There have been many attempts over the past 40 years to replace hydraulic systems with other technologies. The reason being, says Professor Josef Kurfess from Ulm University in Germany, is that “apart from their undisputed advantages, hydraulic systems and applications were considered coarse and clumsy, and only really of any use in rough industrial settings. They were also deemed inefficient energy hogs prone to leakages.”
In recent years, he adds, the energy debate “has ferociously challenged hydraulic systems, and more and more electric solutions have tried to take on the leading role. Some have even predicted that hydraulic systems would share the same fate as the dinosaurs.”
But that is not the case. A multitude of innovations, developments and enhancements are seeing hydraulic systems and applications improve considerably – and sustainably, Kurfess says, adding that “there’s no end in sight. Hydraulic systems are undergoing a renaissance because they are strong, robust and work more reliably than most comparable technologies.”
Little by little, hydraulic systems are regaining ground lost because of the following chief reasons.
- Hydraulic systems and applications are becoming more intelligent
Thanks to new ways of thinking and development approaches that focus on systems, hydraulic technology is becoming more efficient, versatile and precise, says Kurfess of Ulm University. “By integrating high-performance electronics and control software, hydraulic systems are constantly becoming more ‘intelligent.’ All the while, the software also ensures that increasingly complex systems are becoming easier to operate.”
Moreover, the focus on systemic factors is reaching out into more and more areas.
Control valves are becoming even more precise and faster, and oils and fluids are also advancing further, he notes. Development of fluid sensors that detect wear and report when a part should be exchanged “is quite conceivable.”
Seals are becoming more application-specific and being developed in line with their intended use. They will reconcile the two opposing objectives of minimizing friction while maximizing sealing performance.
- Autonomous systems are feasible
Hydraulic systems will gradually become even more intelligent, Kurfess believes, and will be self-monitoring by using high-performance sensors. Maintenance will not be carried out during downtime, but dynamically.
“Depending on the state and load of the hydraulic system, reports will be displayed indicating required maintenance or when to change components or fluids,” he says.
“All of this will be accompanied by the highest possible energy efficiency and even greater overall efficiency, and this isn’t even taking Industry 4.0 into account. Quite conceivably, completely autonomous systems will exist in the future that will monitor and service themselves.”
The term Industry 4.0, says Science World Report, was coined to describe smart factories, intelligent machines and networked processes that facilitate and result from the fourth industrial revolution which “merges the existing vast industrial infrastructure with the Internet of Things and Cloud Computing, creating a direct and real-time interface between the virtual and physical worlds.”
About the Author
