exposure to air
Catalytic effects of metal
Oxidation-inhibitor additives reduce oxidation of fluids

 Demulsifier additives increase the fluids surface tension

Promote separation of water from petroleum-based fluids
Any water that enters the system separates more quickly
from the oil
Antifoaming agents reduce surface tension
Allow air bubbles to break down before a sufficient quantity
of foam is formed
Foam causes operational problems in the system
Rust and corrosion inhibitors protect the metal parts of system
components
Rust inhibitors protect ferrous metals
Corrosion inhibitors protect nonferrous metals

Handling and Maintaining

Hydraulic Fluids

 Proper handling and maintenance of hydraulic fluids

reduces system operating cost
Extends the service life of fluids
Reduces the amount of maintenance time spent in
cleaning and flushing systems and replacing system
fluid
Storing new, unused hydraulic fluids
is an important consideration
Store drums in a cool, clean, dry
place
Place drums on their sides to
reduce chances of contamination
Carefully clean drum tops before
removing bungs
Use clean fluid-transfer
equipment

 Reservoir and cylinder rod areas are especially susceptible to

foreign materials entering the system
Seal around pipes entering the reservoir
Filter air that enters the reservoir
Use piston rod wiper rings to prevent dirt from entering
through the cylinder rod seal

 System operating temperature is a major factor in the service

life of hydraulic fluids
Normal operating temperature of reservoir fluid is typically
between 44C and 60C.
Factors causing system fluid to operate above the recommended
temperature are:
High ambient temperatures
Reservoir is too small
Reservoir inlets and outlets too close
System pump has excessive flow capacity
Higher-than-required relief valve setting
Slower-than-necessary circuit sequencing

 A well-designed reservoir helps maintain proper fluid

temperature