Electric vs. Hydraulic Motors: Know Their Advantages and Disadvantages

March 7, 2022

A motor is a power unit that utilises energy in making things move. It can move parts that are often found in machines, equipment pieces, and other similar things. The discovery of the motor and its innovations for the last few centuries has led to the sprout of massive technological improvements today.

There are two types of motors that can be maximised by various manufacturers and other industries today. These types are electric and hydraulic motors. What makes them different is they utilise varying energy sources. Hydraulic motors may have been around for a long time, but the emergence of electric motors have encouraged manufacturers to utilise them efficiently.

To better understand their differences, here are some of their notable advantages and disadvantages.

Electric Motors

Electric motors work by processing electrical energy into mechanical energy, generating motion that allows components to move. The force that is needed to generate motion comes from the interaction of magnetic field and winding alternating or direct current. Once the strength of the current increases, the strength of the magnetic field increases as well.

One advantage of electric motors is they can provide faster motion to systems. Their speed and operation can also be programmed, making them accurate all the time. Even the motion control of electric motors remains consistent all the time thanks to the motors’ electronic sensors.

Electric motors, however, have high initial costs compared to hydraulic motors. They can likewise overheat once they run continuously without any timeouts, leading to their shorter service life. Electric motors also boast large dimensions, making them difficult to install in specific areas. Ultimately, electric motors can only handle certain elements, which makes them unsuitable for harsh industrial applications.

Hydraulic Motors

Hydraulic motors, alternatively, maximise hydraulic pressure and flow and convert them into torque and angular displacement. They are powered by pressurised hydraulic fluid in generating the needed energy of devices and tools. Various types of hydraulic motors are available today. These motors include external gear motors, radial piston motors, and axial piston motors.

One great thing about hydraulic motors is they can produce exceptionally high forces. And as they maximise pressurised hydraulic fluid, they can easily provide a high degree of movement accuracy. Hydraulic motors can even hold torque and force constantly, carry out operating pressures of up to 4,000 psi, and be flexible in terms of their placement.

A disadvantage of hydraulic motors, however, is they tend to be at risk of leaking fluid. And as they leak, they can generate an unclean working environment. They likewise require a lot of components to get everything moving.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of electric and hydraulic motors allows you to choose the best systems for your operations. To know more about them, you can call us at Global Bearing Imports.

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