Lubricant Chemistry and Rheology Effects on Hydraulic Motor Starting Efficiency

摘要

The starting efficiency of hydraulic motors is critically important because it is often a limiting criterion in hydraulic system design. One means of improving starting efficiency is to optimize the chemistry of the lubricating fluid. To understand the potential effect of new hydraulic fluid formulations, it is necessary to characterize their physical properties and performance from multiple perspectives. In this work we report a comprehensive characterization of five lubricating fluids with the same viscosity but different additive and base stock compositions. Analysis includes measurement of frictional behavior, thermophysical and rheological properties, and mechanical efficiency in three different hydraulic motors. Trends were analyzed and correlations between the various fluid properties were identified. The results illustrate the importance of operation-specific fluid formulation and comprehensive lubricant characterization.