Air Hydraulic Pumps

Air hydraulic pumps use gas in converting mechanical energy and motion into a more powerful energy source. The air hydraulic pumps’ function and process is similar to the original fluid hydraulic pumps. For this reason, it is better to conceptualize, imagine and explain the process in its original fluid state.

How Hydraulic Pumps Work

The regular mechanical energy once converted into fluid energy or hydraulic energy packs more power which must actually be regulated in certain degrees to be useful to machines. The process of conversion occurs in a pressurized and sealed vessel where a premeasured hydraulic fluid passes through two chambers.

In the first chamber pistons have been put in place which is activated by the weight of the fluid. As the fluid enters the chamber and fills it, its weight pushes down the pistons causing the entire piston assembly to rotate. And as the fluid exits the chamber, the piston will revert to its former position since it is being relieved of the weight of the fluid. The fluid passes through the next chamber before going back into the first chamber. The second chamber is acting merely as a holding area. Once the fluid reenters the first chamber the entire process begins again.

How Air Hydraulic Pumps Work

The process for the air hydraulic pumps is the same except that instead of the fluid passing through the chambers, it is air or gas that is pressurized in order to occupy space and thus move the pistons. The energy produced is more powerful than in its raw state, meaning the mechanical energy initially injected into the air hydraulic pumps. This energy is manifested when a shaft is connected to the pump. Its rotational movement is so fast that there is a need to attach a hydraulic pump motor to control it and to bring it down to a manageable and useful level.

This type of air hydraulic pumps is the simple type, for the pressure inside the vessel (called the displacement) is not controlled. This is called a positive displacement pump.

The other type which is more complicated in structure for it has embodied within the vessel a mechanism that allows the control of the displacement is called the variable displacement pump in liquid hydraulic pumps, while in air hydraulic pumps it is called the dynamic pump.

Types of Air Hydraulic Pumps

Air hydraulic pumps that are positive displacement pumps also come in three variations like the fluid hydraulic pumps. These variations are the rotary vane, rotary screw type and reciprocating. The rotary vane is the oldest model and is mainly used for vacuum applications and in power steering. Reciprocating hydraulic pumps are the more common ones usually seen in bike shops or gasoline stations for purposes of inflating tires. While the bigger and heavy duty counterpart of this, known as the rotary screw hydraulic pumps, is being used for construction purposes.

Another category of air hydraulic pumps is dependent on the modifications instituted to harmonize it with the unique and special function that it will perform. These hydraulic pumps, also called dynamic or variable displacement pumps, produce a consistent function primarily used in oil refineries, petrochemical and natural gas plants. Air hydraulic pumps are an environmentally safe and friendly innovation compared to its predecessor which requires constant oil changes that are a threat to a healthy environment.