Vacuum pumps play an essential role in keeping workers and equipment safe from hazardous gas build-up, as well as speeding production – something which can increase profitability while improving customer satisfaction and retention rates.
Applications
Vacuum pumps have many uses and applications in various manufacturing and processing industries, including food, chemical and mining processes (evaporation, distillation and desiccation) as well as petrochemicals and metallurgy.
Vacuum pumps also play a crucial role in medical equipment like MRI scanners as well as arts & printing equipment such as framing equipment, airbrushes and ink-jet printers. You can visit this site to learn more about MRI technology.
Vacuum pumps serve to alter pressure within a contained volume by moving gas molecules between regions with differing pressures, equalizing it across all connected regions and degassing all associated spaces mechanically or chemically.
There are various types of vacuum pumps designed to produce various levels of pressure and vacuum, and selecting one will depend on your application requirements. A high vacuum pump may struggle with handling heavy process gas loads; to address this, an additional pump or combination may be needed as backup.
Other considerations when choosing the appropriate pump include whether your system is hazardous or corrosive, the type of gasses you will be working with and your desired level of vacuum.
Principles
Vacuum pump operation relies on changing high and low-pressure states in order to remove gas molecules from a sealed volume.
The principle behind vacuum pumps’ operation lies in their use of mechanical and electrical devices that shift high and low pressure states rapidly in order to draw in gas molecules from an enclosed volume, and then vent them outside through venting valves or openings in their chamber walls.
Your choice of vacuum pump will depend on your application and working environment, and understanding the technologies employed in different vacuum pump models.
Oil-free vacuum pumps are typically the better choice in terms of maintenance costs and contamination-free performance; however, certain processes may benefit from adding lubricant for compression and cooling of the pump, providing enhanced gas transfer while increasing power.
Dry vacuum pumps feature a diaphragm mounted to a rod via a crankshaft, with movement up and down of its volume in response to crankshaft rotation. As it rotates, its volume adjusts up or down accordingly, causing gas molecules to move around more freely thereby lowering pressure inside the pump and pulling them in through centrifugal force.
Furthermore, some models come equipped with degassing functions to prevent outgassing from materials with low vapor pressures.
Types
Vacuum pumps are widely utilized across different industries, depending on your desired vacuum level and application, process conditions and operating range, available space and desired operating range.
There are two primary ways of creating partial vacuum: gas transfer and entrapment pumps work by mechanically extracting gasses through positive displacement and momentum transfer, while entrapment pumps capture molecules through condensation, sublimation absorption or ionization processes.
Rotary vane pumps utilize multiple vanes arranged in a cylindrical casing to form a positive displacement pump, allowing air and other gases to become trapped between the vanes, producing vacuum. This kind of vacuum technology is commonly found in medical, environmental, and food processing applications. It may be present in more places than you might think!
Claw pumps are another form of vacuum pump. Their rotating rotors do not touch each other as they trap air and gases; this type of pump is known as a dry pump because its operation doesn’t require oil for operation, thus eliminating contamination risks.
Maintenance
Vacuum pumps are delicate pieces of equipment that require routine inspection, cleaning, and lubrication for proper performance. Failing to provide this maintenance may lead to downtime that could prove costly; so for best results it is wise to have at least one spare pump on hand as a backup plan in case any major malfunctions arise.
Vacuum pump oil should be changed regularly according to its manufacturer’s recommendations. In general, dry pumps need their oil changed annually while oil-sealed vacuum pumps will benefit from monthly oil changes. Please consult the manual that came with your specific pump to understand its maintenance requirements.
Regular visual inspection of pumps is also essential. Examine the pump oil to check whether or not it is clear; clean oil should appear transparent while dirty oil may contain black flecks that obscure its clarity.
Corrosion of inner pipelines can create serious airflow issues to your pumps. If you detect signs of corrosion in any of your inner pipelines, it may be time to schedule repairs or post a notice to abstain from using equipment until repairs can be completed. You can click the link: https://www.electrochem.org/corrosion-science to learn more about corrosion.
Routine maintenance on small machines will dramatically extend their lifespan and performance, such as changing their vacuum pump oil every few weeks – an easy, straightforward task that can be completed in only 10 minutes!
