An Introduction To Key Vacuum Pump Terminology And Types

By Author: Mable Hall
Total Articles: 75
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Vacuum pumps are often considered to be similar to air compressors although they discharge rather than intake air. These pumps are designed to create a vacuum within a closed chamber by physically removing air molecules and exhausting them from the system. This leads to a decrease in air density which creates a lower absolute pressure of the remaining gasses. Fundamentally, a vacuum pump will convert mechanical energy inputs into pneumatic energy by removing air within a system. This creates an internal air pressure which is lower than the external air pressure. To select the right vacuum pump for a specific application there are several key terms and types to keep in mind.

Term 1 - Cubic Feet per Minute

The first term to understand is cubic feet per minute or CFM. CFM measures the speed of the vacuum flow. This term is most often seen on electric rotary vane pumps and piston pumps. Knowing the CFM is essential to understanding how fast air can be removed from a closed system.

Term 2 - Inches of Mercury

The second term is Inches of Mercury or Hg. This measures the overall power of a vacuum pump. ...
... This term is often seen on high performance vacuum pimps where holding power is the most important characteristic, even if it takes longer to reach the full vacuum level.

Key Features

Oil-Less vs Oil-Lubricated Vacuum Pumps

The first type differentiator to consider is whether an oil-less or oil-lubricated vacuum pump should be used for a particular application. Oil-Less vacuum pumps are best when the production process cannot tolerate any oil vapor to carry over into the exhaust. It is also ideal for pumps mounted in remote or inaccessible locations as they do not require an oil reservoir to continually be refilled.

Oil-lubricated vacuum pimps offer unique advantages, assuming they are properly maintained. Overall, they can offer about 20% higher vacuum capabilities because the lubrication acts a sealant between moving parts. The oil also decreases the operating temperature of the equipment which extends the useful lifespan. It is estimated that oil-lubricated vacuum pumps can last nearly 50% longer than oil-less units. The final benefits of using oil is this type of pump is less prone to corrosion from water vapor.

Positive Displacement vs Nonpositive Displacement

Another way to separate the types of vacuum pumps available is by the displacement method. Positive displacement vacuum pumps include a variety of styles including reciprocating piston, diaphragm, rocking piston, rotary vane, rotary screw, and lobed rotor pumps. Nonpositive displacement pumps use kinetic energy to remove air which can boost flow rates. The common styles of nonpositive displacement pumps include centrifugal, axial-flow, and regenerative designs.

My name is Mable Hall, a professional freelance writer, like to introduce KD Seal Tech Co Ltd . To select the right Vacuum Pump for a specific application there are several key terms and types to keep in mind.