Despite the increasingly massive use of electric machines, fluid power components, thanks to their high-power density, still remain the only viable solution in many fields, such as off-road and industrial machines. Furthermore, during this period marked by a strong focus on decarbonization and hybridization, flow power is witnessing a renewed surge towards optimizing components and their integration with other systems.
In this context, the activity carried out at the Fluid Power Research Laboratory (www.fprl.polito.it) involves 0D-3D simulation of fluid-power components and systems, as well as the experimental tests on positive displacement machines and hydraulic valves. Examples of recent and ongoing research activities include:
- Development of tribological models for axial piston pumps
- Analysis of speed control and centralized power supply for hybrid energy-efficient earth-moving machines
- Evaluation of the filling capability through CFD models of gear and vane pumps
- 0D modelling of vane pumps with air release-dissolution dynamics
- Analysis of the flow rate distribution through rotating shafts in lubricating circuits
- 0D-3D simulation of the flow forces and their compensation in directional and pressure control valves
- Development of an experimental method for measuring the viscous friction coefficient in hydraulic spool valves
Contacts:
Prof. Massimo Rundo: https://www.polito.it/personale?p=004444
Prof. Roberto Finesso: http://www.pt-erc.polito.it/