Load Sensing Hydraulic Systems

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A conventional hydraulic system with a fixed-displacement pump provides a constant flow through the system. When the system develops the set pressure, the pump flow is bypassed through the associated pressure relief valve. As a consequence, the system generates tremendous amount of heat. Even when a variable-displacement pump is employed, the system produces considerable heat. A sophisticated solution to improve the efficiency is to add a load sensing feature to the system.

The hydraulic system with a load sensing feature provides only the flow and the pressure as required by the connected load. Controlling both the pressure and the flow allows for a significant reduction in losses, improvement of circuit efficiencies, and enhancement of the service life of the system. The principle of load sensing is widely used in mobile hydraulic systems, including tractor systems, trucks, and cranes. It is also…