Switch-mode hydraulic circuits provide a compact, efficient, fast response, and low-cost hydraulic control option. While significant research attention has been given to switch-mode hydraulic circuits, the technology has not penetrated the hydraulics industry.
The main technical barriers that appear to be preventing the technology from being applied in the industry include the lack of a hydraulic valve capable of high frequency switching with low energy consumption, physical circuits demonstrating lower efficiency than predicted through simulations due to a combination of energy losses, and a general lack of widespread understanding of the circuit behavior. While the author and others are addressing the valve development need through other work, this paper series focuses on developing a deeper understanding of energy losses in a switch-mode circuit with specific focus on the compressibility energy loss, which is unique to this control method.