After leaks, overheating is the second most common problem that occurs with hydraulic equipment. Inefficiencies are what causes the heating of hydraulic fluid while in operation, which will result in losses of input power, which is then converted to heat.
If you’re experiencing overheating problems in your hydraulic systems, there are two solutions that can help you with this problem. You can choose to either decrease the heat load or increase the heat dissipation. Start by checking the reservoir fluid level and fill it to the correct level if you see that it’s low because hydraulic systems dissipate heat through the reservoir. Always check that there are no obstructions to the airflow around the area in terms of dirt build-up or debris.
Next, inspect the heat exchanger to ensure that the core is not being blocked. This is very important because the heat exchanger’s ability to dissipate heat is dependent on both the flow rate and the temperature of the hydraulic fluid and the cooling air or the water that is circulating through the exchanger. If you see that there is an issue with the performance of the cooling circuit components, replace them right away.
You can use an infrared thermometer to check the performance of a heat exchanger so long as the design flow rate of the hydraulic fluid through the exchanger is known. Measure the temperature of the oil entering and exiting the exchanger and substitute the values using a specific formula that a professional hydraulic company can provide.
A pressure drop will cause heat to generate, meaning that any of the components in the system that have internal leakage will increase the heat load on the system, causing it to overheat. This could occur for a number of reasons, including a cylinder leaking high-pressure fluid past its piston seal to a relief valve that has been incorrectly adjusted. For this reason, you must replace any of the heat-generating components that don’t look right, and in many cases, an expert is needed to help identify the component that is causing the problem.
No matter what is causing the hydraulic system to overheat, you must shut it down right away to get to the root of the cause and fix it. Continuing to operate when the fluid is at an incorrect temperature is dangerous and the damage is inevitable. If you start to see that the system is overheating, you need to identify the cause so that you can resolve the issue.
If you need an expert to help you get to the bottom of it, the professionals at Go Hydraulics can help. They can assist with hydraulic cylinder repair as well as pump repairs, so give them a call today to prevent your system from overheating.
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