Looking At Rotary Vane Vacuum Pumps

Vacuum Pumps have innumerable industrial applications. Rotary Vane Vacuum Pumps have a casing which has an inner wall of cylindrical shape. Another inner wall, a second one, gives shape to a fluid cavity within. It also has inlet and outlet openings. Now as the name suggests the pump consists of a rotating apparatus in the chamber.

A typical rotary pump includes a couple or more of vanes, mounted on a rotor, that shift the gas or fluid form the inlet towards the outlet. The amount of fluid transferred is relative to the capacity and the space between each neighboring vane. The pumps of higher capacity have extra vanes. As they turn, pressure is exerted on the fluid. The process takes place in two cycles.

It is a positive displacement pump. During the first cycle, the separation between the vanes is reduced. During the latter cycle, suction takes place. The movement of the material takes place in three steps. The vanes are positioned in such a way they can slide into and outside the rotor. This results in the creation of chambers that lead to pumping.

The vane pump is commonly used in high pressure pumps such as hydraulic pumps. There are a number of industrial and commercial applications. They are used in hydraulic power steering equipment in automobiles, in soft drink carbonators and coffee machines. Besides these air conditioners and freeze dryers also use vane pumps.

There have been a lot of technological changes in the motors, lubrication, oils and fluids related to such pumps. There have been changes in structure, dimensions and weight. Today they are made up of much lighter materials. However the basic function still remains the same

RVPs come with single and three phase motors. Initially the motors were belt driven and the rotational speed was much lower than it is today. As a matter of fact it is up to 3 times more.

The once noisy machines are now as silent as a whisper. The high pumping speeds and silent working has added to the popular demand for the pump.

Adaptation to Industrial requirements is very important for any concept to remain alive and vibrant. The design of the RVP has undergone considerable changes to adapt to changing requirements.

Another very important aspect that can always be considered as an advantage is that the rotary vane vacuum pumps are cost effective. Especially so when compared to dry pumps. It is a compliment to the basic design that even after twenty five years that the pump was first introduced into the market, there is no dearth of users for them.