Which Elevator You Should Choose Among Traction And Hydraulic Elevator For Commercial Use

Elevators are present in the world's tallest buildings and the world's deepest and most dangerous mines. They can be built indoors, outdoors, or even into rock cliffs.

You might not be aware of the two major sorts of elevators until you've looked at the machinery behind the scenes. When deciding whether to use elevator traction machines or hydraulic elevator machines, consider factors such as space, cost, and how the elevator will be used.

Although commercial hydraulic and traction elevators move people and goods, they do it fundamentally differently.

Traction elevators

The cab is lifted and lowered by belts or steel ropes in elevator traction machines and a counterweight on a pulley system. In these machines, gearless permanent magnet motors are utilized to offer power and efficiency in a small size.

Elevators with traction are the most prevalent. They can be geared or gearless and powered by AC or DC motors.

Geared Elevators

A gearbox linked to the motor powers the wheel and moves the ropes in geared elevators.

These machines can run at 500 ft/min. These models will be affordable in terms of initial investment, maintenance, and energy use.

Gearless Elevators

The sheave is directly connected to the motor in gearless traction elevators.

These versions can go 2,000 ft/min.

Gearless elevator traction machine models require a large initial investment and moderate upkeep. They use less energy than geared traction elevators.

Traction elevator advantages

●      Traction elevators are used in buildings with travel distances of above 60 feet, including some of the world's most famous skyscrapers.

●      The engine does not have to transfer as much weight in traction elevators since a counterbalance supports the cab and occupants.

●      Traction elevators are more energy-efficient than hydraulic elevators in high-rise applications.

Traction elevator disadvantages

●      Installation expenses might exceed hydraulic elevators.

●      Only the original installer or a service partner may obtain spare hardware and perform routine maintenance.

●      Access may be difficult since the controls are on the shaft. Henceelevator traction machines are easy to maintain.

●      Rescuing people in an emergency scenario is challenging since traction lifts require specific expertise and are hard to reach in the shaft.

Hydraulic elevators

Unlike traction elevators, hydraulic elevators use a pressure-driven electrical pump to propel hydraulic fluid into a cylinder. As a result of the pressure pushing a piston, the elevator rises.

Hydraulic elevator fluid has historically been petroleum-based, but technological advances have made it feasible to use a biodegradable, fast renewable fluid to improve elevator performance.

Conventional Hydraulic Elevators

These have a retractable piston that extends below the elevator pit's floor.

Some designs use a telescopic piston that needs a shallower pit. The maximum travel distance is 60 feet, unlike elevator traction machines.

Hole-less Hydraulic Elevators

Each side of the cab has a piston. The telescopic pistons are secured at the pit's base, eliminating the need for a sheave or hole. Telescoping pistons provide 50-foot travel. Non-telescoping pistons only travel around 20 feet.

Roped Hydraulic Elevators

Roped Hydraulic Elevators move the elevator with ropes and a piston. A maximum of 60 feet is possible.

Hydraulic elevator advantages

●      Hydraulic elevators have been used for over 50 years in constructions with less than 60 feet of travel. They are less expensive to manufacture and have fewer moving parts, decreasing maintenance and repair costs compared to elevator traction machines.

●      They use less energy while waiting and almost no electricity when lowering the cab. In low-use, low-rise scenarios, hydraulic elevators can save energy over traction elevators. These benefits can reduce the embodied and operating carbon footprint of hydraulic elevators.

●      They cannot reach the same velocities as traction elevators. However, they can handle greater payloads.

●      They used to need drilling holes in the ground and extending and inserting hydraulic fluid cylinders. However, technological advancements have resulted in above-ground hydraulic elevators powered by telescopic jack units mounted on the pit floor.

Hydraulic Lift Disadvantages

●      Hydraulic lifts have subterranean pressure and might be dangerous if not maintained properly.

●      The hydraulic elevator's motor runs upward, consuming double the energy of an elevator traction machine.

●      Hydraulic lifts can rise to 150 ft/min. If the lifting performance exceeds this threshold, it becomes uncontrollable.

●      The hydraulic elevators lack a safety system and rely on the weight of the framework to maintain their place in the shaftway.

●      If there is a breach in the underground system, oil might spill into the ground and damage the public water supply.

Space Requirements

The quantity of space you have maybe a decisive factor in selecting an elevator. With the machine room at the top of the shaft, many hydraulic elevators may be placed. This is useful for reducing space and keeping the oil temperature high enough for the machine to function properly.

Traction elevators, even the newest machine-room-free models, take up a lot more area.

Cost Differences

Hydraulic elevator and traction elevator expenses are not black and white; they are not well defined.

 An elevator traction machine is more expensive to construct than a hydraulic elevator. Still, once completed, it saves energy since it elevates the cab with counterweights rather than an electric pump. In contrast, a hydraulic elevator is less expensive to buy and maintain.

Energy usage

Traction lifts generally use less energy. The two types of lifts work differently. To lift a hydraulic lift car, the pump works against gravity, but the energy is lost when it falls. The counterbalanced traction lifts utilize less energy.

Conclusion:

You've been waiting for the big reveal! The proper elevator for your building may depend on the building's usage or the tenant’s needs. Hydraulic elevators are a better alternative for people on a budget and need only one. Electric elevators are the sole option for high-rise buildings.

While hydraulic lifts may not give an easy ride, they may handle far more loads than a traction lift. They are generally utilized in five-story or smaller structures, while elevator traction machines are frequently employed in mid-to high-rise buildings where speed is more vital. They are also less lent than traction equivalents.