SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITH WATER HYDRAULICS-POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Water hydraulics is an old technology area, which has been used already hundreds of years. Earliest applications where water was used as power transmission medium are known already from 2000 years ago. Modem water hydraulics can be comprised as a technology area where new design, material and control technologies are applied to water hydraulic systems. In 1990's very much research and development of water hydraulic systems and components were carried out in several laboratories in many countries. During the new millennium the research efforts has been a little bit smaller, but the continuously rising concern about globe and global climate change has also increased the interest on water hydraulic applications. This paper describes the actual research activities related to development of water hydraulic components and systems. The main focus areas are discussed and the challenges and possible solutions of each subject are analyzed. Water quality aspects, component technology, control aspects and also applications are covered. Also some analysis about water hydraulics' possible role in climate change process and energy saving are presented.