What is a Hydraulic Powerpack and How is it Useful?

Posted by VHS Hydraulic Components Ltd on April 26th, 2022

A hydraulic powerpack (HPP) is a self-contained unit that composes of the following main components: - a prime mover (an engine or electric motor), a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic tank reservoir, and a valve. It utilises certain fluids to transmit power from one location to another to generate large amounts of power to drive hydraulic machinery. This portable power delivery system can supply energy for hydraulic mechanisms.

To understand HPP, a good analogy is to consider the function of an electric battery, which stores and supplies energy for a circuit to draw on as and when required. Hydraulic Power Unit’s (HPU’s) are used widely in industrial applications and machines, especially in the cases where there’s no direct access to a power source.

In mobile hydraulic applications, there are mainly three types of hydraulic pumps used: - gear, piston, and vane pumps.

Advantages of Hydraulic Power Packs

• They are efficient power transmitters that can be easily controlled by simple levers and push buttons to start/stop or accelerate/decelerate when required.
• They are suitable for a large weight range as they are made without gears, pulleys, or levers. Maintenance is simple compared to mechanical systems as there are fewer moving parts.
• There are also fewer leak points, making their systems more economical, safer, and simpler.
• The Rexroth hydraulic systems have lower wastage of power as the power transmitted is wholly controlled by simple push buttons and levers.
• Their compact design makes them ideal for places where large power sources are required but only limited space is available for the power source.
• Rexroth hydraulic systems are safe for usage in chemical plants and mines as they do not produce any sparks.

What are Hydraulic Power Packs used for?

Fundamentally, a hydraulic powerpack is used in place of an integrated hydraulic system that supplies power for hydraulic machinery. They are come handy in a range of different situations, especially for outdoor industrial work that’s away from any larger scale, integrated power supply.

How do hydraulic pumps work?

A hydraulic pump generates a flow of energy with enough power to overcome the pressure exerted by the load.

A hydraulic pump performs two functions. Firstly, its mechanical action forms a vacuum at the pump inlet. This vacuum allows atmospheric pressure to move liquid from the reservoir into the inlet line with force and then to the pump. Second, its mechanical action sends this liquid to the pump outlet and then forces it into the hydraulic system.

The pump enables liquid movement or flow, and it doesn’t generate pressure. It produces the liquid flow that is necessary for the generation of pressure. Hence, it works as a function of resistance to fluid flow in the hydraulic system.

For example, there is zero pressure of the fluid at the pump outlet when the pump is not connected to a system (load). However, the pressure for a pump delivering into a system will rise only to a certain required level to overcome the resistance of the load.