The Hydraulic Generator from Hydraulic Power Solutions Limited is a universal onboard generator option
originally designed for the powered access industry, it is now widely
utilised to provide power in a wide range of applications including
boats, barges, drilling equipment, construction machinery and
agricultural machinery, in fact the hydraulic generators can be adapted
to provide onboard power to most machinery that has an existing
hydraulic supply. The advantages of the hydraulic generator over other
power solutions such as traditional engine driven generators is that it
is compact, a 5kVa diesel engined generator weighs approx. 160kg's and
measures 120 x 710 x 910 cm's, the equivalent hydraulic generator weighs
approx. 35kg's and measures 56 x 25 x 24 cm's, it is reliable, low
maintenance, it requires no servicing, quiet and secure, unlike engine
driven generators, theft is not a problem.
We produce an extensive range of units to suit most
applications as well as custom build units for specific customer
requirements
Power outputs available range from 2kVa up to
30kVa, quite simply we can produce a hydraulic generator to suit
most requirements. The power available is determined by the maximum
continuous hydraulic flow available and the operating pressure, our
standard and most popular unit is the HPS-3.5-7-FD which is a 3.5kVa
generator fitted with a 7cc per rev motor, which means that the unit
requires a continuous flow of at least 21 litres per minute at a
pressure of approximately 100 bar, should you have more flow
available this is not a problem as on most of our units we
incorporate as standard a pressure compensated flow control valve,
so any excess flow is automatically returned to tank and the
alternator speed remains constant. (see hydraulic schematic below).
As a basic guide to determine what power is available from
your system multiply the flow rate available by the operating
pressure and divide by 600, this will give you an idea of what
can be produced, so for example lets assume you have 25 litres
of flow available at 150 bar, the calculation is 25 x 150 / 600
= 6.25 kW, unfortunately gear motors don't always match
precisely the flow you have available, so the flow rate has to
be matched to the motor sizes available, in this instance we
would use a 7cc per rev motor, so actual power available would
be 21 litres x 150 bar / 600 = 5.25 kVa, the reason for the 21
litres is that the generator has to run at a constant speed
typically 3000rpm, so the motor has to run at a similar speed,
therefore 7cc x 3000rpm = 21 litres per minute
The HPS Platform PowerPack is quite possibly the only hydraulic generator system around, that has been developed specifically for the Access Platform industry. It is designed to provide ease of installation onto both new and existing equipment, with all component parts housed in one compact unit.
So how does it work?
This varies from machine to machine, but in principle the units are designed to integrate into the existing hydraulic circuit of the platform. The generator will only operate when the platform functions are not being used, this is important because it means that the generator when installed does not affect the
performance of the platform. One is isolated from the other and as such does not impact on the
existing approvals for the platforms. It is also important from a safety aspect, you wouldn't want one person busy working away with his power tools and somebody else trying to move the machine, could be dangerous!
For the UK all units are 110v CTE (centre tapped to earth) as standard as well as incorporating RCBO protection as standard. This meets with HSE guidelines on the safe use of electricity on construction sites as well as the Health and Safety policies of the majority of contractors today. 110v CTE is considered a non-lethal voltage, which is quite important, as any electric shock when you are working 10 - 20 metres up in the air in a steel basket could be serious. Unfortunately this is not typical of the alternative power supply options currently being utilised in the Access Platform market, such as inverters, which whilst they are 110v, they are not centre tapped to earth and therefore potentially lethal as are many of the generator options being offered direct from the manufacturers. Not only are our units 110v CTE, the RCBO provided protects the operator against electric shock and the machine from overload. For applications outside the UK units are supplied 230v only and again are supplied as standard with RCBO protection.
For further information on these products, please visit our
Hydraulic Generators Web Site
For further information on the safe use of electricity on construction sites, contact your local health and safety officer
