Radial force imbalance refers to the uneven radial hydraulic pressure acting on the gears and bearings of a gear pump.
This unbalanced force pushes the gears toward one side of the pump housing instead of keeping them evenly loaded.
In a gear pump, fluid pressure is not uniformly distributed around the gear circumference:
The high-pressure zone is located near the outlet side
The low-pressure zone is near the inlet side
Pressure gradually increases along the meshing region
This pressure gradient creates a net radial force acting in one direction, resulting in imbalance.
High outlet pressure and low inlet pressure generate unequal hydraulic forces on the gear teeth and shafts.
Conventional gear pumps lack pressure-balancing mechanisms, making imbalance unavoidable.
As system pressure increases, the magnitude of radial force rises proportionally.
