Hydromechanical Power Transformation

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Hydromechanical Power Transformation

Maré, Jean‐Charles

Hydromechanical power transformation with unlimited stroke can be performed based on two major concepts: in roto‐dynamic machines, and in positive‐displacement (or volumetric) machines. Positive‐displacement machines are well suited to power hydraulics which is based on energy transport in hydrostatic form. This chapter focuses on cylinders and positive‐displacement machines. From a purely functional point of view, power transformation between the mechanical and hydraulic domains can be carried out without loss. The chapter deals with the major technological shortcomings, namely, energy losses, fluid compressibility, wall deformation, pulsations, and drainage, that have an impact on hydromechanical power transformation in practice. On aircraft, hydraulic power generation is most often centralized. Hydraulic power is generated from pressure‐compensated variable displacement pumps. For certain applications where missions are extremely short, it is possible to bypass the use of a pump by, instead, simply relying on high pressure fluid reservoirs that are pressurized by a gas.