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Accumulators store energy using pressure to control the flow and potency of liquids and gases. The main types are hydraulic and water-air combination, with three types of separators: bag, diaphragm, and piston. Bladder, diaphragm, and piston styles differ in pressure ratios and efficiency. Water accumulators use water instead of gas to build pressure and are used in office water coolers.
An accumulator is a storage unit that uses pressure to store energy. Accumulators are used to control the flow and potency of liquids and gases through the machine to which they are connected. The main types of accumulators are hydraulic and water-air combination.
A hydraulic accumulator, or pressure accumulator, is used to absorb shocks, maintain pressure, deliver fluids, and provide backup power to the foreline pump. One of the major differences in accumulators is the way gases and fluids are stored and converted. The part of the unit that keeps the fluid and gas apart is called the separator. There are three types of separators: bag, diaphragm and piston.
In a bladder style, an internal tank called a bladder is filled with nitrogen. As the bladder fills, the pressure increases until it exceeds the preset limit. When the pressure exceeds the limit, a valve at the top opens and hydraulic fluid enters and flows to the area of the machine that requires lubrication.
With a diaphragm style, a cylinder is welded into the center of the accumulator and gas is entered through the diaphragm. As the pressure builds, the cylinder fills up, and when the pressure reaches its maximum setting, a valve opens and fluid enters. The main difference between bladder and diaphragm styles is the amount of pressure they can handle. The bladder style has a pressure ratio of 4:1 while the diaphragm style has a pressure ratio of 10:1. The higher the ratio, the smoother the system can hold, which makes it more efficient.
In a piston style, the piston is mounted inside the unit above the cylinder which contains the gas. As gas is forced into the cylinder, the piston moves to maintain pressure. When the pressure reaches its maximum, the piston opens to release the gas and allow the flow of hydraulic fluid. This type of accumulator is often used in large devices such as heavy tractor equipment. The piston type, however, is designed for more continuous use, so it typically cannot hold gas under pressure for long periods of time.
A water accumulator works similar to a hydraulic accumulator. The main difference is that instead of using gas to build pressure, water is used. As air fills the accumulator tank, the valve opens and expels the water. This technology is how most office water coolers work. When someone turns the valve to release the water, the air pushes the water level towards the release valve.
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