How do hydraulic intensifier works?

Answer 1

How Hydraulically Driven Intensifiers Work

Process fluid flows through the inlet check valve and fills the process fluid cylinder.

Pressurized hydraulic fluid acting on the hydraulic piston strokes the piston assembly to the right. Process fluid in the right cylinder is forced through the discharge check valve. At the same time, fluid flows through the inlet check valve on the left cylinder filling this cylinder.

At the end of this stroke, the four-way valve changes position and directs pressurized hydraulic fluid to the right side of the hydraulic piston. The piston assembly moves to the left, discharging fluid from the left cylinder.

The piston assembly reverses direction automatically and the cycle repeats.

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Intensifiers operate on the ratio-of-areas principle in a linear actuator. A common rod connects the pistons of two cylinders of different bore, Figure 1. Lower-pressure fluid, acting on the larger piston, exerts a force that is transferred mechanically by the rod to the smaller piston. The smaller piston generates a higher pressure in the fluid in its bore: the pressure ratio is inversely proportioned to the areas ratio.

Theoretically, there is no limit to the outlet pressure that can be achieved. Practically, the increased viscosity of oil at higher pressures imposes an upper limit, as does heat of compression. Air containing oil may diesel at higher temperatures.

An intensifier operates at a constant power level; outlet flow decreases as outlet pressure increases. This is analogous to Transformers, which very voltage and amperage at the same electrical power level, as well as gear trains, which vary torque and speed at the same mechanical power level.