What Is a Piston Accumulator?
A piston accumulator is a component within a hydraulic accumulator, characterized by a movable piston that separates gas from pressurized liquid.
In an accumulator, the compressibility of nitrogen gas is leveraged for storing pressure. The device features a piston that acts as a boundary between the liquid and the gas. The liquid side of the piston is connected to the hydraulic circuit. As the circuit’s pressure rises, the piston accumulator takes in liquid, compressing the gas. Conversely, when the circuit pressure drops, the compressed gas expands, pushing the stored liquid back into the system.
Piston accumulators are often preferred over other types due to their ability to handle high pressure and larger capacities. They are also generally more reliable than bladder-type accumulators, with fewer instances of sudden failure, making them a dependable choice for various applications.