Reservoirs keep it together: In addition to holding reserve fluid, reservoirs serve a variety of needs in a hydraulic system

摘要

When it comes to reservoir design, bigger is not necessarily better. In fact, the trend is to provide smaller reservoirs. In addition to holding in reserve enough fluid to supply a hydraulic system's varying needs, a reservoir provides: a large surface area to transfer heat from the fluid to the surrounding environment; enough volume to let returning fluid slow down from a high entrance velocity. This lets heavier contaminants settle and entrained air escape; a physical barrier (baffle) that separates fluid entering the reservoir from fluid entering the pump suction line; air space above the fluid to accept air that bubbles out of the fluid; access to remove used fluid and contaminants from the system and to add new fluid; space for hot-fluid expansion, gravity drain-back from a system during shutdown, and storage of large volumes needed intermittently during peak periods of an operating cycle, and; a convenient surface to mount other system components, if practical.