Hydraulic Accumulator

Hydraulic Accumulator Points : Hydraulic Accumulator A hydraulic accumulator is a device in which potential energy is held under pressure in the form of a compressed gas or spring or by a raised weight to be used to exert a force against a relatively incompressible fluid.

Accumulators are useful in fluid power systems to store energy and to smooth out, pulsation. They can be used in a hydraulic system to reduce the size of the fluid pump by supplementing the pump flow. This is done by storing energy from the pump during low demand periods. They can be used as a surge or pulsation dampener or absorber. They will cushion hammer, reducing shocks caused by rapid operation or sudden starting and stopping of power cylinders in a hydraulic circuit. Accumulators can be used to stabilize pressure changes in hydraulic systems when liquid is subjected to rising or falling temperatures. They may be used to dispense fluids under pressure, such as lubricating greases and oils.

The most common accumulators used today are hydro-pneumatic types. They use a gas as a spring cushion In conjunction with a hydraulic fluid, the gas being separated by a piston or a thin diaphragm or bladder.