A vacuum pump is a tool used in a variety of industrial production processes to create, improve, and maintain a vacuum. They come in different models and bring many applications with them. Today we will explore a little more about how they work and their applications.
Industrial Vacuum Pump's Basic Operating Principle
Regardless of the technology, the basic operating principle of an industrial vacuum pump remains the same.
Industrial Vacuum pumps eliminate air molecules (and other gases) from the vacuum chamber (or the outlet side for a higher vacuum pump connected in series). The removal of the extra molecules gets progressively difficult when the pressure in the chamber is reduced. As a result, an industrial vacuum system must be capable of operating across a portion of an extremely wide pressure range, often ranging from 1 to 10-6 Torr / 1.3 to 13.3 mBar. This is extended to 10-9 Torr or below in research and scientific applications. In a normal vacuum system, different types of pumps are employed to do this, each covering a section of the pressure range and working in series at times.
Main Categories
It's essential to know that vacuum pumps are divided into two categories: wet and dry. Same as with oil and oil-free air compressors, wet and dry industrial vacuums vary based on whether the air or gas they are removing is exposed to oil or water during the compression.
- Wet Vacuum Pumps
Oil or water is used to lubricate or seal wet vacuum pumps. While they are a low-maintenance choice, keeping the oil changed is a necessity. These pumps perform well and are reliable and durable.
- Dry Vacuum Pumps
Oil or grease can be used in the gears or bearings of these pumps, but they rely on carefully sealed clearances between the rotating and static portions of the pump to guarantee that no fluid is present in the swept air or gas. Dry pumps minimize contamination of the process from oil and other chemistries, keeping the product chemistry pure. They perform well but not with the same consistent flow of wet pumps.
Some Applications
- Food Industry
Lyophilization, degassing and drying: the pumps are especially useful for evacuating drying chambers used in food freeze-drying systems and achieving the requisite vacuum levels.
Concentration and solvent separation: For vacuum concentration, the pump must be chemically resistant and have a high tolerance for concentrates. Additionally, the equipment is capable of separating solvents throughout the process.
- Electrical Industry
Motors, condensers, coils, drying, and impregnation: the equipment is specifically intended to work with high voltage electrical elements, as stated above. Moisture in coils and transformers, for example, can be evaporated to eliminate humidity and other contaminants.
Degassing of varnishes and resins: vacuum systems can handle the degassing of varnishes, resins, and silicon before the curing process begins, trapping air bubbles.
- Pharmaceutical Industry
Freeze drying and packaging: Freeze-drying, also known as lyophilization, is a method of removing water from biological goods without harming them. A vacuum pump is used to remove air from the container while packaging pharmaceutical items. Correct packing ensures that the items are transported safely and aseptically to the client.
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