Hi. I am currently trying to sort out my vehicle braking system.
The braking system is a hydraulic pressure system. It uses a pump and a diaphragm accumulator to pressurise the brake fluid.
There is also a pressure switch to maintain the pressure in the system.
My question is:
IF I change the size of the accumulator (make it smaller - from 0.25 Litres to 0.16 Litres), how will the system be affected?
Normally one can press the brake pedal about 8 times before the pressure in the system drops and the pump comes on.
If I use a smaller accumulator will this mean that the pump will just have to come on more often?
OR can't this be done

If I use a smaller accumulator will this mean that the pump will just have to come on more often?

That would be the normal operation of a Hydraulic Acumulator circuit.

An Acumulator in Hydraulics is similar to the Battery in electric systems. They both store energy that can be used without further input from a Generator or Pump. The biger the Battery the longer it will supply the system before re-charging.

You are right on your assumption regarding the need for the pump to physically turn back on.

Since you are using a diaphragm accumulator as an additional pressure source, you have to keep in mind the use of the Ideal Gas Law equation.

PV=RT

For further analysis, consideration of whether the phsyical action of the accumulator is adiabatic or isothermal must be determined.

In general though, as you compress the gas, assuming air or nitrogen, in a smaller accumulator, the smaller return fluid supply is available to your braking system once pressure reaches the set point for release. This affects the duration of time the accumulator can supply the sufficient amount of pressure to your operation.