Gear pumps are common hydraulic components in a variety of systems. The effects of particles on pump durability have been studied to a lesser extent in the literature using silica- containing test dust, but no research has been done with real wear particles. In order to determine the reliability of the pump, we have developed a special triple hydraulic test rig that allows the pump to be sustainably tested with wear particles, with test dust and without the addition of particles at constant filtration for comparison. All three tests were carried out with conical reservoirs to ensure the circulation of particles throughout the hydraulic system. It was found that the hardness and geometry of the particles affect the wear coefficient of the aluminium pump housing, which depends on both the concentration of particles in the oil and the type of particles. On the surface of the housing that comes into contact with the gear, we looked for surface damage and identified the wear mechanisms in the tribological contact. We determined the service life of the pump by adding different concentrations of wear particles and test dust to the hydraulic oil of the system. Based on the service life of the pump, which was tested at industrial oil cleanliness, we determined the acceleration factors. The acceleration factors enable faster and more economical durability tests for the pump manufacturer and predict the time to failure of the pump in advance. The study shows the relationship between the influence of test dust and wear particles on the operation of the gear pump and gives a clear indication of the type of wear acceleration. In further studies on other hydraulic components, the use of test dust depending on the type of contact would help to determine acceleration factors for durability tests of other types of hydraulic components.
|