Hydraulic-Elevator

Hydraulic elevators are supported by a piston at the side of the elevator that pushes the elevator up as an electric motor forces oil or another hydraulic fluid into the piston. The elevator descends as a valve releases the fluid from the piston. They are used for low-rise applications of 4 stories and travel at a maximum speed of 0.63 m per minute. The machine room for hydraulic elevators is located at the lowest level adjacent to the elevator shaft.

Conventional Hydraulic Elevators have a sheave that extends below the floor of the elevator pit, which accepts the retracting piston as the elevator descends. Some configurations have a telescoping piston that collapses and requires a shallower hole below the pit. Max travel distance is approximately 15 m.

Hole-less Hydraulic Elevators consists of pistons mounted inside the hoistway to raise and lower the car. This is especially a solution for buildings built in bedrock, a high water table or unstable soil conditions locations that can make digging the hole required for a conventional hydraulic elevator impractical. Holeless hydraulic systems use a direct-acting piston to raise the car.

Hydraulic elevators have a low initial cost. Their ongoing maintenance costs are lower compared to the other type of elevators. However, hydraulic elevators use more energy than other types of elevators because the electric motor works against gravity as it forces hydraulic fluid into the piston, but it is also notable that the power is used in one direction only, doing which the electrical power consumption is reduced to 50% of its uses.

Hydraulic elevators are proposed at selected projects for low & midrise buildings. Regular maintenance is required for this fluid operation. The Hydraulic elevators do not fall into the Green energy category, hence not recommended for green building projects.