Skip to main content

Vacuum Pump: Working Principles & Classifications

A vacuum pump works by removing gas molecules from an enclosed space to create a partial or near-vacuum. This is achieved by creating a pressure difference between two areas, causing gas molecules to move from the area of higher pressure to the area of lower pressure. This process continues until the desired level of vacuum is reached. All types of vacuum pumps operate on this basic principle


There are several types of vacuum pumps, each with its own advantages and limitations. Some of the main types of vacuum pumps include:


  1. Gas transfer pump

    1. Kinetic/Momentum pump

      1. Turbomolecular pump

      2. Diffusion pump

    2. Positive displacement pump

      1. Liquid ring pump

        1. Water ring pump
        2. Oil ring pump

      2. Turbomolecular pump

      3. Rotary vane pump

      4. Piston pump

      5. Diaphragm pump

  2. Entrapment pump

    1. Cryogenic pump

    2. Sorption pump

  3. Combination pump

    1. Hybrid pumps (Combination of a positive displacement pump and a turbomolecular pump)

    2. ion pumps (Combination of a high-vacuum pump and an ionization chamber)


GAS TRANSFER VACUUM PUMP is a type of vacuum pump that is designed to transfer gas from one location to another, without compressing or significantly altering the gas composition. These pumps are commonly used in applications such as gas sampling, gas analysis, and gas transfer in chemical or pharmaceutical processes. Gas transfer vacuum pumps typically operate by creating a low-pressure region at the inlet port of the pump, which draws gas into the pump. The gas then passes through the pump and is discharged at the outlet port, where it can be directed to the desired location or process. Unlike other types of vacuum pumps that compress gas to create a vacuum, gas transfer pumps are designed to maintain the gas composition and pressure as much as possible. Gas transfer vacuum pumps can be further classified into different types, depending on the specific operating principle used. For example, membrane pumps use a thin, flexible membrane to move gas, while sorption pumps use a material such as activated charcoal to adsorb gas molecules and transfer them to a different location. Overall, gas transfer vacuum pumps play an important role in many industrial and laboratory applications that require the transfer of gas without significant alteration of its composition or pressure.


POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS work by trapping gas molecules in a confined space and then reducing the volume of that space to create a vacuum.


MOMENTUM/KINETIC TRANSFER PUMPS work by transferring gas molecules from the inlet to the outlet using high-speed jets of fluid or rotating blades.


ENTRAPMENT PUMPS work by capturing gas molecules on a surface or in a solid or liquid medium.


COMBINATION PUMPS combine two or more types of pumps to achieve higher vacuum levels or to overcome the limitations of a single pump type.


The choice of vacuum pump depends on the application, the desired vacuum level, the type and volume of gas being pumped, and other factors.


Vacuum pumps are used to create a range of vacuum levels, from low vacuum to ultra-high vacuum. The pressure range of a vacuum pump depends on the type of pump and its design. Here are some common pressure ranges for different types of vacuum pumps

  • Positive displacement pumps can create pressures in the range of 10^-3 to 10^-6 torr.

  • Momentum transfer pumps can create pressures in the range of 10^-9 to 10^-12 torr.

  • Entrapment pumps can create pressures in the range of 10^-3 to 10^-11 torr, depending on the type of pump and the sorbent material used.

  • Combination pumps can create pressures in the range of 10^-9 to 10^-12 torr, depending on the type and combination of pumps used.


It's worth noting that achieving a specific pressure level requires careful selection and configuration of the vacuum system components, including the pump, the vacuum chamber, and the associated hardware. Other factors such as outgassing, leaks, and contamination can also affect the ultimate pressure level that can be achieved.


Generally Liquid Ring or Rotary Vane vacuum pumps are used in sugar refining process for Vacuum-Condenser System. As these can create high vacuum, several hundred mmHg gauge pressure.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Carbonation Process in Sugar Refinery

The carbonation process is a widely used method for refining sugar from raw sugar melt. It involves the reaction of calcium hydroxide and carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate, which precipitates and removes impurities and colorants from the sugar solution. The carbonation process has several advantages, such as low capital and operating costs, high color and turbidity removal efficiency, low sugar loss and environmental friendliness. In this blog post, we will explain the main steps and equipment involved in the carbonation process, as well as some tips and best practices to optimize its performance. The goal of the carbonation process is to eliminate impurities that make raw melt liquor cloudy. Carbonation is typically used in refineries before any decolorizing process. It has a positive effect on sugar liquors, reducing color by 40-50% and ash content by 20-25%. Lime and carbon dioxide are added to the sugar liquor to create calcium carbonate precipitates that absorb impurities a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ion Exchange Resin Process in Sugar Refinery

Sugar refining is a process that requires removing impurities and colorants from raw sugar to produce pure and white sugar. One of the methods used for sugar decolorization is the ion exchange resin (IER) process, which is based on the principle of exchanging ions between a solution and a solid resin. In this blog post, we will explain how the IER process works in sugar refinery, what are its advantages and challenges, and what are the best practices for optimizing its performance. The IER process in sugar refinery consists of passing sugar liquor through a bed of resin beads that have functional groups attached to their surface. These functional groups can either attract or repel certain ions in the solution, depending on their charge and affinity. For example, a strong acid cation (SAC) resin has sulfonic acid groups that can exchange hydrogen ions (H+) with other cations such as sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), or magnesium (Mg2+). Similarly, a strong base anion (SBA) resin has quatern...
Post a Comment
Read more

Milk of Lime Preparation

Milk of lime(MOL), also known as lime slurry or lime milk, is a suspension of calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 in water. It is used in the sugar industry for pH correction and as an auxiliary of flocculation in bleaching of the sugar solution. Milk of lime plays an important role in improving the quality and purity of the sugar product. Lime is an essential and inexpensive clarifying agent used in juice clarification processes such as sulphitation, and carbonation. Preparation of Milk of Lime requires careful selection of raw materials, proper slaking process, adequate mixing and storage conditions, and regular quality control. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the factors that influence the preparation of milk of lime for sugar industries, and provide some tips and best practices to optimize the process. Lime is available in various forms such as quicklime, limestone, and hydrated lime. The raw materials for preparing milk of lime are quicklime (CaO) and water (H2O). As Quicklime an...
Post a Comment
Read more