Energy Efficient Actuation Using Variable Displacement Hydraulic Control

The use of variable-displacement hydraulic motors for advanced aerospace actuation can provide a 50 to 80 percent savings in average power consumption over conventional fixed-displacement devices. The characteristics of a variable-displacement hydraulic control system are discussed in relation to conventional fixed-displacement devices, advanced control systems, and pressure profiled hydraulic systems. The variable-displacement systems provide significant savings in power, weight, heat generation, and redundancy management.