1. What Is Radial Force Imbalance?
Radial force imbalance refers to the uneven radial hydraulic pressure acting on the gears and bearings of a gear pump.
This unbalanced force pushes the gears toward one side of the pump housing instead of keeping them evenly loaded.
2. How Does Radial Force Imbalance Occur?
In a gear pump, fluid pressure is not uniformly distributed around the gear circumference:
The high-pressure zone is located near the outlet side
The low-pressure zone is near the inlet side
Pressure gradually increases along the meshing region
This pressure gradient creates a net radial force acting in one direction, resulting in imbalance.
3. Main Causes of Radial Force Imbalance
①Asymmetric Pressure Distribution
High outlet pressure and low inlet pressure generate unequal hydraulic forces on the gear teeth and shafts.
②Fixed Displacement Gear Design
Conventional gear pumps lack pressure-balancing mechanisms, making imbalance unavoidable.
③High Operating Pressure
As system pressure increases, the magnitude of radial force rises proportionally.