We investigated small-scale hydraulic power actuation systems using a system level analysis, where small-scale refers to systems generating 10 to 100 W output power, to determine whether the high power density advantage of hydraulics holds at small sizes. Hydraulic actuator system power density was analyzed with simple physics models and compared to an equivalent electromechanical system comprised of off-the-shelf components. Calculation results revealed that high operating pressures are needed for small-scale hydraulics to be lighter than the equivalent electromechanical system. The analysis was limited to the actuator and conduit as those are the components that must be located on the mechanism. A complete comparison should add the weight and efficiency of the power supply.
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September 2013
Research-Article
Analysis of Small-Scale Hydraulic Actuation Systems
William K. Durfee
William K. Durfee
1
e-mail: wkdurfee@umn.edu
University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Department of Mechanical Engineering
,University of Minnesota,
111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
1Corresponding author.
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Jicheng Xia
e-mail: xiaxx028@umn.edu
William K. Durfee
e-mail: wkdurfee@umn.edu
University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Department of Mechanical Engineering
,University of Minnesota,
111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Mechanisms and Robotics Committee of ASME for publication in the Journal of Mechanical Design. Manuscript received January 11, 2012; final manuscript received May 5, 2013; published online July 2, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Alexander Slocum.
J. Mech. Des. Sep 2013, 135(9): 091001 (11 pages)
Published Online: July 2, 2013
Article history
Received:
January 11, 2012
Revision Received:
May 5, 2013
Citation
Xia, J., and Durfee, W. K. (July 2, 2013). "Analysis of Small-Scale Hydraulic Actuation Systems." ASME. J. Mech. Des. September 2013; 135(9): 091001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024730
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