Recent sustainability related research results in fluid power

Fluid Power is the drive solution when huge forces or torques need to be controlled even with challenging dynamic requirements. This Paper focuses on research results covering the range of innovations from fluids and tribology with a special view on piston units on the one hand and on hydraulic circuits for new applications such as hybrid drives and hydrostatic drives for wind turbines on the other hand. The survey provides examples where fluid power contributes to sustainability. It starts with the fluid generated from biomass and avoiding losses in tribological systems such as pistons in bores and understanding designs to improve efficiency and leakage. It also introduces new ideas for hybrid solutions in drive trains and work hydraulics. It illustrates the potential to save energy over a load cycle and to recuperate potential and kinetic energy in a hydraulic accumulator. The paper will also show that hydrostatic drives are a viable solution for wind turbines when an intelligent circuit is chosen.