Hydraulic valve failure caused by cavitation

A client recently asked me to advise them on the possibility of repairing a large hydraulic valve off a 400-ton excavator, used in open-cut mining.

The hydraulic valve in question was a spool-type directional control. It had been badly damaged as a result of cavitation, which had occurred over a long period in service.

What is cavitation?

Cavitation occurs when the volume of hydraulic fluid demanded by any part of a hydraulic circuit exceeds the volume of fluid being supplied.

This causes the absolute pressure in that part of the circuit to fall below the vapor pressure of the hydraulic fluid. This results in the formation of vapor bubbles within the fluid, which implode when compressed.

Cavitation causes metal erosion, which damages hydraulic components and contaminates the hydraulic fluid. In extreme cases, cavitation can result in major mechanical failure of pumps and motors.

While cavitation commonly occurs in the hydraulic pump, it can occur just about anywhere within a hydraulic circuit.

In the hydraulic valve described above, the metal erosion in the body of the valve was so severe that the valve was no longer serviceable. The valve had literally been eaten away from the inside, as a result of chronic cavitation.

In this particular case the cause of the cavitation was faulty anti-cavitation valves, which are designed to prevent this type of damage from occuring.

How can this type of failure be prevented?

This example highlights the importance of checking the operation and adjustment of circuit protection devices, including anti-cavitation and load control valves, at regular intervals.

As in this case, if the faulty anti-cavitation valves had been identified and replaced early enough, the damage to this hydraulic valve and the significant expense of its replacement could have been avoided.

Editor's note: for more information on hydraulic failures and how to prevent them, read Preventing Hydraulic Failures.

If you enjoyed this article, you'll love Brendan Casey's Inside Hydraulics newsletter. It gives you real-life, how-to-do-it, nuts-and-bolts, hydraulics know-how -- information you can use today. Here's what a few members have said about it:

Can't Put It Down
?I get e-mails like this all the time. I never find time to read them. I decided to read Issue #30 and I couldn't put it down. I'll make time from now on.?

Richard A. Shade, CFPS, Project Engineer (Hydraulic Design), JLG Industries Inc.

So Valuable It Earned Me A Raise
?The knowledge I've gained from this newsletter has been so valuable it has earned me a raise!?

Jack Bergstrom, Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Sharpe Equipment Inc.

Love It - Keep Them Coming
?I just love this newsletter. As a Hydraulics Instructor for Eaton, I make copies and distribute them to my students as I address various topics. Please keep 'em coming.?

Michael S Lawrence, Hydraulics Instructor, Eaton Hydraulics Inc.

To get your FREE subscription ($149 value), simply type your first name and primary email address into the form below and hit 'SUBSCRIBE NOW!'