Department of Mechanical Engineering

Fluid Power Laboratory

Integrating simulation-based and experimental research for energy efficiency and the development of components and systems.
Machine bed at the Fluid Power Laboratory

Integrated fluid power research focuses on energy efficiency, covering a broad spectrum in the areas of control, component and systems development and energy management. Topics of interest include hybrid systems, electro-hydraulic and other autonomous actuators and energy management.  Energy management is focused on regenerative systems in general, using external and renewable energy, enhanced pressure accumulators, pumps, and compressors. Also new manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing are utilized. As fluid power technology is tightly integrated with other technologies, such as electronics, mechanics and thermodynamics, these aspects are also considered in most research. Therefore, multi-physics systems and entire machine systems are simulated as well as Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) systems consisting of real and virtual components. Electrification of mobile machinery is advancing and because of limited battery capacity, high energy efficiency is demanded of all the power consuming sub-systems including fluid power systems.

Electro-hydraulic actuators are self-contained, integrated devices typically utilizing good dynamics and high energy efficiency of electric servomotors. When connected to advanced hydraulic pumps direct control of actuators can be achieved without the need to use additional fluid flow throttling valves. The performance especially related to energy efficiency is unique compared with traditional systems controlled by using proportional valves. This is partly because potential and kinetic energy can be utilized for efficient energy recovery. 

Hybrid systems enable using different kinds of energy sources, thus improving their energy economics. The research focuses on self-contained actuators, which are expected to replace the central hydraulic systems in many industrial and mobile machines. Hybrid systems include self-sufficiency, fewer design constraints, an optimized selection of components, enhanced energy-efficiency, and better maintainability.

Vibration control of machines can effectively utilize fluid power systems to reduce oscillations and enable enhanced performance, such as higher rotational speeds. Other benefits are reduced wear, maintenance, and prolonged lifetime. In working machines, actuator seal friction control enables improved boom motion smoothness and accuracy. Actuators’ damping and stiffness can be controlled to optimize whole machine’s oscillation response. Passive, semi-active and active fluid power devices belong to the studied approaches.

Energy management and efficiency research is focused on regenerative systems in general, using external and renewable energy, novel pressure accumulator designs, multi-quadrant pumps, and exploiting new manufacturing technologies in prototype development. The need for energy-efficient systems is increasing due to the rapid increase in global energy usage and risks posed by global warming.

Available equipment at Fluid Power laboratory

Fluid Power Research

Research topics are focused on energy efficient systems and components. Integrating simulation-based and experimental research for energy efficiency and the development of components and systems.

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Electro-hydrostatic actuator test bench at the Fluid Power Laboratory.

Fluid Power Projects

Research projects are focused on energy efficient systems and components.

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a small hydraulic cylinder with multiple sensors and their cables

Latest publications

Energy efficient hydraulic system topologies for load-haul-dump machine

Topias Tyni, Juho Lehto, Ville Närvänen, Jyrki Kajaste, Olof Calonius, Petri Kuosmanen 2023 SICFP 23 Proceedings

Experimental study on energy efficiency of two-cylinder direct driven hydraulic system in a large-scale test bench

Robert Hermansson, Ville Närvänen, Jyrki Kajaste, Olof Calonius, Matti Pietola, Petri Kuosmanen 2021 Proceedings of ASME/BATH 2021 Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, FPMC 2021

Multi-Pressure actuator in enhancing the energy balance of micro-excavator

Husnain Ahmed, Otto Gottberg, Heikki Kauranne, Jyrki Kajaste, Olof Calonius, Mikko Huova, Matti Linjama, Juha Elonen, Pertti Kahra, Matti Pietola 2019 16th Scandinavian International Conference on Fluid Power, SICFP 2019

Effects of oil contamination level, flow rate and viscosity on pressure drop development and dirt holding capacity of hydraulic filter

Olof Calonius, Anton Jokinen, Matti Pietola, Jagan Gorle 2019 ASME/BATH 2019 Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, FPMC 2019

GENERADOR DE PRESION HIDRAULICA ADAPTABLE

Olof Calonius, Juha Elonen, Heikki Eskonen, Jyrki Kajaste 2019

Data correlation model for hydraulic fluid filter condition monitoring

Anton Jokinen, Olof Calonius, Jagan Gorle, Matti Pietola 2019 16th Scandinavian International Conference on Fluid Power, SICFP 2019

Effects of flow and oil properties on filter service life

Anton Jokinen, Olof Calonius, Jagan Gorle, Matti Pietola 2019 Integrated Energy Solutions to Smart And Green Shipping

Experimental study on fast and energy-efficient direct driven hydraulic actuator unit

Teemu Koitto, Heikki Kauranne, Olof Calonius, Tatiana Minav, Matti Pietola 2019 Energies

Adaptiivinen hydraulinen paineenkehitin

Olof Calonius, Juha Elonen, Heikki Eskonen, Jyrki Kajaste 2018

Adaptive hydraulic pressure generator

Olof Calonius, Juha Elonen, Heikki Eskonen, Jyrki Kajaste 2018
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
Research portal

Aalto Fluid Power Laboratory
Sähkömiehentie 4 O
02150 Espoo

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