Course content

Fluid Power is an essential part of many engineering systems. This course will introduce the student to fluid power systems that include the basic design principles of hydrostatic pumps and motors,pressure and flow control valves,ancillary equipment such as accumulators, filters, coolers and reservoirs, and power transmission. Essentially,components required to design an hydraulic system will be discussed.

The course will show how to size and understand the performance of fluid power systems. Both component and system characteristics will be explored. Example circuits will be examined from a linear and non linear perspective and it will be shown how to construct basic non linear dynamic models to explore dynamic performance.

The student will gain an appreciation of the processes involved in the design, and modelling the steady state and transient system performance including non-linearities.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:
The course provides the student with knowledge about:
- Fundamental aspects of hydraulic fluid power systems
- The basic design principles of hydrostatic pumps and motors
- Methods of hydraulic power transmission such as hydrostatic drives and pump / actuator systems
- Pressure and flow control valves
- Ancillary equipment such as accumulators, filters, coolers and reservoirs
- Component losses
- Performance characteristics of pumps and motors
- Assessment of steady state and transient performance of hydraulic systems
- The course gives the student insight about:
- Advantages of using hydraulic systems to transfer power
- System design and component selection
- Performance evaluation

Skills:
The course should enable the student to:
- Size hydraulic components to match the intended system duty in terms of load, flow and pressure requirements
- Understand the basic performance and features of an hydraulic system

General competence:
The course should give the student:
- An appreciation of hydraulic elements that make a complete system
- Knowledge of component performance characteristics
- The ability to assess hydraulic system performance and circuit design
- An appreciation of the processes involved in modeling the steady state and transient system performance including non-linearity.

Learning methods and activities

There will be tutorial exercises and demonstration of fluid power apparatus subject to the status of the laboratory. Most lectures will be supplimented with a PDF files containing lecture notes.
Note; certain lectures can be published electronically (video).

Recommended previous knowledge

Some knowledge of fluid mechanics and control system dynamics would be very helpful. Also some experience using Matlab/Simulink or similar software tool would be advantageous so that the student can construct mathematical models.

Course materials

The course will be supplemented by the Textbook (English) 'Principles of Hydraulic System Design' by Peter J Chapple, ISBN 1 901892 15 8. There will be additional material based on various courses from Vickers and the fluid power courses at the University of Bath, UK.

Credit reductions