Proptec Builder: Hydraulic Motor Options

There are 2 motor options:

1. Order Code 050: requires 2.5 GPM or less of oil to operate, 3 HP or less
2. Order Code 100: REquires 4.5 GPM or less of oil to operate. UP TO 6 hp.

Now here's some details to help you make the choice.

Background on the Proptec™  Hydraulic Motor

Your hydraulic drive Proptec atomizer is powered by an ultra-high efficiency hydraulic gearmotor, designed and manufactured specifically for use in the Proptec atomizer. It is considered by its users and competitors as the highest quality hydraulic gearmotor available on earth.

Efficiency

This motor achieves a minimum of 98% volumetric efficiency, and mechanical efficiencies of 95% or better, for a total efficiency of over 92%. This far exceeds the efficiency of even the best electric motors (80-90%).

Why does this matter? Typical Hydraulic gear motors will be 70 to 80% overall efficient. The 20 to 30% lost efficiency becomes heat in your hydraulic system, which can be damaging to your hydraulic components and is expensive to remove. Besides that, it’s a flat-out waste of energy. By utilizing high efficiency motors, you will burn up to 20% less fuel running the Proptec atomizer, as you would with a 70% efficient competitor’s motor, and still do the same work!

For an air-assisted atomizer running 24-7, the energy savings alone would more than pay for the atomizer over a short time.

Choosing the motor to match conditions:

Proptec atomizers are offered in 2 sizes:

050 series motors, found in the PT048, PT049, adn PT050 series atomizers

50 series atomizers use a 1.4 cc (.085 CI) motor, and require between 1 and 2.5 gallons per minute (4 to 10 lpm). 2 GPM is suitable for most applications. They are capable of powering any non-air-assisted atomizer, and can provide medium volumes of air to 6000 cfm (200 CM/min). They are capable of speeds to 6000 RPM, giving extremely fine droplet spectra where that is required. Choose the 050 series motor if any of the following apply to you:

• You would like to use an electric powerpack
• You do not require air assisted atomization
• You require the finest droplets possible
• You require a very large array of atomizers (for example 20-30 units working together)
• For agricultural air-assist applications, you have relatively light foliage canopies, such as with field crops, vegetables, strawberries, etc. (citrus trees being a heavy canopy for comparison)
• For agricultural air-assist applications, you have a very limited supply of tractor hydraulic flow, but need more atomizers than you would be able to run using PT100 atomizers (below)
• You are able to maintain a hydraulic system temperature 140 degrees F or below (50 series motors do not start reliably above 140 degrees). We can help you engineer this.

100-Series Motors (Found in the PT098, PT099, PT100, and PT101 series atomizers.)

100 series atomizers use a 2.8 cc (.17 CI) motor and require between 2 and 4.5 gallons per minute of oil, (8 to 18 lpm), 4 GPM for most applications. They are capable of efficiently powering any non-air-assisted atomizer, but really are specified for air assisted applications that require high volumes of air, up to 10000 cfm (300 CM/min). They are capable of speeds up to 6000 RPM, giving fine droplet spectra where that is required. Choose the 100 series motor if any of the following apply to you:

• You require high air volumes to reach long distances, such as for dust control or odor control
• You have an existing hydraulic system with more oil than needed for the same number of 50 series motors
• You are operating in a high heat or severe environment that may exceed 140° F
• For air-assist applications, you have heavy/dense foliage canopies (orchards, vineyards, or bush crops)
• You want air-assisted atomization, but your hydraulic system is not capable of 2500 PSI (165 BAR)- you need lower pressure performance.

Matching Hydraulic Flow

The Proptec motor is a fixed-displacement design. This means that if you double the flow of oil, you will double the speed of the atomizer. If you need more than one atomizer, typically the motors will be plumbed in parallel. This means that if one motor requires 2 gallons per minute, then 2 motors will require 4 gallons, et cetera. You cannot plumb the Proptec motors in series, where 2 or more motors use the same oil flow. This will result in excessive system pressures and poor motor starting performance.

Beginning in 2009, all Proptec motors will incorporate an in-line speed limiter. This device limits the maximum amount of oil to 2.5 GPM or 4.5 GPM, respectively. By restricting the maximum oil flow, the atomizer can never be over-sped, making it easier than ever to use atomizers with other existing hydraulic systems without fear of overspeeding.

It is always best to start with a system that is designed to provide exactly the right amount of hydraulic oil for the speed you desire. If you don't know what speed you want, contact us for advise. Below you will learn the issues with having too much oil flow.
 

Bypassed Oil = Heat

Before we go further, it is important that you understand the relationship between oil pressure, work, and heat. Pressurizing hydraulic oil is like storing work in it. The oil will always choose a path of least resistance, attempting to liberate that stored energy. Usually, that path of least resistance is through the hydraulic motor. As the oil travels through the motor, the pressure decreases, as it is converted to work (the motor turning). If all the pressure in the oil is converted to mechanical work, the oil will stay cool. This is what you want.
 

If you have too much oil flow, the motor may spin faster than you want, or the pressure relief will constantly be bypassing oil. You may decide that it is a good idea to install a bypass valve in the system (or buy a system with one in it). This is a better idea than using the pressure relief as a flow regulator, as a bypass valve will allow you to adjust the speed of the atomizer motor until it is just right. BUT there is a consequence. The bypassed oil starts with the same amount of pressure as the oil that goes through the motor, but the bypassed oil goes through the valve, it can't do any work. Consequently, it becomes very turbulent, with the molecules rubbing against each other until all that pressure is spent. Now you have heat.
 

Lets say, for example, that you are using an air-assisted atomizer, that requires 2 gallons per minute at 1700 PSI. This is 2 horsepower (1715 PSI/gallon/minute is 1 horsepower of energy). However, your existing hydraulic system has 6 gallons per minute of flow rating, so you install a bypass valve. The pump will have to pressurize all 6 gallons to 1700 PSI so that you can use 2 gallons to power the motor. The other 4 gallons become 4 horsepower worth of heat — over 10,000 BTUs. This is not only 100% wasted fuel, but also if you don't get it out of the oil, it will keep accumulating, and eventually cause the oil to boil! That's hot! Long before that time, all of the seals in your equipment will have melted or become brittle, the metal will have become scored, and you will have racked up a whopping repair bill.
 

The moral of the story is, properly designed systems are the key to successful and efficient operation. If you're not sure, ask us- we can help.
 

If you do not already have a hydraulic source, consider one of our many pre-manufactured powerpacks designed to perfectly match with the number of atomizers you require.