Value Of Tech Part 6: Instant Accumulator Alerts

Hydraulic Accumulators are a staple in almost every industrial plant. Accumulators absorb shock and add volume to a hydraulic system at a fast rate. Maintaining the right pre-charge levels is critical for an accumulator to perform well.  

Pre-Charge Management: Time & Cost Drain 

If pre-charge levels are too high (the most common cause of accumulator failure), the bladder accumulator gets cut and excessive wear on the poppet occurs. Too low accumulator loss can result in operating problems such as high speed and stalls and operator damage.  

Pre-charge loss is typically monitored and mitigated by manual checks by employees on site. This can be time-consuming and relies on employees to ensure that levels are correct. If high levels are overlooked, or not addressed in a time sensitive way, damage can be done to your equipment and your bottom line. 

If this is your operation’s reality, the questions you should be asking are:  

• How much time do my operators spend manually checking accumulators?  
• Can that time spent more effectively used elsewhere in the operation? 
• What is the business cost when an accumulator goes down? 
• Can that business cost from downtime be shifted to proactive/preventative management for long term revenue gain?  

The Remote Monitoring Advantage 

Using modern technology for remote monitoring, you can check accumulator health in seconds via a mobile device using Bluetooth. Why wait for an unexpected breakdown to know your equipment performance levels? 

Completed through application of sensors with Bluetooth monitoring capability, this technology provides accurate accumulator performance levels 24/7 to your computer or mobile device, so pre-charge levels are never a surprise. This reduced need for manual checks also increases your safety posture for those scenarios when an accumulator may be on the verge of failure—especially in high-pressure systems.  

The Parker SensoNODE Solution 

Parker Hannifin’s SensoNODE sensors provide simple solutions for measuring gas pre-charge on bladder and piston style accumulators. Compact, energy efficient, and wireless, these sensors enable hands-off pre-charge pressure and temperature measurement to prevent downtime. 

• Available for a wide variety of accumulators (Parker and non-Parker products included) 
• Safe, slow releasing pressure-reliving thread improves safety upon disassembly (sensor and forged adaptors) 
• Consistent, accurate pressure and temperature readings 
• Connected mode for data collection and analysis 
• Broadcast mode for access to any user within range 

SensoNODE Standard Parker Accumulator Connection 

Features a compact design to fit seamlessly into your production, providing few leak points and accurate pre-charge measurements 

SensoNODE EMA Disconnect Under Pressure Option 

Using an industry-standard Parker EMA3 connection, this solution allows for a connection or removal of a sensor for servicing or use in multiple applications. The EMA3 uses a knurled sleeve with a simple twist-to-connect operation. 

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