Hydraulic oil coolers prevent the hydraulic system’s oil from overheating. Heated oil wears down seals, reduces system efficiency and shortens equipment lifespan.
Hydraulic oil coolers are heat exchangers that cool the hydraulic system’s oil by passing it through a radiator-like core and using ambient air or water to remove excess heat. They can be used in a variety of applications.
Temperature Control
When hydraulic oil is heated up, it loses its proper viscosity. This makes it difficult to maintain proper hydraulic operations. Overheated hydraulics are also prone to damaging seal compounds and causing internal leaks.
A hydraulic oil cooler works to lower the maximum operating temperature of the fluid and its components, extending their lifespan. This is accomplished through a larger surface area to cool the oil and circulating it in a continuous loop.
Coolers can be installed as a return line or off-line circulation. The location of the inlet and outlet pipes to the cooler will need to be carefully considered. It is important to determine the maximum system (oil entering) and reservoir (oil exiting) temperatures as well as an acceptable safety factor to allow for contingencies in sizing the unit.
Pressure Regulation
Hydraulic machines generate a lot of heat. Friction between system components generates it as they move hydraulic fluid from one point to another. Internal motor and pump leaks cause pressures to drop generating even more heat. Coolers help keep temperatures below their maximum working range.
Oil temperatures above 85oC (185oF) cause energy consumption which reduces the life of the hoses and seals and degrades the lubrication properties of the oil. Bowman offers a variety of heat exchangers with air or water as the cooling medium. Air oil coolers resemble car radiators with a fan pushing air across pipe coils while water-based hydraulic oil coolers consist of a shell and tube design with the oil-carrying pipes being separated from the cooling medium.
Our range of water coolers is available in a choice of materials including 304L and 316L stainless steel for use with fresh or seawater and copper-nickel for land-based applications. We also offer a marine specification for corrosive environments using a high-performance titanium tube stack.
Safety
Coolers are essential to the proper function of hydraulic systems. They prevent oxidation of oil and degradation of seals, hoses, and other components. They also protect against foaming and sludge buildup and enable optimal operating conditions in even the most extreme working environments.
Hydraulic coolers remove excess heat from a hydraulic system by passing oil through a radiator-like core and cooling it with air or water. They are widely used in a wide range of applications including construction, agriculture, and mining.
The construction industry accounts for a significant share of sales of hydraulic oil coolers. It is important to have sufficient cooling capacity to maintain optimal temperature and performance in large hydraulic equipment such as excavators, wheeled tractor scrapers, bulldozers, and other vehicles. However, it is also important to avoid excessive cooling, which can cause problems such as overheating of the hydraulic oil and system downtime. For these reasons, it is important to choose the correct size hydraulic cooler.
Maintenance
Hydraulic oil coolers are a necessity for any equipment that uses hydraulic fluid. They work to cool the oil in order to prevent overheating and contamination which is the number one cause of hydraulic system failures. They can be used in Hydraulic Power Packs, Power Washers and anything else that uses hydraulic fluid. They are commonly found in round tube and fin construction, but can also be offered as a brazed plate product to meet higher pressure capabilities.
Most cooler types work on a conductive transfer principle which sees heat in the oil conducted to the cooling medium upon exposure. This process ensures that thermal saturation and equilibrium are never reached.
It is important to regularly check your hydraulic oil cooler and reservoir to ensure that they are clean. Any dirt or debris restricting airflow will cause your system to overheat and potentially damage the hydraulic system components. Keeping the temperatures in their recommended range will prolong the life of your hydraulic equipment.