September 23, 2019
A hydraulic system is a complicated network of components, hoses, valves, and piping which are commonly found in any heavy-duty machinery. These systems may be diverse in terms of how they operate, but their basic operating principle remains the same – generating force through non-compressible fluids.
Hydraulic systems are commonly found in the steering wheels of a vehicle or applications used for heavy lifting of weights. A hydraulic system is a mechanical process, therefore, it’s vulnerable to regular wear and tear. Some of its components like springs and seals become loose due to leakages and poor fluid filtration. Fluid contamination is considered to be one of the main reasons for the failure of hydraulic systems according to industry experts.
Selecting the right kind of hydraulic oil filter cart is very important. There are lots of variants available in the market right now. It’s advised to consult your original equipment manufacturer OEM before buying a certain fluid as it depends on the kind of device you have. For most of the applications, petroleum-based oil fluids are generally recommended by the experts. Water-oil emulsions, water-glycol, and synthetic hydraulic fluids are also utilized for fire-resistant fluids.
Hydraulic systems will not be able to perform at their best if any of the above four functions get disturbed. Plants can lose thousands of dollars per hour as a result of downtime. The failure of a system can occur due to human error as well. As mentioned earlier, fluid contamination accounts for one of the major causes of system failure – about 70 to 90 percent to be precise. Contamination can be produced by air, water, solid particles, and some reactive chemicals damaging the functionality of fluid in many ways.
A properly functioning hydraulic oil filter cart is required to clean a system of all impurities. It helps in longer service delivery and optimum operating capacity of the system. It’s imperative to change the filters after a specific number of hours or miles of running according to the instructions of your OEM. Some quality filters also come with preinstalled pressure switches that indicate the right time to service the hydraulic filters of your system.
Harvard Filtration provides its industrial customers with world-class filtration systems and filter carts for delivering continuous contamination control solutions. Our range of oil filtration systems is broad enough to meet all your industrial filtration needs. Contact us now if you want to purchase any of our quality filtration system or filter carts.
Fluid filtration is essential because contaminants like dirt, metal particles, and water can damage hydraulic components, leading to system inefficiencies, increased wear and tear, and potential breakdowns. Effective filtration ensures cleaner fluid, which enhances the longevity and performance of the hydraulic system.
Common contaminants include solid particles (dust, metal shavings, or rust), water, air, and degraded oil residues. These contaminants can cause clogging, corrosion, and abrasion, reducing the system’s efficiency and reliability.
Poor filtration can lead to clogged valves, reduced flow rates, and damage to sensitive components like pumps and actuators. It also accelerates wear, increases maintenance costs, and can result in system downtime, affecting overall productivity.
Hydraulic filters should be checked and replaced as per the manufacturer’s recommendations, typically based on operating hours or fluid condition. Regular monitoring of filter indicators and oil cleanliness levels is vital to prevent issues and maintain system efficiency.