Unloading System for Energy Saving
An “unloading” system is used to divert pump flow to a tank during part of the operational cycle to reduce power demand. This is done to avoid wasting power idle periods. For example, it is often desirable to combine the delivery of two pumps to achieve higher flow rates for higher speed while a cylinder is advancing at low pressure. However, there may be considerable portions of the cycle, such as when the cylinder is moving a heavy load, when the high speed is no longer required, or cannot be sustained by the prime mover. Therefore, one of the two pumps is to be unloaded resulting in a reduction of speed and consequently, power. The components of this system are: A, B: Hydraulic pumps, C, E: Pilot operated Spring loaded Relief valves, D: Check valve
Mode 1: Both Pumps Loaded
In Figure 28.1 below, when both pumps are delivering, oil from the pump A passes through the unloading valve C and the check valve D to combine with the pump B output. This continues so long as system pressure is lower than the setting of the unloading valve C.
Mode 2: One pump unloaded
In Fig. 28.1, when system pressure exceeds the setting of the unloading valve C, it makes pump A to discharge to the tank at little pressure. Although the system pressure, supplied by pump B, is high, the check valve prevents flow from B through the unloading valve. Thus only pump B now drives the load at its own delivery rate. Thus the load motion becomes slower but the power demand on the motor M also reduces. If the system pressure goes higher, say because load motion stops, pump B discharges when its relief valve settings would be exceeded.
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