Characterization & Identification of Short Circuit Connections in Hydraulic Drive Networks

Authors

  • Mikkel van Binsbergen-Galán AAU Energy, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5998-5568
  • Lasse Schmidt AAU Energy, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/ijfp1439-9776.2722

Keywords:

Short circuit (SC), hydraulic actuator, automated design, design space

Abstract

Motivated by energy efficiency and decreasing the amount and size of components, recent studies have presented hydraulically actuated systems that include one or several fluid short circuit connections between actuator chambers. The main motivations for establishing short circuit connection have been to enable hydraulic power sharing directly between hydraulic actuators in terms of cylinders and motors, thereby reducing conversion losses and enabling reduced power installations in hydraulic drive networks. This paper expands the general theory of hydraulic short circuit connections by generically analyzing the consequences of short circuit connections. This analysis is used to define which short circuiting schemes are physically feasible and which inhibit the full functionality of a machine. Furthermore, a generic method is presented on how to identify every feasible short circuiting scheme for any number of double acting hydraulic actuators.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Mikkel van Binsbergen-Galán, AAU Energy, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

Mikkel van Binsbergen-Galán received his M.Sc. degree in engineering (mechatronics) from Aalborg University in 2022. He is currently a Ph.D. Fellow at AAU Energy, Aalborg University, working with the design of drive systems for mechatronic systems with a special focus on hydraulic systems and the components associated with such systems.

Lasse Schmidt, AAU Energy, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

Lasse Schmidt received the M.Sc. degree in engineering (mechatronics) from Aalborg University, Denmark, in 2008. From 2008 he was with the application engineering group of Bosch Rexroth A/S, Denmark, and from 2010 an industrial Ph.D. fellow also associated with Aalborg University. He received the Ph.D. degree in robust control of hydraulic cylinder drives in 2014. Subsequently, he has been a postdoctoral researcher at AAU Energy while concurrently being with Bosch Rexroth AG. Hereafter he became an Assistant Professor with AAU Energy. He is currently an Associate Professor with AAU Energy and heading research activities related to electro-hydraulic drive network technology, a field in which he is the founder of the fundamental design and control principles. He is the main author or co-author of nearly 70 scientific peer-reviewed publications, most of them on topics related hydraulic drives and systems control. Lasses current research interests are in design and control of electro-hydraulic drive networks and their integration into both mobile working machines and industrial systems.

References

Z. Quan, L. Quan, and J. Zhang. Review of energy efficient direct pump controlled cylinder electro-hydraulic technology. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 35, pp. 336–346, 2014. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032114002639.

G. Altare, A. Vacca. A Design Solution for Efficient and Compact Electro-hydraulic Actuators. Procedia Engineering, vol. 106, pp. 8–16, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.06.003.

E. Busquets. Advanced control algorithms for compact and highly efficient displacement-controlled multi-actuator and hydraulic hybrid systems. Purdue University, 2016. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/advanced-control-algorithms-compact-highly/docview/1848166438/se-2.

L. Schmidt and K.V. Hansen. Electro-Hydraulic Variable-Speed Drive Networks—Idea, Perspectives, and Energy Saving Potentials. Energies, vol. 15:1228, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031228.

D. Fassbender, C. Brach, and T. Minav. Energy-Efficiency Comparison of Different Implement Powertrain Concepts to Each Other and Between Different Heavy-Duty Mobile Machines. International Journal of Fluid Power, vol. 25(02), 127–144. https://doi.org/10.13052/ijfp1439-9776.2521.

M. van Binsbergen-Galán, B. Videbæk, K.V., Hansen, and L. Schmidt. Experimental Investigation of Hydraulic Power Sharing Potential in a Dual Cylinder Electro-Hydraulic Variable-Speed Drive Network. Proceedings of the BATH/ASME 2024 Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control. Bath, United Kingdom. September 11–13, 2024. V001T01A021. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FPMC2024-140322.

L. Schmidt, M. v. Binsbergen-Galan, R. Knöll, M. Riedmann, B. Schneider, and E. Heemskerk. Energy efficient excavator implement by electro-hydraulic/mechanical drive network. International Journal of Fluid Power, vol. 25, no. 04, p. 413–438, 2024. https://doi.org/10.13052/ijfp1439-9776.2541.

L. Schmidt and S. Ketelsen and K.V. Hansen. Perspectives on Component Downsizing in Electro-Hydraulic Variable-Speed Drive Networks. Proceedings of the BATH/ASME Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1115/FPMC2022-89547.

