Vacuum Pumps - Rotary Vane Pumps - Self Priming Pumps

To ensure consistency and quality throughout the entire assembly process, every manufacturing unit is equipped with machines that operate on vacuum systems. A vacuum system necessarily comprises of vacuum pumps. Vacuum pumps are devices that work on the principle of removal of gaseous molecules from a fixed volume and thus creating a vacuum. Vacuum pumps come in several diverse types of models and varieties with different mechanisms and applications but their fundamental principle remains constant.

The segment of rotary vane pumps are included in these vacuum pumps. A rotary vane pump is a positive-displacement pump consisting of vanes attached to a rotor that rotates inside the cavity. This causes a vacuum in the center of the pump creating a suction and a void. To fill this void water or other fluid enters into the pump via an inlet valve. Once the fluid is inside the pump, the intake valve shuts and subsequently the outlet valve opens up. These series of events allow the fluid to flow back outside through another path.

Rotary vane vacuum pumps are of two different types. The non-lubricated pump, also referred to as an "oil-free" pump while other type is lubricated pump. Both the types of rotary vane vacuum pumps operate on the same theory but used for different applications.

Rotary vane pumps are one of the most widely used vacuum pumps in manufacturing industry. Their most common use in daily life is removal of water from the basement of buildings. The rationale for using a vacuum pump is, water needs to be moved upwards and this is possible only by creating enough vacuum that will eventually draw the water inside the pump and then push it uphill into the outer area.

Since countless years now, these pumps have been providing revolutionary changes across industries and enriching millions of lives.

For low-pressure solutions, a large number of applications utilize vacuum systems. Essentially, a vacuum system ensures the equipments and products work smoothly. This is because under low pressure conditions, there are less air particles which can cause damage. However, a vacuum system needs an efficient vacuum pump. A vacuum pump is required to remove air, gas or liquid from an enclosed container. This results in formation of low pressure (or vacuum). Factors that influence the selection of an appropriate vacuum pump includes the amount of vacuum produced, the power that is needed to produce it and the flow of air removal amongst others.

The three major categories of vacuum pumping technology employed in vacuum pumps are:  

1. Positive Displacement Pumps


2. Momentum Transfer Pumps


3. Entrapment Pumps

Some of the key applications of vacuum pumps from the extensive list are in: flight instruments, hydraulic brakes, cruise control systems, manufacturing processes like vacuum tubes and electric lamps, various medical procedures and vacuum coating amongst others.

One of the type of positive displacement pumps is a liquid ring pump. Along with its application as a vacuum pump, liquid ring pump is also used as a gas compressor. It compresses the gas by rotating a vaned impeller. As the name suggests, liquid is flowed into liquid ring compressors and by centrifugal force, it forms a moving cylindrical ring to form the compression chamber seal. Liquid used in liquid ring compressors should have appropriate vapour pressure. In most cases, water is used as the sealant liquid.

Another variant of pump is sealless ones and magnetic drive pumps are the flagship pumps under this category. The application scope of these plastic lined magnetic drive pumps is witnessing a striking growth especially in chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Magnetic drive pumps use a standard electric motor to operate a set of permanent magnetic coupling which in turn are used to transmit torque to the impeller without the need of a seal.  These pumps are very important for pumping of highly toxic and corrosive liquids like acids, adhesives, chemicals, lubricants, coolants etc.