4 Vital Reasons Why Industrial Equipment Uses Hydraulic Fluid

4 Vital Reasons Why Industrial Equipment Uses Hydraulic Fluid

Whether it is a piece of heavy equipment on a construction project or a vital piece of equipment in a manufacturing plant, industrial equipment takes a beating day in and day out. To keep this type of equipment running smoothly and allow companies to be as productive as possible, hydraulic fluid takes on a role that is likely much more prominent than you ever imagined. As to why industrial equipment uses hydraulic fluid, here are four crucial reasons.

1- Lubrication

The most important reason industrial equipment uses hydraulic fluid is arguably lubrication. When equipment such as this is in operation, there are numerous metal parts in constant motion and moving back and forth across each other. If hydraulic fluid was not being used, these parts would wear down and cause equipment breakdowns, leading to a halt in productivity. Since hydraulic fluid contains a variety of lubricants such as mineral oil or even vegetable oil, it can pump through a piece of equipment and keep pistons, valves, and gears running smoothly.

2- Removes Contaminants

You may not realize that hydraulic fluid also removes contaminants from the inner workings of all types of industrial equipment. Even in pieces of equipment that contain almost full-proof seals, no sealing system is perfect. As a result, various pieces of metal, grime, and chemicals break off within equipment during operations and can cause extra wear and tear on certain components. However, as hydraulic fluid is pumped throughout the system, its chemical makeup allows it to attach to harmful particles and flush them out as the fluid circulates.

3- Transfer of Heat

In pieces of heavy equipment that rely on high-performance final drive motors to perform various tasks on a construction site, overheating is one of the biggest concerns and reasons for equipment breakdown. Yet when hydraulic fluid levels are properly maintained, this is one problem that can be quickly eliminated. Overheating occurs when various moving parts within equipment create friction by coming into contact with metal surfaces. However, as hydraulic fluid pumps through the equipment, it is able to create radiant cooling and ensure gears and other parts do not overheat and break down.

4- Generation of Power

Yes, if industrial equipment of any type did not have hydraulic fluid pumping inside it, there would be no generation of power to allow the machine to operate. Hydraulic fluid is what’s known as an incompressible fluid, meaning that even as tremendous amounts of pressure build-up within the equipment, hydraulic fluid is able to easily continue pumping and be transferred from place to place within the machinery. Simply put, when force begins to be applied at one spot within the equipment, hydraulic fluid quickly moves and transfers that force to another spot, making sure pumps, pistons, and motors function properly.

Hydraulic fluid allows industrial equipment to perform heavy-duty tasks under the toughest of conditions. Using its ability to generate power, provide radiant cooling, rid equipment of harmful contaminants, and transfer heat away from gears and motors, hydraulic fluid can keep any type of state-of-the-art industrial equipment operating at peak efficiency.