The dynamic response, stability and fluid-borne noise characteristics of fluid power components and systems can be strongly influenced by the inertia or 'hydraulic inductance' of the fluid in passageways, which are often of complex geometry. The hydraulic inductance is a parameter that has often proved to be very difficult to quantify accurately, either theoretically or experimentally.
This paper presents a method of numerical calculation of the hydraulic inductance
in a passageway. The method is simple to apply and can be applied to geometries
of arbitrary complexity. A simple way of using a Computational Fluid Dynamics
package for calculating hydraulic inductance is also demonstrated. Results are
presented for a simple cylindrical orifice, a simple spool valve and a conical
poppet valve. The effect of the inductance on the response of a poppet valve
is demonstrated.
Hydraulic impedance, Fluid borne noise, inductance, inertia