There are several reasons why the inlet port on a hydraulic pump is larger than the discharge port:
- To decelerate fluid flow: In hydraulic system, fluids are used to transmit power and pressure. Fluids pass through the system at high pressures and velocities. The fluid entering the pump moves very fast which causes friction between them and stresses the pump. Reducing velocity and stress on a pump, require its inlet port to be made large enough so that more volume of fluid can enter at lower velocities.
- To increase effectiveness: With reduced velocity and stress on it, the larger inlet port makes the pump more effective. This implies that pumps can transfer fluids across systems with less energy they need to consume.
- To avoid cavitation: If there is low pressure inside a pumping machine, cavitation may arise when vaporization of liquids takes place within it. Pumps thus lose efficiency with such conditions in place. Making the inlet port bigger allows more liquid into it hence preventing cavitation from happening.
On a whole, having a larger inlet port assists in enhancing efficiency, reliability as well as prolonging life of hydraulic pumps.