A Self-Contained Electro-Hydraulic Cylinder with Passive Load-Holding Capability

Damiano Padovani, Søren Ketelsen, Daniel Hagen and Lasse Schmidt
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Damiano Padovani: Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, 4879 Grimstad, Norway
Søren Ketelsen: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark
Daniel Hagen: Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, 4879 Grimstad, Norway
Lasse Schmidt: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: Self-contained electro-hydraulic cylinders have the potential to replace both conventional hydraulic systems and the electro-mechanical counterparts enhancing energy efficiency, plug-and-play installation, and reduced maintenance. Current commercial solutions of this technology are limited and typically tailor-made, whereas the research emphasis is primarily on cost efficiency and power applications below five [kW]. Therefore, there is the need of developing more flexible systems adaptable to multiple applications. This research paper offers a contribution in this regard. It presents an electro-hydraulic self-contained single-rod cylinder with passive load-holding capability, sealed tank, capable of recovering energy, and scalable up to about eighty [kW]. The system implementation on a single-boom crane confirms its feasibility: The position tracking error remains well within ±2 [mm], oscillations are limited, and the overall energy efficiency is about 60 [%] during actuation. Concerning the passive load-holding devices, it is shown that both vented and non-vented pilot-operated check valves achieve the desired functioning and can hold the actuator position without consuming energy. Additional observations about the size and the arrangement of the load-holding valves are also provided. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates that the proposed self-contained cylinder can be successfully extended to several practical applications, especially to those characterized by overrunning external loads and the need of securing the actuator position.

Keywords: Self-contained cylinders; electro-hydraulic systems; load-holding valves; modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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