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Control systems

Improving Power Matching in Construction Machinery with Advanced Hydraulic Control

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at Zhejiang University in China have developed an innovative control system that enhances the power matching performance of construction machinery. The system, which combines a volume throttle speed control system with a double-variable hydraulic source, allows for simultaneous control of motor speed and pump swashplate angle. This results in greater flexibility but also introduces additional nonlinearities. To address these issues, the researchers developed a nonlinear flow model and a dynamic variable pressure margin (VPM) strategy, which computes the target pressure margin based on a characterization factor lambda. The proposed control structure integrates a continuous sliding mode controller to improve accuracy and robustness under dynamic conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team developed a nonlinear flow model that considers motor speed, swashplate angle, and pump supply pressure to enhance power matching performance.
  • The proposed control structure integrates a continuous sliding mode controller to improve accuracy and robustness under dynamic conditions.
  • A dynamic variable pressure margin (VPM) strategy was proposed to achieve real-time power matching, which analytically computes the target pressure margin based on a characterization factor lambda.
  • Using load data from a 2-ton electric excavator's digging cycle as a benchmark, the double-variable hydraulic source with the proposed control structure showed an improvement of approximately 24.9% in control performance compared to traditional hydraulic sources.
  • The application of the VPM strategy resulted in power matching optimizations of 23.0% and 15.3% for the double-variable and traditional hydraulic sources, respectively.
  • The research concluded that the proposed control structure and VPM strategy are superior to traditional approaches and can improve the efficiency and responsiveness of construction machinery.

Statistics:

  • 24.9% improvement in control performance using the double-variable hydraulic source with the proposed control structure
  • 23.0% power matching optimization using the VPM strategy for the double-variable hydraulic source
  • 15.3% power matching optimization using the VPM strategy for traditional hydraulic sources
  • 2-ton electric excavator's digging cycle used as a benchmark for load data

Sources:

  • VerticalNews. "Researchers Publish New Research on Mechanical Engineering - New Engineering Technology (Research On Power Matching of Construction Machinery Volume Throttle Speed Control System Based On Double-variable Hydraulic Source)." Journal of Engineering, vol. 1013, 2025.
  • NewsRx. "Findings on Mechanical Engineering Reported by Investigators at Zhejiang University (Research On Power Matching of Construction Machinery Volume Throttle Speed Control System Based On Double-variable Hydraulic Source)." Journal of Engineering, vol. 1013, 2025.
  • Research On Power Matching of Construction Machinery Volume Throttle Speed Control System Based On Double-variable Hydraulic Source. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 2025.

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