Guide To Select The Best Hydraulic Fluid

The present-day working environment overtly demands hydraulic systems to operate at high temperature, pressure and speed.  Such an ideal pressure, speed and temperature aid equipment to work to the best of its abilities. All such idealities are created within a system if it is lubricated using the best hydraulic fluid. With so many significant products (HydraulicRams, Hydraulics Cylinder, Manifold Block, etc.) running on the technology, the need to select the best fluid has become urgent.

A first-rate hydraulic fluid:-

•   Enhances operational efficiency of an equipment
•   Fosters operational performance
•   Minimizes the equipment’s wear
•  Lets the machinery withstand the harshest of working atmospheres

For performing such diverse roles, the fluid must have excellent physical and chemical properties to deal with the duty cycle’s rigorousness as well as environment’s hostility. Owing to its high importance, there are certain steps that help buyers select the best hydraulic fluid.

Determine the system’s pump and its required viscosity grade

Do not expect each of the hydraulic machines to have a common pump design. The age of innovation in technology has paved way for building fresh pump designs – piston, vane and gear (external and internal). Each pump design helps a hydraulic machine perform a specific task. Based on the design of the pump, it is determined as to which fluid (of a specific viscosity grade) has to be used.

Choose fluids as per the function which hydraulic equipment performs

Smooth operations of any equipment are promised by the quality of the hydraulic lubricant it uses. The chemical composition of the fluid is modified as per the function of machinery. The type of fluid facilitating heat transfer might not be apt to ensure optimal power transfer. For example, a synthetic-based fluid can handle drastic pressure swings and temperature fluctuations. However, the same fluid is not a great choice if the equipment’s application has a risk of fire; for such an application a water-based fluid is apt hydraulics cylinder.       

Practicing excellent lubricant selection is meant to give the machine longevity. 

What is Hydraulic Fracturing?

The chances of anyone mishearing the word ‘fracking’ are thick; resulting in raising eyebrows toward the manners of the speakers. Nevertheless, if the word is heard correctly, you will know it is among the significant ways of extracting oil and natural gases from oil shale. Referred to as hydraulic fracturing, the process came into existence in 1903, but it took close to 50 years to use the technique commercially. The entire oil extraction procedure has undergone a sea change with the advent of hydraulic fracturing.

The working of hydraulic fracturing

The process of hydraulic fracturing is initiated by pumping the liquid via a well to an underground shale deposit; this liquid creates immense pressure on the shale, causing it to break and release oil or natural gas. The most preferred liquid agent to be used in the process of fracking is water; however, sometimes crude oil, diesel oil, kerosene or diluted hydraulic acid can be used. Whenever, water is used as the liquid during fracking, it has to be mixed with certain chemicals and gaur, giving it a glutinous property.

Which parts of the world use hydraulic fracturing?

The gains from fracking have been aplenty. Some parts of the world that extensively use hydraulic fracturing process are the UK, Columbia, Argentina, Indonesia, Russia, Venezuela, Romania, Brazil, France and parts of the US. Being an indirect benefit, hydraulic fracturing has helped creating employment opportunities in several sectors such as hospitality, construction, engineering & surveying, equipment manufacturing, and electromechanical actuators.

By blending fracking with other technologies, the extraction of oil and natural gases from oil-bearing shale has become simpler and more profitable. The supporters of hydraulic fracturing assert that the process is, by far, the best natural gas and oil extraction technique, which is changing the face of global Energy industry.  The fracking process has opened the doors to oil and gas reserves that were earlier unreachable.