The Development Tendency of Hydraulic Technology

Hydraulic technology is the key to achieve modern transmission and control. The countries in the world attach great importance to the development of hydraulic industry. The global total sales of hydraulic components achieve USD 35 billion. According to the statistics, the sales volume of hydraulic industry accounts for 2%~3.5% of the output value of mechanical industry in the major countries. However, the proportion is only 1% in China. This shows China has lower utilization rate for hydraulic technology. The technology will have broad development prospect in China if the utilization is enlarged. The hydraulic pneumatic technology has unique advantages. The hydraulic technology is advantaged by high power-weight ratio, small volume, high frequency response, good pressure, flow controllability, and flexible transmission power, and easy to implement linear motion, etc. The pneumatic drive is advantaged by energy saving, no pollution, low cost, high security and dependability, and simple structure, and easy to combine with microelectronics and electrical technology to form automatic control system.

Therefore, hydraulic pneumatic technology is widely applied in national economic sectors. Because the high-tech achievements such as automation technology, computer technology, microelectronic technology, dependability, new process, and new material applied in hydraulic technology, which greatly developed the traditional technology for hydraulic products and improved the product quality. 

However, it is impossible to make amazing technological breakthrough for hydraulic technology in the 21st century. We should depend on the improvement and expansion of the existing technology, and constantly enlarge its application to meet the future requirements. The primary development tendency will focus on the following aspects. Energy loss is unavoidable in the process of transforming the mechanic energy to pressure energy by using hydraulic technology and anti-conversion process. We must solve the following problems to reduce energy loss: Reduce the internal pressure loss of components and systems to reduce power loss; Reduce or eliminate system damper loss, and reduce overflow for non-security purpose to the minimum; Adopt static pressure technology and new sealing material to reduce friction loss; Improve the performance of the hydraulic system, and adopt load-sensing system, secondary regulation system, and accumulator circuit. The leakage control includes: Firstly, prevent the environmental pollution caused by liquid leakage. Secondly, prevent damage to the system caused by the external environment.

In the future, we will develop leakage proof components and systems, such as developing integrated and composite components and systems, realizing non-pipe connection, and developing new sealed and non-leakage pipe joints, motor pump assemblies, etc.