A time-varying reliability-based robust design method considering overall efficiency of axial piston pump

Abstract

Axial piston pumps (APPs) are the core energy conversion components in a hydraulic transmission system. Energy conversion efficiency is critically important for the performance and energy-saving of the pumps. In this paper, a time-varying reliability design method for the overall efficiency of APPs was established. The theoretical and practical instantaneous torque and flow rate of the whole APP were derived through comprehensive analysis of a single piston-slipper group. Moreover, as a case study, the developed model for the instantaneous overall efficiency was verified with a PPV103-10 pump from HYDAC. The time-variation of reliability for the pump was revealed by a fourth-order moment technique considering the randomness of working conditions and structure parameters, and the proposed reliability method was validated by Monte Carlo simulation. The effects of the mean values and variance sensitivity of random variables on the overall efficiency reliability were analyzed. Furthermore, the optimized time point and design variables were selected. The optimal structure parameters were obtained to meet the reliability requirement and the sensitivity of design variables was significantly reduced through the reliability-based robust design. The proposed method provides a theoretical basis for designers to improve the overall efficiency of APPs in the design stage.