The paper has the main focus on development and best practise in design of both low-pressure and high-pressure tap water hydraulic components and systems for various industrial applications. The remarkable property is that the components operate with pure water from the tap without additives of any kind. Hence water hydraulics takes the benefit of pure water being environmentally friendly, clean, non-toxic, non-flammable, inexpensive, readily available and easily disposable.
The low-pressure tap water hydraulic systems cover up to around 50 bar and 2-4 kW having a strong potential to compete with pneumatic and electrical solutions in many applications. The high-pressure tap water hydraulic systems cover typically up to 140 bar. The advantages and the range of application areas are illustrated with examples, in particular within the food processing industry, water mist systems for fire fighting, high water pressure cleaners, water moisturising systems for a new lumber drying process and mobile machines that operate in environmentally sensitive surroundings. Today's progress of applications includes the use of electrowater hydraulic servovalves for motion control of machines.
Furthermore, tap water hydraulic components of the Nessie® family and examples of measured performance characteristics are presented and the trends in industrial applications and need for future research are discussed.