The Influence of Water and Mineral Oil on Mechanical Losses in a Hydraulic Motor for Offshore and Marine Applications

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, mechanical losses in a hydraulic motor supplied with water and mineral oil (two liquids having significantly different viscosity and lubricating properties) are described and compared. The experimental tests were conducted using a special design (prototype) of a hydraulic satellite motor. The design of the satellite motor is presented. This motor was developed to supply both with water and mineral oil and features a non-circular tooth working mechanism. The paper also characterizes sources of mechanical losses in this motor. On this basis, a mathematical model of these losses has been developed and presented. The results of calculation of mechanical losses according to the model are compared with the experimental results. Experimental studies have shown that the mechanical losses in the motor supplied with water are 2.8 times greater than those in the motor supplied with oil. The work demonstrates that the mechanical losses in both the motor supplied with water and the one supplied with oil are described well by the mathematical model. It has been found that for the loaded motor working at high speed, the simulation results differ from experimental ones by no more than 3% for oil and 4% for water.