Special vacuum pumps are used to create an airfree space in the tank. The range of application of these devices has significantly expanded at present, and at the end of the last century such equipment could be found in research centers or in the space industry. Vacuum pumps not only differ in size and price, they also have different technical characteristics and designs. Our expert recommendations will help you choose the optimal model.
How to choose a vacuum pump
Pump capacity. Most vacuum pumps are driven by electric motors. Their power often determines the speed at which the air or gas mixture is pumped out. But do not make your choice based only on this parameter. The higher the motor power, the higher the power consumption. Besides, using modern design and technology the manufacturers can increase the productivity of the model without increasing the electric motor power. The most frequently used vacuum pumps for production purposes are those rated from 0.5 to 12 kW.
Residual pressure.Theoretically, at full vacuum the residual pressure in the vessel should be 0 mbar. This means that there is not a single molecule inside the vessel.
- In practice, such vacuum is unachievable, so the battle is over the lower limit of 0.0005 mbar. Only high-vacuum pumps can reach this speed.
- Residual pressures of 0.01 to 1000 mbar are often sufficient in production. Low vacuum models are up to this task.
Rated capacity. Another important factor to consider when choosing a vacuum pump. It is the speed at which the gas mixture is pumped out of the restricted volume vessel. The faster the vacuum pump evacuates the air, the higher the suction capacity. The speed range is wide enough, depending on the purpose of the apparatus. In some industries even 30-40 cubic meters of oil can be sufficient. Operating pressures in the tank can be as high as 30,000 to 40,000 cubic metres per hour, and in some applications up to 30,000 to 40,000 cubic metres per hour. m/h.
Design features. The basic parameters of a vacuum pump are greatly influenced by its operating principle. The following designs are widely used.
- The best-selling rotary vane vacuum pumps are single-stage oil-sealed models. Their capacity varies from 4 to 1600 cubic metres per hour. m/h at a residual pressure of 0,1 mbar. They are simple and reliable, but require frequent maintenance.
- Dry rotary vane models are distinguished by clean vacuum, t. k. no grease is used in the construction. But it is not possible to achieve a good vacuum level (100-1000 mbar). Pumping speed is 3-500 cu. m/h.
- Water-ring vacuum pumps are capable of pumping dirty gas mixtures. They are low cost, but use a lot of electricity and water. This is an older type of pump with a drawdown volume of 30-1000 mbar and pumping speed of 3-45000 cc/min. m/h.
- A good combination of reliability and vacuum depth (0.5-1000 mbar) can be achieved with diaphragm pumps. They work quietly, have compact dimensions. But use is limited to laboratory studies because of insufficient capacity (0.5-16cc. m/h).
Our picks for the 5 best vacuum pumps. All of them found their application in our country and received high marks. Expert opinion and customer feedback were taken into account when compiling this ranking.
Rating of best vacuum pumps
| Nomination | space | product name | price |
| Best Low Vacuum Pumps | 1 | Edwards XDS | 120 000€ |
| 2 | Samson Pumps KE | – | |
| 3 | Busch R5 | 76 346€ | |
| The best high vacuum pumps | 1 | Leybold COOLVAC | – |
| 2 | Agilent TwissTorr | 60 0570€ |
The best low-vacuum pumps
The most wide application in different areas of production are low-vacuum pumps. They are used for food products packaging, participate in equipment operation, help to conduct laboratory research. Several reliable models have been chosen by the experts.
Edwards XDS
Rating: 4.9
Edwards has developed the new XDS range of oil-free (volute) pumps. The developers applied the innovative bellows technology. Thanks to this design, the working chamber is completely sealed to prevent the ingress of lubricants. Experts have highly estimated high pumping speed (35-95 cc/min. m/h), low noise level, low residual pressure (0.007-0.01 mbar), economical power consumption (0.52 kW). Model becomes the winner of our rating.
Vacuums are used in a wide range of applications, from chemical laboratories to plating areas. Consumer reviews are positive. The only disadvantage of this series units is high price.
Advantages
- innovative design;
- stable performance;
- ease of installation;
- easy to operate.
Disadvantages
- high price.
Samson Pumps KE
Rating: 4.8
Worthy competitor to British pumps are products from Denmark Samson Pumps KE. This series of vacuum pumps is used for pumping gaseous media out of technological containers. Water-ring models are in demand in the food and mining industry, oil production, and even industrial fishing. Experts say high pumping speed (150-320 ccfm) and low suction. m/h), t. k. The device works on the principle of a volumetric hydraulic machine. The pump is distinguished by its compactness and durability. In terms of residual pressure the model is inferior to the leader of rating (33-100 mbar), and power consumption of the unit is also higher (4-11 kW).
The pros of the consumers include high quality of assembling, compactness and inexpensive maintenance. Low vacuum is considered the main disadvantage of Danish pumps.
Advantages
- quality manufacturing;
- compact size;
- Robustness and durability;
- high pumping speed.
Disadvantages
- low vacuum.
Busch R5
Rating: 4.7
German vacuum pumps Busch R5 are widely used in food and light industry. Due to the rotary vane design it is possible to create low vacuum (up to 0.1 mbar). Although the price of German vacuum pumps is quite high, they are popular in different countries, including Russia. This fact is proven by the simultaneous operation of 2.5 million Busch R5 pumps on our planet. The model ranks third in the ranking for its optimal combination of performance and residual pressure.
Russian users are offered a variety of models; in addition to universal pumps the series includes highly specialized units. Consumers point out the smooth feeding and low noise level, the easy operation and the reliability.
Advantages
- high efficiency;
- variety of models;
- high-quality manufacturing;
- silent.
Disadvantages
- high price;
- Limited scope of application.
The best high-vacuum pumps
Innovative product development often requires high-vacuum pumps. Their task is to create a deep and clean vacuum. these devices are used in research institutes, astronautics and medicine. Specialists highly evaluate qualities of several units.
Leybold COOLVAC
Rating: 4.9
The famous Swiss company Oer
Users note that during operation the nitrogen purging is not required; the unit can be controlled from a PC. Disadvantages include high price and the need for regular regeneration.
Advantages
- high vacuum purity;
- ease of use;
- low vibration;
- wide application field.
Disadvantages
- periodic regeneration is required.
Agilent TwissTorr
Rating: 4.8
The American Agilent TwissTorr pump is not inferior to the winner in vacuum purity. The turbomolecular model is used in the most high-tech industries and in human scientific activities. The manufacturer managed to achieve high vacuum purity due to improved bearings, which work on dry lubrication. Experts praised the low level of vibration of the unit, high speed and durability. The American vacuum truck is inferior to the European in the variety of. The series includes only 5 versions.
Users are pleased with the high performance, vacuum quality, reliability, modern design and ease of operation. The disadvantages are the high price and the limited range of models.
Advantages
- high speed;
- pure vacuum;
- low vibration;
- reliability.
Disadvantages
- high price;
- small selection of models.
