Most often, the technology used to compress air is the same as used in industrial vacuums. Whether it be the reciprocating type, rotary screw, rotary vane, dry claw, or liquid ring categories, the technology can serve as either an air compressor or a vacuum. The key is that wherever air is being compressed, a vacuum is being produced. It is the application and configuration that are the only changes. As it would be a lot easier to think about “one size fits all”, vacuum pumps are far from being that. Apart from the size that you have to consider when selecting a compressor vacuum pump, you also have to know the type.
In order to give you a better understanding of where to start your selection process, here are some questions that can help you.
Q1. What type of process do you have? Cyclic or continuous?
Examples of cyclic processes are thermoforming bathtubs. It is a process that involves repeated pump downs of an enclosed system from ambient atmospheric pressure to a lower pressure desired. If a lot of time was spent working in a very slight vacuum, it can result in excessive oil mist in the exhaust. Conversely, an example of a continuous process is the one found in assembly lines where a vacuum is being pulled in a constant manner. This process is less likely to bring unwanted particles that can contaminate the compressor vacuum pump.
Q2. What are the ambient operating conditions?
The answer to this question is very important. It’s crucial that you know if the pump will operate in a hot environment and at what elevation because high temperatures can potentially overheat your compressor vacuum pump. This is why higher elevations need additional adjustments to the gauge configuration of the pump due to varying atmospheric pressure.
Q3. Would there be heavy liquids or vapor loads generated?
Various process gases may condense in the oil pump which can affect its ability to lubricate the working parts of the vacuum pump. Remember that liquids cannot be compressed and they can cause cracked housing or binding.
These are just some of the many questions you must understand during the pump selection process. Knowing them ahead of time can help you avoid a lot of troubles.
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