Welcome to our Accumulator Replacement (FAQs) page. Here you will find answers on how to keep your accumulators in good working condition, and how often they should be replaced.
If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us and our team will be able to help.
Accumulator Replacement FAQs
The European Pressure Equipment Directive 2014-68-EU advises that accumulators need to be re-certified or replaced after 5 years.
The performance of the accumulator reduces over time and use, and it is crucial that they are replaced as it can lead to health and safety risks, and the integrity of the vessel will be at serious risk.
If accumulators are not maintained correctly, they will experience considerable faults such as oil leaks and oil contamination. This leads to a loss in dynamic performance; the speed of the actuator will be reduced, causing the machine to slow down and affect strain rates.
If the accumulators are not working properly, this means the accumulator cannot produce the normal rates of hydraulic flow needed to make the system move, and ultimately reduces the speed of the actuator.
A slower actuator speed means the lack of movement leads to the testing parameters to be reduced; the actuator will be unable to achieve the desired testing speeds and rates needed to perform the required test. If your actuator is experiencing reduced speed, this is a sign that there are issues within the internal components of the machine.
If strain rates can’t be achieved, this then limits the capability of testing due to poor performance.
For Phoenix-built machines, we have the technical expertise and knowledge to service and maintain our unique, bespoke test systems, so we recommend that servicing and calibration visits are carried out by Phoenix engineers.
We also have a wealth of knowledge to support and maintain non-Phoenix hydraulic test machines. We have an outstanding reputation, and our technical experts have a range of qualifications and experience in service and calibration, mechanical design and production, electronics design and production, software development and support, and quality control.
Phoenix engineers carry out preventative maintenance checks every 12 months or in line with your agreed calibration schedule.
Our preventative maintenance service includes pressure checks, taking oil samples and checking oil quality and contamination levels.
Yes, our maintenance checks can be combined with our annual calibration visits, or arranged as a separate site visit.
We recommend contacting us three months in advance of any service or calibration requirement. This allows us enough time to gather technical information and arrange suitable dates, organise any replacement parts, oil and components ahead of our visit, and on-site access so that your service and calibration programme can run as smoothly as possible.
If you require an urgent service visit to investigate failed parts or fault finding, we provide an emergency call out service.
Certifications
Rolls Royce Technical Approval for High Temperature and Environmental Testing
The Design, Manufacture, Commissioning, Maintenance and support of Materials Testing Machines. ISO 9001 - ISO 14001, Cert. No. 15997
