Calculating performace parameters of hybrid hydraulic systems with ferrofluid control elements

Although hydraulic systems have many structural and operational advantages, there are also some disadvantages. The main disadvantages are the use of electromechanical transducers and changes in the geometry of flow part due to erosion effects. This requires developing fluid control technologies and new constructive solutions. A simple and promising way of eliminating these negative features is to develop hybrid hydraulic systems. A successful approach to developing hybrid hydraulic systems is integrating ferrofluid control elements in their constructions. Ferrofluid control elements are characterized by a high speed of response to a control signal since they do not require transformation of electrical control signals. Ferrofluid control elements also allow for simple geometry of flow parts, which significantly reduces the production and operation costs of hydraulic systems, and increases their operational life and reliability. Therefore, hybrid hydraulic systems with ferrofluid control elements are in the focus of attention and active research. Hybrid hydraulic systems are difficult to use and to design due to a lack of theoretical basis and typical constructive solutions, which makes impossible their industrial distribution. This hampers modernization of production equipment and technological processes. Thus, the research issue is relevant. The paper provides a theoretical basis for calculating ferrofluid control elements. It presents an original patented construction of a hybrid hydraulic device, i.e. the mixer of a dosing dispenser with ferrofluid control elements. We proposed a method for simulating the performance parameters of the mixer of a dosing dispenser. The authors' method makes it possible to calculate the hydraulic parameters of the mixer of a dosing dispenser taking into account the characteristics of control electromagnets.