Hyflo - Hydraulic Power Units and Hydraulic and Pneumatic Engineering

Hyflo, a South African organisation, is well known in engineering circles and has become synonymous countrywide with both hydraulic power units, and hydraulic and pneumatic engineering.

In 1954, when the organisation was founded, it was predicted that hydraulics and pneumatics would play a vital role in the advancement of the South African industrial sector. Hyflo has been in the forefront of these developments ever since, by producing high-quality hydraulic power units.

Hyflo's main areas of business include:

• Supply of hydraulic power unit equipment and components
• Engineered systems for hydraulic power units
• Hydraulic power unit installation and commissioning
• Repairs and service for hydraulic power units

Hyflo have continued to move forwards into the demanding military market, providing specialised hydraulic power units for naval vessels around the world. Hyflo's custom-designed hydraulic power units are built specifically to operate in the rigorous conditions the naval industry demands.

Hyflo has provided custom hydraulic power units of different sizes and configurations for South African Navy corvettes and IPVs and Indian Navy OPVs. They are currently supplying hydraulic power units for Pakistani Navy frigates and providing a re-order for the Indian Navy OPVs.

SAN CORVETTE HYDRAULIC PROPULSION SYSTEM

Hyflo was contracted by Wärtsilä Lips Defence (France), to design and manufacture the South African Navy (SAN) corvettes' hydraulic propulsion system, and in this department the SAN corvettes are unmatched.

The hydraulic propulsion system is called CODAG-WARP (Combined Diesel And Gas Turbine – Waterjet And Refined Propellers). The hydraulic propulsion system consists of two diesel engines, each generating 5,920kW, coupled via a three-stage gearbox to two 3,400mm diameter Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPPs).

In addition, the hydraulic propulsion system has one 20MW gas turbine, which drives a waterjet which has a six-bladed impeller with a diameter of 2,800mm and an intake diameter of 2,100mm. With these, the vessel has a maximum speed of more than 27kt and a cruising speed of 20kt.

The two controllable pitch propellers are each controlled by independent 18.5kW hydraulic power units. Each hydraulic power unit comprises of a shaft-driven internal gear pump mounted on a reduction gearbox, which is used in normal operation, and an electrically driven stand-by pump.

The waterjet, which is the largest produced in the world to date, is primarily used for additional propulsion of the vessel. The hydraulic propulsion system is used for activation of two hydraulic cylinders situated on the waterjet.

CUSTOM HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC NAVAL SYSTEMS

Hyflo uses advanced technology to design, manufacture, install and commission complete custom naval hydraulic and pneumatic systems at Hyflo's two major facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town, both of which are equipped with the latest computer hardware and CAD software.

Using Hyflo's ISO 9001 structures, all designs and calculations of Hyflo's custom naval hydraulic and pneumatic systems are reviewed internally to ensure that the customer's specifications and requirements are fully met. Custom naval hydraulic and pneumatic systems are manufactured and assembled by experienced artisans in Hyflo's well-equipped workshops.

Manifold block assemblies are designed in 3D and manufactured in-house using HydraForce and ISO 7368 high-performance cartridge valves. This provides customers with a naval hydraulic system where all the control functions are integrated into a single manifold.

NAVAL HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT

Hyflo is the appointed South African representative of internationally renowned manufacturers such as Bosch Rexroth, Char-Lynn, Cross, Eaton, EPE, Hydraforce, David Brown Hydraulics, Moog, Parker ITR, Rahmer & Jansen, Stauff, and Voss, Weatherhead, Serto, Safeway, Hunger and Wepuko in hydraulics, and SMC and Zaytran in pneumatics.

A vast range of naval hydraulic and pneumatic engineering equipment and components, such as pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, hoses, hydraulic pipes and fittings, are stocked.