The illustration shows how hydraulic fluid, under hot operating conditions, becomes thinner and “leaks” past the vanes of this hydraulic pump.
“One of the primary beneficiaries of the fuel savings are operators of fleets of construction equipment, such as excavators and wheel loaders,” explains Dynavis Technology marketing manager Dr. Oliver Eyrisch. “With today’s relatively high costs for diesel fuel, Dynavis Technology opens the door to savings well into the six-figure range for operators of large fleets of equipment."
More power, less fuel
Dynavis Technology saves fuel and preserves hydraulic power by reducing a power-sapping phenomenon in hydraulic fluid pumps known as “internal leakage.” All types of hydraulic pumps are vulnerable to internal leakage, which occurs to a greater or lesser extent depending on working conditions.
Internal leakage in a pump typically occurs after several hours of hard work when hydraulic oil becomes hot. Ordinary monograde hydraulic fluids become thinner and “backwash” through pump vanes or pistons, instead of moving in the intended direction. The result is a noticeably sluggish and delayed response to the equipment operator’s commands. In fact, the unwanted recirculation caused by internal leakage compounds the problem by further increasing friction and adding more heat to an already hot fluid.
When internal leakage occurs, the pump operator tries to compensate for the lost power by stepping on the gas pedal, or increasing fuel consumption (also known as "afternoon slump"). Unfortunately, this tends to make matters worse, as the additional friction of the oil forced through the pump's narrow sealing gaps causes the fluid to become even hotter. The hydraulic system's performance continues to deteriorate into a vicious cycle of increased recirculation and higher operating temperatures — until the fluid is so overheated that vapor locks develop, and the entire hydraulic system comes to a halt.
