How, Why, and When to apply electric motors to mobile ...

1 Parker Hannifin 2008 Global mobile Sales Meeting & Symposium Whitepaper # 0001. How, Why, and when to apply electric motors to mobile hydraulic systems Patrick Berkner Automation Group Electromechanical Automation Division 2101 North Broadway, New Ulm, MN 56073. Keywords: ( , fuel reduction, efficiency, emissions, on-demand). Introduction The price of fuel has almost doubled over equipment manufacturers moving from full the last year and a half. Up to this point, fuel hydraulics to electro-hydraulic systems. A. has been relatively inexpensive. Most electro-hydraulic system is simply the companies weren't concerned about fuel integration of an electric motor or servo conservation, fuel efficiency, mpg, or gph motor to a hydraulic pump, along with the (gallons per hour) when operating a piece of necessary electronics and controls.

2 This construction equipment or a mobile vehicle. sounds somewhat simple to implement, and That has changed. Now the world has it can be straightforward, once the basics record high fuel prices and fuel conservation are understood behind an electro-hydraulic and fuel efficiency are openly being system. discussed. There are similarities between a hydraulic and an electro-hydraulic system. Take, for example, the mechanical makeup of a hydraulic system. There is the oil reservoir, hydraulic pump, and control valves. Driving this could be an IC (internal combustion) engine of some type.

3 The comparable electric system would be a battery (for storage), electric servo motor /. generator, an amplifier (or inverter) for controlling the motor and, again, an IC. engine. This has led construction equipment when comparing a hydraulic pump manufacturers and any mobile vehicle to an electric motor even the formulas for suppliers, who normally are using full basic HP is similar. hydraulic systems, to try to find ways to make their hydraulic systems or mobile HP = T (in-lbs) x RPM / 63025. vehicles more fuel efficient. We all know about the Toyota Prius hybrid automobile, HP = Pressure (psi) x Flow (gpm) / 1714.

4 But what about the Caterpillar D9E electric dozer? There are now more mobile Copyright 2008 to the present, Parker Hannifin Corporation Page 1 As can be seen, motor torque engineers may not be familiar how the corresponds to hydraulic pressure, and electric side of a hydro- electric system is motor rpm corresponds to pump flow. configured, what the terminology is, or how In a hydraulic-based, mobile system, to implement an electric motor , drive, and a diesel engine (or any IC engine) drives a controls on a vehicle. The components of hydraulic pump to create hydraulic power.

5 The electric side of hydro- electric will now be The hydraulic power is distributed discussed. throughout the vehicle. In an electro- hydraulic system, the diesel engine will now electric motors drive an electric generator, which now generates electric power vs. hydraulic AC Induction Technology power. This electric power is distributed throughout the mobile vehicle. That electric There are a few electric motor technologies power is now used to run an electric motor , in the market. The most common are AC. which now drives a hydraulic pump. The induction motors , and the other technology electric power is also used to run any other is AC servo motors .

6 electric device on the mobile vehicle, such Most people are as electric fans, AC units, or power steering most familiar with an AC. pumps. Any excess electric energy is stored induction motor . That motor in batteries or capacitors for later use. technology is very old and is when a servo motor is provided with by far the most common electric energy, it converts this electric motor technology out there. energy into rotational motion. That same It is simple to use. You merely plug the electric motor can also be a generator, motor into a wall outlet and the motor runs.

7 Whereas rotational energy back-drives the Most water pumps, house fans, and motor , and this rotation is converted into industrial-based hydraulic power supplies electrical energy. This electrical energy can use this technology. The power output of an now be stored in batteries, much like a AC induction motor is from fractional HP to hydraulic accumulator stores hydraulic over 1000 HP. The disadvantages of AC. energy. induction motors are they are a low energy It must be noted that not all mobile efficient motor , in the 70% - 80% range at vehicles will implement a full electro- best.

8 Another deficiency of AC induction hydraulic solution. motors is they have a very poor power This is dependent upon the HP density (power (HP) / volume), meaning needed for a certain action. A typical front- they are large and heavy relative to the end loader may use an electro-hydraulic amount of power it can produce. A drive or solution to raise and lower the bucket. The inverter can be connected to these motors power required to do this may be in the 50 to allow the motors to run at a variable 80 HP range. That same vehicle would speed. This drive is relatively inexpensive to probably not use electro-hydraulic for operate an AC induction motor .

9 Vehicle propulsion. Some construction A major advantage vehicles need power to propel the vehicle to an AC induction motor is well in the 300 400 HP range; most its low cost. AC induction electric motors can not supply that power motors use outer copper easily. coils and iron bars on the motor 's rotor to cause motor rotation. There It is common for most hydraulically are no magnets in an AC induction motor . experienced engineers to be very familiar Due to the absence of magnets, this motor with how a hydraulic system is configured, is relatively inexpensive, compared to a what the terminology is, and how to permanent magnet AC motor , which will be implement a hydraulic system.

10 Those same discussed next. Since there are so many of Copyright 2008 to the present, Parker Hannifin Corporation Page 2 these motors produced yearly, it is a with the necessary circuitry in the amplifier commodity item. and the permanent magnets, makes this motor design more expensive. The following table compares the power density, weight, and price of the two motor technologies. Note how the power density of the AC servo motor is 2 3 times more than the AC induction motor and also 2 4 times lighter also. However, the AC. servo is also 2 times more expensive than the AC induction motor .