Hydraulic elevators are frequently disregarded because of the popularity of traction lifts, even though they might be a far better option for a building’s vertical transportation requirements.
Only a few decades after the traction elevator was created, the hydraulic elevator was developed, and it has since been clear that this technology has some advantages over traction elevators.
Just two of the many advantages hydraulic lifts have for building owners are their durability and energy economy.
How does a hydraulic lift operate, though? How do you determine if it’s appropriate for your building? Let’s examine what makes these devices run so efficiently.
Hydraulic elevators
Hydraulic elevators depend on a traction system, This system consists of the elevator shaft, elevator cabin, conveyor frame, and piston-cylinder system. An electronic pump is used to pressurize hydraulic fluid and force it into a cylinder for a hydraulic lift to operate.
The resulting pressure drives a piston, which raises the lift. This works in reverse to lower the lift by lowering the lift cab as pressure decreases.
Because it houses the piston, cylinder, and jack head, the jack module is an essential part of this lift.
For a hydraulic lift to function properly, each of these is required.
Hydraulic technology has developed since its introduction to produce two unique jack applications. The traditional in-ground jack, which is exactly what it sounds like, is the first application. It has a solitary cylinder that is inserted into a round hole.
This hole must be as deep as the lift travels up to fit the cylinder that supports the lift cab as it raises and lowers. If a building or property owner decides against drilling a hole in the ground for the jack.
What Environments Suit Hydraulic Elevators?
Hydraulic lifts can only go so high within a building because they need a piston to drive them upward from below.
Hydraulic lifts are therefore perfect for low-rise installations.
With applications that do not require a machine room, hydraulic lifts enable a quick and safe installation. Comparing them to traction with the same height capacity, they can typically have cheaper lifecycle costs.
Since they provide tenants with the smooth ride they desire while also saving the building energy, hydraulics have long been the gold standard for quality and dependability in low-rise structures. Hydraulic elevators can be advantageous for any sort of building, from residential to commercial.
As we’ve discovered, a variety of considerations come into play when deciding which lift is best for your facility.
Because a piston is required to propel them upward from below, hydraulic lifts are only able to travel a certain height inside a building.
Hydraulic Elevators History
The sort of lift you require may be established by your local lift safety code, but other factors such as the environment, the height of the building, and the floor must also be considered. The choice of application type can be influenced by each of these.
Either a mechanical Y-Delta starter or a solid-state contactor is included with every contemporary hydraulic pump.
Because their windings survive longer and don’t experience voltage drops across their lines, solid-state contactors are better for both the motor and the building’s power supply. Two contactors are used by Y-Delta starters to first start the motor at a low speed before accelerating to full speed.
Old Hydraulic elevators would suddenly start up and shoot full mains power into the motor.
The motor is put under a lot of stress as a result, which causes it to burn out more quickly than motors using Y-Delta or Solid-State Contactor starters.
Read More: The Beautiful Elevator Cabin decorations… Let’s discover it!
The types of Hydraulic elevators
Hydraulic hole
The lift vehicle is positioned on a piston that moves inside a cylinder in pierced hydraulic systems.
The ground is penetrated by the cylinder to a depth equal to the lift’s height.
When hydraulic fluid is injected into the cylinder through a valve, the car raises.
The automobile drops as the fluid flows back into the reservoir. A common name for this system is In Ground hydraulic.
Hydraulic without holes
The early to mid-1970s saw the development of holeless hydraulic lifts.
This is a particularly good option for structures built on bedrock, in areas with a high water table, or areas with unstable soil.
Hydraulic rope
Without the use of a subterranean cylinder, a roped hydraulic lift, sometimes referred to as an indirect-acting lift, may raise objects to 18 meters (60 feet) in the air.
The 1:2 ratio (power from the hydraulic power unit: actual moving distance of the lift) can be offered due to the higher power of the hydraulic cylinder and power unit. In systems with roped hydraulic elevators, the piston is connected to a sheave that has a rope running through it.
The car is fixed at one end, while the other end is fastened at the base of the hoistway. Additionally, a governor is needed in roped hydraulic systems because the rope is supporting the vehicle and there is a chance that it could tumble to the ground if the rope were to fail.
The disadvantage of Hydraulic Elevators
The possibility of hydraulic oil spilling into an aquifer and potentially contaminating the environment exists with older hydraulic lifts. In response, PVC liners (casings) that can be checked for integrity have been added to the area around hydraulic cylinders.
Additionally, older hydraulic lift systems frequently have a motor outside the tank that generates noise when it is operating.
However, this arrangement is no longer utilized in hydraulic lifts installed in the mid-1990s and later, after the invention of the submersible hydraulic power unit. Since the oil in the tank absorbs sound, the motor is housed inside it.
Many low-rise buildings continue to make effective use of hydraulic lifts.
Hydraulic lifts are powered by a piston rather than steel ropes or belts which significantly lowers maintenance expenses.
hydraulic elevators have a great weight capacity, which enables them to move very large items.
Additionally, they are more sustainable than ever thanks to new biodegradable fluid alternatives.
Read More: What is the best elevators for the disabled?