In 1650, the first vacuum pump was invented by Otto von Guericke. It was the successor of suction pumps. Suction pumps date to antiquity.
A device by which the gas molecules are drawn from such a volume that is sealed so that a partial volume is left behind. A device performing all this action is called a vacuum pump.
The main work which should be done by the vacuum pump is to produce a relative vacuum within the capacity.
Types of Vacuum Pumps
There are three types of vacuum pumps.
Positive Displacement Pump
The volume of the container is increased to create a partial vacuum. To perform the vacuum pump function, the vacuum compartment is repeatedly extended and expanded. It is the working principle of a Positive Displacement Pump.
Example
- Rotary vane pump, the most common
- Diaphragm pump, zero oil contamination
- Liquid ring high resistance to dust
- Piston pump, fluctuating vacuum
- Scroll pump, highest speed dry pump
- Screw pump (10 Pa)
- Wankel pump
Momentum Transfer Pump
The molecules of gas are transferred from the vacuum side to the exhaust side. This type of pumping is only possible if the pressure is below 0.1kPa. It minimizes the leakage and outgassing to a level where back streaming becomes impossible.
Types
- Diffusion Pump
- Turbomolecular pump
Regenerative Pump
This type of pump uses the vortex behavior of the fluid. The construction of such a type of pump is based on the hybrid concept of centrifugal pumps. Such types of pumps can usually reach 0.0001Pa.
Such types of pumps have to face high power consumption (~1 kW) compared to turbomolecular (<100W) at low pressure. It is because most of the power is consumed back at atmospheric pressure. A small pump can reduce it by almost 10 times.
Vacuum Pump Starts on Its Own
It is a problem when the vacuum pump starts on its own. This problem has many reasons.
Wiring and Switch
A vacuum pump is a motor that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy. All of this process depends upon the wiring of the motor. I
f the wiring or switch defaults your vacuum pump will start on its own. If the wiring of the vacuum pump connecting it to the battery has defaulted, then there is a major possibility of the vacuum pump starting on its own.
Check if the wires are colliding with each other, this problem is also a possibility. Secondly, a defective switch can also cause this problem.
Solution
- Check out the wiring thoroughly and find the defective wire.
- Repair or replace the defective wire.
- If the switch is defective replace the switch.
Leakage
Leaking seal water from the pump can penetrate the wiring part of the pump. This penetration will cause a short circuit. This will affect the battery vigorously.
This may lead the vacuum pump to start on its own. Here are the following parts where leakage can be caused, and the solution is also given below.
Solution
- Gland packing area – By tightening the packing or in severe cases replacing it.
- Leakage at body gasket – Tighten the bolts, in severe condition, at any rate, replace the body gasket.
- Leakage at the body plugs – Tighten the plugs., and check for corrosion on plug threads and body threads. Replace in case of severe corrosion
- Leakage through castings – Don’t let any part be corroded.
FAQs
1-What type of pump is suitable for vacuum pump use?
For clean and dry vacuum pumping scroll pumps are the best. Due to this, they have major use in research and laboratories. Additionally, they use two spiral scrolls to pump and compress media.
2-How much vacuum can you create with a vacuum pump?
It depends upon the design of the pump. It ranges from 28-29.5 in Hg. In theoretical values, they can produce 93%-98%.
3-What is the main cause of vacuum pump failure?
The main causes of vacuum pump failure are electrical problems inside the unit, broken belts, and vacuum hose damage.
4-How strong is a vacuum pump?
They are pretty strong. The system has a rubber and plastic base that has a base pressure of 1-50 kPa. Whereas a new scroll pump can reach 10Pa easily.
Also Read: Xiaomi Vacuum Battery Problem-Ultimate Guide
Final Thoughts:
Basically, turning on a vacuum pump on its own is a genuine problem. You can face this problem due to many reasons. These reasons include electrical problems inside the unit, leakages, vibration, etc. First, you have to trace the problem.
After tracing, you have to solve the problem accordingly. So, all these problems are equally important to solve.
