Description
A hydro-pneumatic accumulator is a device used
specifically for storage of liquid under pressure. As liquids,
for all practical purposes, are incompressible, this objective
is achieved by utilizing the compressibility of gases.
A flexible rubber separator i.e., bladder is fitted into the
accumulator shell.
An inert gas - nitrogen - is filled into the bladder through a
pressure valve to a pressure P . The bladder expands, filling 0
the entire volume V of the accumulator shell. 0
When the system pressure P is higher than the gas 1
precharge pressure P , the liquid enters the accumulator 0
and the bladder is compressed reducing the gas volume to
V .1
Should the liquid pressure rise to P , the volume of gas 2
reduces to V with an attendant rise in pressure, thus 2
balancing the Liquid pressure.
A potential energy is now stored in the accumulator to be
utilised whenever needed.