Shore Western Manufacturing Actuators

Hydraulic oil becomes cloudy when it is contaminated with water above its saturation level. That is the amount of water that can be dissolved in hydraulic oil and is typically 200 - 300 ppm for mineral hydraulic oil measured at 68°F (20°C).

Water in hydraulic fluid
● Reacts with some additives to form corrosive by-products which corrode some metals.
● Leaves critical surfaces vulnerable to wear and corrosion due to reduced lubrication film-strength.
● Clogs filters and reduces the filterability of the oil.
● Increases air entrainment.
● Increases cavitation occurrence.

Water removal methods
● Polymeric filters- H20 causes the polymer to swell, trapping water within the media. Best suited for removing small amounts of H20 or H20 contamination within allowable limits.
● Vacuum distillation - Water boils at 133°F (56°C) at 25 inches Hg. At this temperature water can be removed without damage to the oil or its additives.
● Headspace dehumidification- Circulating and dehumidifying air from the reservoir headspace causes water in the oil to migrate to the dry air. It is then removed by the dehumidifier.
● Changing out the oil - Depending on system size, changing the oil may be more cost-effective than using any of the above methods of water removal.

Prevention is the best cure and is cheaper than removing H20 from the oil.

Standard breather caps on hydraulic reservoirs are a major source of H20 in hydraulic power units. Replacing the standard breather cap with a hygroscopic breather will eliminate the moisture ingress and keep contamination particles out of the reservoir.

Hydraulic Power Supplies Shore Western manufactures hydraulic power supplies to meet any requirement. They are designed to provide the full flow and pressure of your test application. The result is an extremely reliable and problem free hydraulic power source. Shore Western’s standard line of hydraulic power supplies (HPS) includes our non-sound attenuated Pump Room HPS, our ultra quiet WhisperPak® HPS, our Laboratory HPS line and our Hydrostatic Bearing HPS, all offering the highest quality of workmanship and providing years of performance. Features include: All stainless steel tank construction. Standard 3000 psi (207 bar) operating pressure. Shore Western's unique Run-On-Demand (ROD) energy saving, motor control option. Easy maintenance plate style heat exchangers. Shore Western offers a variety of HPS models varying from 1 gpm (3.8 l/m) Laboratory models to large, multiple pump Pump Room Hydraulic Power Supplies. Units are available with fixed, variable volume, or pressure compensated outputs to fit the specific application. Options include 5,000 psi operating pressure, special voltages, 50 Hz compatibility, tank heaters, kidney loop filtration, remote air-oil coolers and custom controls and alarms.
WhisperPak® Series Hydraulic Power Supplies WhisperPak® Series HPS units are available in standard models ranging from 7 gpm (26.5 l/m) to 180 gpm (681 l/m). The WhisperPak® HPS units are modular and can be integrated to provide overall higher system flows. The WhisperPak® HPS units are totally enclosed, feature immersed pump/motor units, highly sound attenuated, utilize stainless steel tanks, plate style heat exchangers and are available with a variety of options. These units are cost effective replacements for the MTS Silent Flow® hydraulic power units.
Pump Room Series Hydraulic Power Supplies Designed specifically to provide cost effective pumping systems for customers that have a dedicated machinery room or do not need sound attenuation. These are often central pumping systems with multiple pumps, and are unlimited in size by adding more pumps and larger or parallel tanks. Standard models range in size from 7 gpm (26.5 l/m) to 180 gpm (681 l/m). Shore Western has manufactured units with 750 gpm capacity. The Pump Room Series utilizes stainless steel tanks, plate style heat exchangers and are available with a variety of options.
Hydrostatic Bearing HPS The Hydrostatic Bearing HPS Series are specifically designed to provide the required flow and pressure needed for hydrostatic bearing slip tables. They are available with either gravity return systems or scavenge pumps to pull hydraulic oil back from slip table assemblies.
Laboratory HPS Laboratory Series HPS units are small, quiet power units designed specifically for use in the laboratory. Typically small air cooled units with an integrated oil cooler. These are often supplied to OEMs or are supplied as part of a Shore Western equipment set such as the Hip Wear Simulators.
Custom Systems Shore Western specializes in supplying power units for OEM applications and can often tailor their standard designs for specific applications at significant savings. Engine driven hydraulic supplies for rugged field duty are a specialty of Shore Western, with both diesel and gasoline engine versions available from 5 hp to 500 hp. These units often include oil sump and oil reservoir heaters and complete enclosures for protection from the elements. Consult factory for specific applications.