Thread Content
In recent years, **more investment has been made in infrastructure construction. The concrete machinery market has also experienced rapid development, with concrete pump trucks playing a vital role in the increasingly dynamic construction industry. Domestic fully hydraulic reciprocating piston concrete pump trucks have gone through a development process from non-existence to strength. As the market grows, more and more companies begin to produce concrete pump systems, resulting in an increasing variety of concrete pump products from different manufacturers and in different models. Faced with the dazzling market of concrete pump products, how should users evaluate their performance? From which perspective should one approach the task of selecting a cost-effective concrete pump with excellent performance from a reputable brand? Starting with the technical parameters, generally, a concrete pump has the following main technical parameters: delivery volume, outlet pressure, motor power, and the type of distribution valve. According to the **new standards, these key parameters can be obtained from the model of the concrete pump. The following takes the HBT60-16-110S concrete pump model from Pump Tiger as an example to illustrate its representative significance. HB – The pinyin abbreviation for concrete pump. T – Trailer-type. S – The distribution valve is of the S-shaped swing tube type. 60 – Maximum delivery volume, in m3/h. 16 – Maximum pressure at the outlet of the concrete pump, in MPa. 110 – Motor power, in kW. Based on the specified outlet pressure level, pumps are classified as low-pressure pumps (≤5MPa), medium-pressure pumps (6-10MPa), and high-pressure pumps (>10MPa) ； Based on the maximum delivery rate per hour, it ranges from 20 to 100 m3, and most concrete pump trucks can achieve two displacement levels or variable displacement continuously. Users should select the outlet pressure based on the actual requirements of the project and the height of the transmission distance ； Select the output volume range based on the mixing and feeding capacity ； The type of distribution valve is selected based on the aggregate properties of the pumped concrete. The S-shaped swing tube valve results in low pressure loss during pumping and ensures smooth concrete flow; however, due to limitations imposed by the pipe diameter, it requires high-quality aggregates. It is suitable for medium and high-pressure pumps, as well as for use in high-rise buildings and for long-distance, high-head transportation where high-quality concrete is required ； Gate valves are known for their tolerance to coarse aggregates, allowing them to handle ‘rough’ materials, and they are widely used in medium-pressure pumps, for pumping heights of up to 100 meters over distances of 300 meters horizontally. The motor power of a concrete pump is a key factor that determines the outlet pressure and the volume of concrete that can be transported. With a constant motor power, an increase in pressure will inevitably lead to a decrease in the transport volume ； On the contrary, reducing the outlet pressure will increase the flow rate. To ensure that concrete pump trucks have a large delivery capacity, as well as a certain outlet pressure and an economic power level that matches this, constant-power plunger pumps are generally used in the design of such pumps ； That is, once the constant power value is set, as the outlet pressure increases, the discharge volume delivered by the oil pump will automatically decrease to a value corresponding to the specified power level ； If it is necessary to achieve both high outlet pressure and a large flow rate. The only way is to increase the motor power. Therefore, **in the new standard, the concept of the capacity index for concrete pump trucks is introduced (measured in MPa·m3/h)** ； That is, the product of the actual outlet pressure of the concrete pump and the actual delivery volume per hour; the higher this value, the greater the capacity index, and the larger the power required of the motor, thereby achieving high discharge volumes and high lift heights. In its design, Pump Tiger has incorporated a function for switching between high and low pressure, in order to meet various construction requirements; it enables a large flow rate at lower costs, or a higher outlet pressure with the same motor power. Taking Zhonglian and Pump Tiger HBT60·16-110S as examples, when they are operating at their maximum delivery rate of 67 m3/h, the outlet pressure is 7.8 MPa, enabling fast pumping at low pressure and high volume. When the delivery rate is reduced to 35 m3/h, the maximum outlet pressure rises to 16 MPa, allowing for high-pressure, low-volume pumping with high head and over long distances. It is impossible to achieve a high outlet pressure for a concrete pump along with a large delivery volume simultaneously when the motor power is insufficient. Looking at the component configuration of concrete pump trucks, the hydraulic pump – the hydraulic pump is the “heart” of a concrete pump truck; depending on the country of origin, there are domestic hydraulic pumps and imported hydraulic pumps ； Based on their structural design, hydraulic pumps can be classified into gear pumps, vane pumps, and piston pumps. Different types of hydraulic pumps are suitable for different pressure levels. Due to their low cost and high adaptability, gear pumps were widely used in concrete pumping units outside Wuhan and Changsha in the early days. However, because of their limited pressure resistance and high pulse resistance, they are usually installed in low-pressure pumps, or only used in the auxiliary oil circuit systems of medium- and high-pressure pumps ； Plunger pumps are divided into swashplate type and inclined shaft type; they feature a wide pressure range and reliable performance. Imported hydraulic pumps, such as the A4VG, A10VG, and A11VG series from the German company Rexroth, are products of world-class quality. Among domestic swashplate piston pumps, the A7V and A8V series produced by Guiyang Liyuan Hydraulics represent the top quality among domestic piston pumps, offering relatively reliable performance. Therefore, the class of hydraulic pump used can give an indication of the overall performance of a concrete pump. Hydraulic valves—Hydraulic valves act as the “assistants” of hydraulic pumps, including sequence valves, pressure relief valves, directional control valves, unloading valves, check valves, and selector valves. Among domestically produced directional valves and unloading valves, the products from Shanghai Lixin and Beijing Huade are of higher quality. However, for valves such as sequence valves and pressure reducing valves, which involve greater technical complexity and require higher levels of reliability, it is better to choose well-known international brands such as German Hawe, Rexroth, and American Wegener; this ensures reliable performance of concrete pump systems. If a hydraulic valve assembly fails, it will affect the operation of the entire machine ； Therefore, when choosing a concrete pump, it is necessary to consider not only its \"heart\" but also its \"assistants\" in order to achieve the optimal configuration. Electrical components—The electrical components on concrete pump trucks include contactors, circuit breakers, relays, etc., which control the operation of related components according to logical programs. Although domestic electrical components have a price advantage, their reliability and lifespan still fall short of those of imported or joint-venture brand components. Products such as Schneider’s contactors from France, Siemens’ circuit breakers from Germany, and Omron’s small relays from Japan are all leaders in their respective categories. To reduce the faults caused by numerous electrical contacts, some reputable manufacturers are now applying PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) to concrete pump systems, in order to minimize the number of mechanical contacts in their electrical systems. The use of PLCs enables contactless program control, as well as convenient automated remote control. Fault detection programs can be written using microcomputers to identify the causes of faults, thereby facilitating the operation and maintenance of the system. When comprehensively analyzing a brand and its services, in addition to considering the “hardware” specifications of the concrete pump, it is also necessary to assess its “software” aspects: such as the brand’s production history, R&D capabilities, after-sales service quality, and so on. Reputable companies excel in terms of R&D capabilities, quality assurance, after-sales service, and the supply of spare parts, allowing users to have no worries. When choosing a concrete pump, it is necessary to consider not only the brand, performance, and quality of the components, but also the technical capabilities and production history of the manufacturer. Additionally, attention should be paid to the level of after-sales service as well as the cost-effectiveness of the product. However, the birthplace of concrete pumps is Wuhan, which boasts a strong R&D capability, a well-developed production industry chain, and technical service support. Moreover, professional and reputable manufacturers in cities such as Wuhan and Changsha are also responsible for establishing the standards for domestic pumps! It should be the top choice for buyers! ! !