Hydraulic Accumulators

 Device that stores potential energy

 It is a pressure storage reservoir, which stores a non-
compressible hydraulic fluid under pressure either by
gravity, mechanical spring or compressed gas
 Type of accumulators:
 Weight-loaded, or gravity type
 Spring-loaded
 Gas-loaded
 The main reason using accumulators is to reduce pump
power and designed to increase or relieve pressure in
the system.
 Their ability to store excess energy and release it when
needed, accumulators are useful tools in developing
efficient hydraulic systems
 Applications:
 An auxiliary power source
 Leakage compensator
 Hydraulic shock absorber
 Emergency power source
1
Weight-loaded is the oldest
accumulators types.
Often found in older, high-
demand applications such as
steel mills.
Have a large capacity and
uniform output pressure but
present problems with
installation and servicing.

2
S p rin g -lo a d e da ccu m u la to rs a re
g e n e ra lly sm a ll a n d lig h tw e ig h t,
m a kin g th e m u se fu l in m o b ile
a p p lica tio n s.
A sp rin g g ive s a re p e a ta b le
o u tp u t fo rce h o w e ve r, sp rin g -
lo a d e d a ccu m u la to rs a re lim ite d
to sm a ll vo lu m e s a n d p re ssu re
b e lo w 5 0 0 p si.


3
Gas-loaded or also known as hydropneumatic
accumulators
More practical compared the other two types
They use the compressibility of a gas (usually
nitrogen) for storing energy.
It has a fluid compartment and a gas compartment,
with a gas-tight element separating the two.
The fluid section connects to the hydraulic circuit so
that as pressure rises fluid enters the accumulator
and the gas compresses.
Then, as pressure in the system falls, the compressed
gas expands and forces the stored fluid back into
the system.
Standard involved:
 BS I BS EN 14359, ISO 10945:1994, ISO 5596:1999 4
Two main categories:
 Nonseperator type
 Consists a fully enclosed shell
containing an oil port on the
bottom and a gas charging valve
on the top
 Advantage: ability to handle large
volume of oil
 Disadvantage: absorption of the gas
in the oil due to the lack of a
separator cold cause cavitation
and damage the pump
 Separator type
 Commonly used and in this type N o n se p e ra to r typ e
there is a physical barrier between
gas and the oil
 Three major calssifications:
 Piston type
 Diaphragm
5
 Bladder
 Piston
Accumulator
 Have an outer cylinder tube, a
piston element, and sealing
system.
 The cylinder holds fluid pressure
and guides the piston, which
forms the separating element
between gas and fluid.
 Disadvantages:
 Expensive to manufacture and
size limitations.
 Piston and seal friction may
cause problem in low-
pressure systems
 Leakage may occur over a long
period
 Not appropriate to use in shock
absorbers they are too slow to
react to shock waves
 Advantage : ability to handle very
high or low temperature system
fluids through the use of 6
compatible O-ring seals.
 Diaphragm
Accumulator
The diaphragm is
constructed in two
halves which are either
bolted or screwed
together.
Usually containing the
separating element (an
elastomeric diaphragm)
between both halves as
an elastic barrier
between oil and gas
chamber.
Advantage: Small weight-
to-volume ratio
7
 Bladder Accumulator
Consist of a pressure vessel
and an internal
elastomeric bladder that
contains the gas.
Advantage: the positive
sealing between the gas
and oil chambers
The lightweight bladder
provides quick response
for pressure regulating,
pump pulsation, and
shock dampening
applications.

8