In the industrialized world, vacuum technology has built its own potential position in the manufacturing segment. The vacuum technology creates and generates substantial power that removes all gas molecules from a sealed volume to avail partial vacuum. This directed the invention of vacuum pump for different manufacturing companies and laboratories to meet vacuum applications.
This technology was discovered in 1650 by Otto Von Guericke and till then used to make certain things work smoothly. With time, addition of different vacuum fittings in the vacuum pump made the process fast and easy. According to the techniques, vacuum pumps are categorized as follows:
- Positive displacement pumps
- Momentum transfer pumps
- Entrapment pumps
In positive displacement pumps, it follows a mechanism that expands the city enabling gases to flow from the chamber, seal the cavity and drains out gases into the atmosphere. This is the most effective low vacuum operation alternative.
In momentum transfer pumps, high speed dense fluid jets or high-speed rotating blades are used to exhaust gas molecules off the chamber.
In entrapments pumps, gases are trapped in adsorbed as well as solid state. This technology is included in cryo pump, chemical pump, ion pump, sorption pump, getter pump, and more.
While implementing vacuum pump in your work field, certain aspects that one needs to understand are flow of air while removal, power necessary for the vacuum process, the amount of vacuum needed for the procedure and flow-rate of the machine.
Applications of Vacuum Pumps:
The usage of vacuum pumps in different industrial and scientific processes, such as:
- Composite moulding processes of plastics
- Production of vacuum tubes, electric lamps and CRTs
- Processing of semiconductor
- Energy insulation purposes
- Uranium enrichment
- Medical applications (radiosurgery, radio therapy and radio pharmacy)
- Electron microscopy
- Robust coating/lining for engine components
- Milking machines
- Ophthalmic coating
- Air conditioning servicing
Indispensable Parts of Vacuum Pumps:
During vacuum pump selection, numerous options are considered for right application. Vacuum pumps are of different types; therefore they vary in terms of displacement capacities and vacuum levels. The important parts of vacuum pumps are:
- Rotary vanes are quite prominent with multiple applications due to their lower up-front cost and smaller size. Oil is used to maintain tight seal, working parts lubrication and heat removal to ensure rotors are cool.
- Diaphragm is used to open and close valves to move air and it also eliminates the requirement of oil. These valves are mostly made of polytetrafluoroethylene to maintain a corrosion free environment and keep it less susceptible to vapor damages.
- Pump hose are crucial and ensure a certified purchase for higher degree of safety and quick seal fittings.
- Inlet vacuum fittings allow connecting the hose making the setup run smooth and faster and in this you can switch from one inlet to other when required.
- Refrigerant identifier is has a significant purpose that helps identify the refrigerant substance. This will eventually help in deal with the situation before usage and while repairing.
- A good set of vacuum gauges are essential in order to understand when your work is successfully completed. It measures your vacuum quality and for finding out the leakage issue in the system.
It’s quite important on the part of the user to have genuine parts in their machines. It is advantageous as it helps in:
- Increased output efficiency
- Decreases annual maintenance cost
- Provides optimal pump performance
- Extends the lifespan of the pumps
- Proves best for your application
From the above context, a learner can gain a huge idea on vacuum pump and vacuum fittings. No matter what vacuum pump you use, an important point to remember is that whatever goes into the pump will surely come out. So, be cautious!