Vacuum pumps are pieces of equipment that remove gases from enclosed space for the purpose of producing a vacuum. They come in various types and are used for a wide range of industries such as pharmaceutical, food and beverage processing, oil and gas, power generation, among many others. The most common type widely used is the rotary pump. Its popularity is primarily due to its versatility and compact design, the capability to deal with high differential pressure, high-viscosity performance, and continuous flow despite differential pressure.
In terms of operation principles, a rotary pump is a type of positive-displacement pump that displaces a certain amount of liquid with every revolution of its pumping elements, including gears, lobes, vanes, rotary pistons, and screws. The pump traps the fluid in a closed casing and discharges a smooth flow afterwards. It can handle almost any kind of liquid that does not have abrasive solids. It is simple in design but is very efficient in handling flows that are known to be low for the economic application of centrifuges.
When it comes to pumping highly viscous liquids, a rotary pump must be run at reduced speeds to facilitate its flow into the casing fast enough. Compared to centrifugal pumps, rotary pumps provide a capacity that is not influenced much by pressure variations on both the suction and discharge ends. They are also self-priming, meaning they are more beneficial to utilize than their centrifugal counterparts. As a positive-displacement pump, a specific volume of fluid is pumped regardless of the resistance against which the pump is working.
However, any clog in the pumping system can swiftly damage the rotary pump or the entire pumping system. It is, therefore, important that the operator makes sure that the system is well-aligned in order for an uninterrupted flow path is achieved for smooth fluid flow. Moreover, a relief valve is required for the safe operation of the system which is needed for positive displacement pumps.
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