Category 1: Storing energy. This category of utility in actual use can be subdivided into:

(1) as an auxiliary power source to reduce installed capacity

(2) Compensation for leakage

(3) Compensation for thermal expansion

(4) As an emergency power source

(5) Constant pressure oil source

The above five kinds of 2 function principle is basically the same, are mainly applied to the accumulator can be a large amount of energy storage function. The main difference is that the parameter selection is different, the use of different parameter selection formula can realize the required function, to meet the required requirements.

Category 2: absorb hydraulic shock. Reversing valve sudden change of direction, the sudden stop of the movement of the actuator will produce a pressure shock in the hydraulic system, so that the system pressure in a short period of time to rise rapidly, resulting in damage to the instrumentation, components and sealing devices, and vibration and noise. In order to ensure the absorption effect, the accumulator should be set near the impact point, so the accumulator is generally installed in the control valve or hydraulic cylinder and other sources of impact before, can be very good to absorb and buffer hydraulic shock. 

Category 3: Eliminate pulsation and reduce noise. For the use of piston pumps and its plunger number of small hydraulic system, pump flow cycle changes make the system vibration. Installation of accumulators, can absorb a large number of pulsating pressure and flow in the energy, in the flow pulsation of a cycle. Instantaneous flow rate is higher than the average flow rate are part of the fluid is absorbed by the accumulator, below the average flow rate part of the accumulator by the supplement, which absorbs the energy in the pulsation, reducing the pulsation, reducing the degree of damage to sensitive instruments and equipment.

Category 4: Energy Recovery. Recovering energy with accumulators is an area that is currently being researched. Energy recovery can improve energy utilization and is an important way to save energy. Accumulators can be used to return a variety of functional, positional potential energy because they can temporarily store energy. The main research in this area are:

(1) Recovery of vehicle braking energy

(2) Recovery of construction machinery arm mechanism position energy

(3) Recovery of hydraulic excavator turntable braking energy

(4) Recovery of gravitational potential energy of oil well dressing machine and drilling rig pipe fall

(5) Recovery of gravitational potential energy of elevator descent