Hydraulic Accumulator

A hydraulic accumulator is a pressure storage reservoir in which an incompressible hydraulic fluid is held under pressure applied by an external source of mechanical energy, which can be an engine, a spring, a raised weight, or a body of compressed gas. By storing pressurized fluid ready for release, an accumulator lets a hydraulic system meet fluctuating demand using a smaller pump than continuous peak demand would otherwise require, respond quickly to short-lived surges in demand, and smooth out pressure pulsations in the system, functioning in effect as an energy storage device for the hydraulic circuit. Compressed gas accumulators, also called hydro-pneumatic accumulators, are by far the most common type in use.