How to Convert Hydraulic Actuators to Electric

Determining Total Cost of Ownership for Electric Actuators

Besides improvements in motion control, there are other factors that contribute to the overall total cost of ownership.  In many cases, if all these factors are considered over a reasonable life of the equipment, the electric actuator system will have a lower total cost of ownership.  These factors include:

• System components – Hydraulic systems require more components to purchase and maintain.
• Footprint – Although hydraulic cylinders are compact, the overall footprint of an electric actuator system is typically much smaller when factoring in the footprint of the hydraulic power unit, allowing for a more compact and efficient machine design.
• Life – The life of electric actuators can be estimated with an L10 calculation & dynamic load rating while the life of hydraulic cylinders is extremely hard to predict. Electric actuators allow users to better calculate and select an actuator that meets their system life requirements. Download “Calculating Total Cost of Ownership” Infographic.
• Efficiency – Electric actuator system efficiency is typically in the 75-80% range while hydraulic systems typically realize around 40-55% efficiency.
• Utility costs – Due to efficiency, hydraulic actuators can consume 2-3 times the amount of electric utility each and every year. Download “Electric vs. Servo-hydraulic vs. Hydraulic Actuators” Infographic.
• Maintenance –  When you replace a hydraulic cylinder system with electric actuators, you have a lot less maintenance to deal with — especially regarding seals. Due to wear, temperature, and other factors, seal integrity will diminish and performance along with it.
• Temperature – With high / low temperature grease, electric actuators can operate in temperature extremes with minimal effect on performance.
• Leaks and environmental concerns – Only a matter of time before hydraulic systems will leak.  Leaks can be safety hazards as well as contribute to many environmental concerns.
• Data collection – Servo systems used with electric actuators provide position, velocity, and force/torque data at all times to the control system and better monitor processes.
• Other factors – Noise, shock loads, side loads