Which description matches a gas-charged accumulator?

• A. Gas charge accumulator
• B. Bladder-type accumulator
• C. Spring-loaded accumulator
• D. No barrier accumulator

Answer: (A)

Gas-charged accumulators store energy by compressing a precharged gas, usually nitrogen, on one side while hydraulic fluid sits on the other side behind a barrier. As system pressure rises, fluid pushes against the barrier (which can be a bladder or a piston), the gas compresses, and the stored energy is released when pressure drops. This gas cushion helps smooth out pressure fluctuations and provides rapid response to demand.

The description that fits this concept directly refers to the gas charge itself, i.e., a gas charge accumulator. A bladder-type accumulator is a common design within the gas-charged family, but it emphasizes the physical barrier rather than the energy-storage mechanism. A spring-loaded accumulator relies on a mechanical spring rather than a compressed gas. A no barrier accumulator would lack the separating barrier, so it wouldn’t use a gas cushion to store energy.