The global hydraulics industry is forecast to experience huge growth in the coming years, with the market expected to reach a value of $49.7 billion (£380 billion) by 2027. Hydraulics play a huge part in many systems, so it’s important to be able to know how to address any issues that arise.
If you’re concerned about the status of hydraulic systems and how leaks can affect your processes, this guide on their dangers, as well as the causes, identification methods, and fixes should help to assuage your fears.
The basics of hydraulics leaks – what are they and why are they dangerous?
Hydraulic leaks can occur in any of the components of the system, but the most common points to experience them are in the hoses that the fluid is transported in and the joints of the components where they connect with each other.
The main cause of these leaks is wear from use. Hoses see so much pressurised fluid passed through them that over time they can fray and split, while the repetitive shaking of the machines and systems can cause the component connections to disconnect. Having high-quality hydraulic cylinder parts for those that see the most wear, with seals being a prime example, can help to reduce the chance of leakage.
Not only does a leak cause your systems to use and lose more fluid than usual, but they can be harmful to the lifespan and longevity of your machines. On top of that, from a business perspective, it can put everything from your output to your workforce’s safety at risk, so it’s important to get them identified and repaired quickly.
Detection – what to look for
There are three key identifiers when it comes to hydraulic leak detection:
- Puddles beneath your machine – the fluids in hydraulic systems can vary in colour as they’re made up of water, glycol or oils such as vegetable or mineral. These puddles will also be odourless.
- Levels of fluid dropping – if your gauges show that the levels are not consistent across a few cycles, you could be experiencing a leak. Observing these cycles will help identify any irregularities.
- Irregular performance – you might notice your machine is struggling to produce sufficient pressure as it normally does, or perhaps sudden changes in temperature or worrying noises. All of these problems can be attributed to leaks that are easy to fix, which should be your first option.
Detecting leaks can be difficult as many hydraulic machines are set up in non-sterile environments, meaning they can get dirtied with oil and other materials. While this makes it harder, industrial-grade leak detection kits can be used which utilise fluorescent dyes to pick out the leaks.
Fixing and future prevention
Once you’ve identified that you have a leak, the next step is locating it. This will depend on the size of the system you have in place. Smaller ones are easy to check, as you depressurise the system and, using safety gloves, check all the seals, connectors, and joints.
Some will be as simple as retightening them into place, while damaged components may require replacement or the use of sealant until you have the time or resources to conduct a full replacement.
Larger hydraulic systems may require specialist assistance for advice and repairs. This is advised as the engineers who deal in these systems have expert knowledge of the processes, as well as purpose-built equipment to assess everything from pressure and flow to the temperature of the fluid.
There are also a few things you can do to assure that you’ve reduced the chance of future leaks in your systems. Consulting with manufacturer specifications on how tight the fittings should be can help to further prevent these leaks, as well as replacing any parts showing signs of wear or tear and keeping systems and environments clean to prevent contamination.