M. van Binsbergen-Galán and L. Schmidt. Determination of Load Collective for Sizing of a Hydraulic Drive Network System Considering Simultaneity Between Actuator Loads. Proceedings of the ASME/BATH Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1115/FPMC2023-109823.

Tozzi C. Gama, A, Heybroek, K, and Ericson, L. An Analysis of a Multi-Pump System for Actuator Operation in Electric Mobile Machinery. Proceedings of the ASME/BATH 2023 Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control. Sarasota, Florida, USA. October 16–18, 2023. V001T01A023. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FPMC2023-111452.

Heitzig, Stefan and Sgro, Sebastian and Theissen, Heinrich. Energy efficiency of hydraulic systems with shared digital pumps. International Journal of Fluid Power (Taylor & Francis), vol. 13, no. 03, p. 49–57, 2012.

J. Yao, P. Wang, Y. Yin, M. Li, and Y. Li. Power management of multi-source network hydraulic system with multiple actuators. Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 223, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113247.

R. Bao, T. Wang, and Q. Wang. A Multi-Pump Multi-Actuator Hydraulic System with On-Off Valve Matrix for Energy Saving. Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (IEEE Access), Jun. 2019, pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1109/AIM.2019.8868810.

L. Schmidt, K.V., Hansen, B. Videbæk, and M. van Binsbergen-Galán. Experimental Validation of a State Decoupling Method Applied to a Dual Cylinder Electro-Hydraulic Variable-Speed Drive Network. Proceedings of the BATH/ASME 2024 Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control. Bath, United Kingdom. September 11–13, 2024. V001T01A016. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FPMC2024-140149.

L. Schmidt and M. van Binsbergen-Galán. Electro-Hydraulic Variable-Speed Drive Network Technology - First Experimental Validation. Energies, 17(13):3192, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133192.

L. Schmidt and M. van Binsbergen-Galán and R. Knöll and M. Riedmann and B. Schneider and E. Heemskerk. Energy Efficient Excavator Functions Based on Electro-hydraulic Variable-speed Drive Network. Proceedings of the 14th International Fluid Power Conference (14. IFK 2024), 2024. https://doi.org/10.13052/rp-9788770042222C66.

M. Vukovic, R. Leifeld and H. Murrenhoff. STEAM – a hydraulic hybrid architecture for excavators. Proceedings of the 10th International Fluid Power Conference — Dresden 2016, 2016. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/236373201.pdf.

X. He, G. Xiao, B. Hu, L. Tan, H. Tang, S. He and Z. He. The applications of energy regeneration and conversion technologies based on hydraulic transmission systems: A review. Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 205, 112413, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.112413.

P. Marani, G. Ansaloni and R. Paoluzzi. Load sensing with active regeneration system. Proceedings of the JFPS International Symposium on Fluid Power, 2008, Volume 2008, Issue 7-3, Pages 617-622. https://doi.org/10.5739/isfp.2008.617.

J. Andruch and J. Lumkes. Regenerative Hydraulic Topographies using High Speed Valves. SAE Technical Paper 2009-01-2847, 2009, https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2847.

J. Li, J. Zhao and X. Zhang. A Novel Energy Recovery System Integrating Flywheel and Flow Regeneration for a Hydraulic Excavator Boom System. Energies, 2020, 13(2), 315. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13020315.

D. Padovani. Leveraging Flow Regeneration in Individual Energy-Efficient Hydraulic Drives. Proceedings of the ASME/BATH 2021 Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control. Virtual, Online. October 19–21, 2021. V001T01A013. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FPMC2021-68594.

Technical tips, regenerative valves. SUN Hydraulics, 1995. https://www.sunhydraulics.com/sites/default/files/media_library/tech_resources/int_assm_regen.pdf. Accessed 2025-02-14.

Counterbalance Valves With Regenerative Function. Bosch Rexroth. https://apps.boschrexroth.com/products/compact-hydraulics/CH-Catalog/pdf/Counterbalance_with_regenerative.pdf. Accessed 2025-02-14.

N. Biggs, E. Lloyd, and R. Wilson. Graph Theory, 1736-1936. Clarendon Press, 1976

P. Mladenovic. Combinatorics: A Problem-Based Approach. Springer, Cham, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00831-4.

F. Harary and E. Palmer. Graphical Enumeration. Elsevier, 1973. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2013-0-10826-4.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-19

How to Cite

Binsbergen-Galán, M. van ., & Schmidt, L. . (2026). Characterization & Identification of Short Circuit Connections in Hydraulic Drive Networks. International Journal of Fluid Power, 27(02), 297–326. https://doi.org/10.13052/ijfp1439-9776.2722

Issue

2026: Vol 27 Iss 2

Section

Original Article

Most read articles by the same author(s)