Summer excavator maintenance, keep away from high temperature faults – radiator

Summer excavator maintenance, keep away from high temperature faults - radiator

The working environment of excavators is harsh, and high temperatures can affect machine performance. However, when the temperature is severe, it can also affect the service life of the machine. Working temperature is crucial for excavators. The heat generation of excavators mainly takes the following forms:

The heat generated by 01 engine fuel combustion;

02 Hydraulic oil generates heat that can be converted into pressure energy in the hydraulic system;

03 Friction heat generated by hydraulic transmission and other transmissions during movement;

04 Heat from sunlight.

Among the main heat sources of excavators, engine fuel combustion accounts for about 73%, hydraulic energy and transmission generate about 25%, and sunlight generates about 2%.

As the scorching summer approaches, let's get to know the main radiators on excavators:

① Coolant radiator

Function: By regulating the temperature of the engine's cooling medium antifreeze through air, the engine can operate within an appropriate temperature range under different operating conditions, preventing overheating or overcooling.

Effect: If overheating occurs, the moving components of the engine will expand due to high temperature, causing damage to their normal mating clearance, resulting in failure and jamming at high temperatures; The mechanical strength of each component is reduced or even damaged due to high temperature; During the operation of the engine, high temperatures can lead to a decrease in suction volume and even abnormal combustion, resulting in a decrease in engine power and economic indicators. Therefore, the engine cannot operate under overheated conditions. If it is too cold, the heat dissipation loss increases, the viscosity of the oil is high, and the frictional power loss is large, resulting in a decrease in the engine's power and economic indicators. Therefore, the engine cannot operate under subcooled conditions.

② Hydraulic oil radiator

Function: By using air, the hydraulic oil temperature can be balanced within an ideal range during continuous operation, and the hydraulic system can quickly heat up when put into operation in a cold state, reaching the normal operating temperature range of the hydraulic oil.

Impact: Operating the hydraulic system at excessively high temperatures may cause the hydraulic oil to deteriorate, produce oil residue, and cause the coating of hydraulic components to peel off, which may lead to blockage of the throttle port. When the temperature increases, the viscosity and lubricity of hydraulic oil will decrease, which will greatly shorten the working life of hydraulic components. Seals, fillers, hoses, oil filters, and other components in hydraulic systems have a certain operating temperature range. Excessive oil temperature in hydraulic oil can accelerate their aging and failure. Therefore, it is important to operate the hydraulic system at the set operating temperature.

③ Intercooler

Function: Cooling the high-temperature intake air after turbocharging to a sufficiently low temperature through air to meet the requirements of emission regulations, while improving engine power performance and economy.

Impact: The turbocharger is driven by engine exhaust gas, and the engine exhaust temperature reaches thousands of degrees. Heat is transferred to the turbocharger side, causing the intake temperature to increase. The compressed air through the turbocharger also causes the intake temperature to increase. High intake air temperature can cause engine detonation, resulting in negative effects such as reduced turbocharging effect and short engine life.

④ Air conditioning condenser

Function: The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor is forced to liquefy and become high-temperature and high-pressure liquid through cooling by the radiator fan or condenser fan.