There is a wide range of vacuum pump technologies available and viable for plenty of medical, laboratory, and industrial applications. These pumps can be classified into two major groups: lubricated and oilless vacuum pump systems. Among them, it is only the liquid ring pump that uses water to seal its chamber inside the housing. Some pumps do use water but not for vacuum chamber but only for cooling their pump housing. Most of oilless vacuum pump that uses water both for sealing and cooling offers the possibility for a partial or full water recovery system. In the case of food processing where the vacuum pump is drying wet materials, the sealing liquid can be a by-product of the process itself.
How Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump Works
Water sealed liquid ring pump operates using a rotary vane mechanism. There are individual vanes inside the cylindrical chamber but they are short to reach the outer wall for creating a seal. This is why water is necessary. When the vane spins, a centrifugal force is formed which create the sealing ring of liquid around the inner perimeter of the chamber. The very important operating principle of this type of oilless vacuum pump is that it should be operated at a high speed. This is needed to create the force required for the water to form the necessary seal. But there are other pump designs which can work effectively at variable speeds, even at low speeds, saving significant amount of water and energy.
When it comes to water recycling, the operation of liquid ring pumps can cause water quality problems not suitable for full recovery water recycling system and for the wastewater stream. This happens when the contaminants in the suction line mixes with sealing water. In such cases, there are several options to address this issue, including adapting it to the existing liquid ring pumps or installing a custom water recycling module. In other cases, there may be a need for a secondary water pump to circulate the cooling water via the heat exchanger.
Whenever your operation calls for a particular water sealed vacuum pump system or other types of oilless vacuum pump systems, GlobalVac offers an extensive product line designed for efficient operation, outstanding reliability and excellent performance. Just let us know of your unique requirements and we will help you find the best solution to your needs.