Hydraulic Pump

A hydraulic pump is a mechanical device that converts mechanical power into

hydraulic energy. It generates flow with enough power to overcome pressure
induced by the load at the pump outlet. They are used to pump a liquid from
lower pressure area to a high pressure area, increase Flow rate and move liquid
from lower elevation to higher elevation. Hydrostatic pumps are positive
displacement pumps while hydrodynamic pumps can be fixed displacement
pumps. A positive displacement pump makes a fluid move by trapping a fixed
amount and forcing (displacing) that trapped volume into the discharge pipe.
However, some positive displacement pumps use an expanding cavity on the
suction side and a decreasing cavity on the discharge side. Liquid flows into the
pump as the cavity on the suction side expands and the liquid flows out of the
discharge as the cavity collapses. In a positive-displacement pump, slippage is
negligible compared to the pump's volumetric output flow. If the output port were
plugged, pressure would increase instantaneously to the point that the pump's
pumping element
There are two main type of positive displacement pump:

1. Reciprocating pump
2. Rotary pump

Pump Power Input, P =

P=Differential Pressure
Q=Fluid flow rate
= Overall Efficiency

Overall Efficiency, =

Among all the pump, piston pump has the highest efficiency and flow rate.
Piston Pump
The piston pump is a rotary unit which uses the principle of the reciprocating
pump to produce fluid flow. These pumps have many piston-cylinder
combinations. Part of the pump mechanism rotates about a drive shaft to
generate the reciprocating motions, which draw fluid into each cylinder and then
expels it, producing flow. There are two basic types, axial and radial piston;
both area available as fixed and variable displacement pumps. We will discuss
on radius piston pump in this report.
Radial Piston Pump

In a radial piston pump, the pistons are arranged like wheel spokes in a short
cylindrical block. A drive shaft, which is inside a circular housing, rotates a
cylinder block. As the block rotates, centrifugal force, charging pressure, or
some form of mechanical action causes the pistons to follow the inner surface
of the ring, which the rotor centerline is offset from the cylinder block centerline.
The block turns on a stationary pintle that contains the inlet and outlet ports.
Porting in the pintle permits the pistons to take in fluid as they move outward
and discharge it as they move in.. Pump displacement is determined by the size
and number of pistons (there may be more than one bank in a single cylinder
block) and the length of their stroke. Controls can be applied to change a
housings location and thereby vary a pumps delivery from zero to maximum.

2 type of radial piston pump:

Inside impinged radial piston pump outside impinged radial piston pump
Inside impinged radial piston pump

When the cylinder block and piston are rotated in a clockwise direction ,
the piston is forced into its cylinder as it approaches position 2.This action
reduces the volumetric size of the cylinder and forces a quantity of liquid
out of the cylinder and into the outlet port of the pintle. This pumping action is
due to the rotor being off-center in relation to the center cof the cylinder block.

While the piston moves from position 2 to position 3, the open end of the
cylinder passes over the solid part of the pintle; therefore, there is no intake
or discharge of liquid during this time.

As the piston and cylinder move from position 3 to position 4,centrifugal

force causes the piston to move outward against the reaction ring of the
rotor. During this time the open end of the cylinder is open to the intake port of
the pintle and causes it fills with liquid.

While the piston moves from position 4 to position 1, the open end of
the cylinder is against the solid side of the pintle and no intake or discharge of
liquid takes place. After the piston has passed the pintle and starts toward
position 2, another discharge of liquid takes place. Alternate intake and
discharge process repeated as the rotor continue rotates.

In variable models, flow rate changes when the shaft holding the rotating
pistons is moved with relation to the casing. Output can also be varied by
changing the rotation speed

Most of the radial piston pumps has even number of pistons. When a pump has
an uneven number of pistons, no more than one piston is completely blocked
by a pintle at one time, which reduces flow pulsations.
Outside impinged radial piston pump

ADVANTAGES
1. High efficiency
2. High pressure (up to 1,000 bar)
3. Low flow and pressure ripple (due to the small dead volume in the
workspace of the pumping piston)
4. Low noise level
5. Very high load at lowest speed due to the hydrostatically balanced parts
possible
6. No axial internal forces at the drive shaft bearing
7. High reliability

DISADVANTAGES
I. Bigger radial dimensions in comparison to the axial piston pump
II. Generation of noise which can extend to an excessive point.

Application
Machine tools such as displace of cutting emulsion, supply for hydraulic
equipment (cylinders)
high pressure units (HPU) (overload protection of presses)
Automotive sector (automatic transmission, hydraulic suspension control)

Piston pumping unit hydraulic suspension control