What is a Hydraulic Reservoir? – As one of the components of a hydraulic system, the hydraulic reservoir has a crucial role in maintaining the whole operation of the hydraulic system.

Understanding the role and types of hydraulic reservoir surely will broaden your knowledge and your general understanding of the hydraulic system.

And on top of that, understanding it will make you understand and will give you an insight of how to maintain the entire hydraulic system.

What is a Hydraulic Reservoir?

Hydraulic reservoir or hydraulic tank is a tank or container for holding the hydraulic fluid (which is usually an oil) required to supply the hydraulic system.

The hydraulic reservoir serves as a backup in case if there’s a minor leakage and evaporation that might happen in the entire hydraulic system.

And aside from that, this component also can be designed to provide space if there’s any fluid expansion and allow air that might be present in the fluid to escape and to help cool the fluid thus improve the whole hydraulic system’s efficiency

Also, the hydraulic reservoir has a function to be a baffle that separates the fluid entering the reservoir from fluid entering the pump suction line.

The hydraulic reservoir also provides a space for a hot-fluid expansion and a place where the fluid drain-back from a system when the system is shut down.

There are few means of checking the fluid level on a reservoir, some manufacturers use a glass or plastic gauge, a tube or maybe a dipstick.

Also Read: “What is a Hydraulic System? And How Does It Work?“

Types of Hydraulic Reservoirs

In general, the hydraulic reservoirs are divided into 2 types, the vented reservoir and pressurized reservoir.

Let’s get the explanation down below!

1. Pressurized Reservoir

The first one is the pressurized reservoir, this type of hydraulic reservoir is sealed from the air thus the pressure from air will not affect the pressure that is in the tank.

The pressurized reservoir usually pressurized either by engine bleed air or by the pressure produced by the hydraulic system itself.

With the pressurized reservoir that uses its own pressure, as the oil flows through a system, the oil will absorb the heat and expand.

This expanding oil will compress the air inside the tank and this compressed air will push the oil out of the tank and towards the system.

On the other hand, reservoirs pressurized by the engine bleed air, the amount of the air pressure is determined by an air pressure regulator with 10 to 15 pound psi gauge.

One thing worth noting is that this type of hydraulic reservoir is usually used in an airplane.

2. Vented Reservoir/Non-pressurized Reservoir

The next one is the vented reservoir or also known as the non-pressurized reservoir.

As its name suggests, the vented reservoir is the opposite of the pressurized reservoir as it’s not entirely closed from the open air.

The vented reservoir usually uses gravity to force the fluid to flow into the pump, that’s why the vented reservoir is mounted at the highest point in the hydraulic system.

It also has a breather that allows the air to come in and out freely to cool the oil, and it usually has a filter that prevents any sediment or dirt from entering the hydraulic system.

Also, the vented tank is the most common one used in the hydraulic system.

Also Read: “5 Types of Hydraulic Hoses“

So there you have it! The answer to “what is a hydraulic reservoir?” along with its type!

To know and further understand the hydraulic reservoir is so important as it can be a guideline in maintaining the hydraulic system.

One thing that is worth noting is that the hydraulic system is one thing that needs to be certified by the SNI certification.

The SNI certification itself is a type of product approval that applies to almost every product and service sold and provided in Indonesia.

The product that is about to be issued by the SNI certification has to undergo a rigorous set of tests to determine its safety and whether or not the product is within the Indonesian standards.

To have your product certified by the SNI certification is so important and has a lot of benefits, as the product that has been certified and has an SNI logo on it will boost the trust from the Indonesian market for the said products.