What is the purpose of hydraulic accumulators?

• A. To prevent cavitation and provide positive pressure while damping pressure spikes
• B. To cool hydraulic fluid
• C. To filter contaminants
• D. To store extra hydraulic fluid for redundancy

Answer: (A)

Hydraulic accumulators store energy in hydraulic fluid under a gas or spring charge to keep system pressure steady and absorb shocks. The gas cushion provides a positive pressure on the fluid, so when demand spikes or the pump surges, the accumulator releases fluid and dampens the pressure rise. This also helps keep suction pressure above vapor pressure, preventing cavitation at the pump. In short, they smooth out pressure fluctuations and supply fluid quickly to maintain a stable, positive pressure in the hydraulic system. They’re not primarily for cooling, filtering, or simply holding extra fluid for redundancy.