Vegetable-Based Hydraulic Oil Performance in Piston Pumps

• Main Authors: Cheng, Vic M, Galiano-Roth, Angela S, Marougy, Thelma, Berezinski, John
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0148-7191; 2688-3627
• DOI: 10.4271/941079

As a follow-up to our earlier paper[ 1 ]; we have evaluated the performance of a vegetable-based hydraulic oil, Mobil EAL 224H, in a series of Vickers piston pumps. The primary intent of this work was to address the oil life/oxidation stability and pump performance issues for vegetable-based hydraulic oils. Although we have over two years (1991-1993) of successful commercial experience with Mobil EAL 224H, we wanted to document the performance in a controlled set of experiments using a variety of piston pumps. Results demonstrate that although Mobil EAL 224H shows a substantial (25%) viscosity increase after approximately 1800 hours of operation at the maximum recommended temperature of 180°F, the pumps tested operate effectively within their respective industrial unit ratings. This paper presents information on the test hardware used to conduct the fluid evaluations, fluid properties during the tests, pump performance testing in terms of fill characteristics, dynamic response, yoke bearing hysteresis and pump efficiencies and endurance testing results for each piston pump series tested.