Rotary Vane Vacuum Pumps
A standard type of positive displacement pumps, rotary vane vacuum pumps are used for pumping clean, dry, non-reactive gases. In the pump, the gas is usually moved by two or more rotating vanes. Rotary vane vacuum pumps are oil-sealed, air-cooled, direct-drive pumps with a small footprint and an impeller made of rigid material. Rotary vane pumps are useful for high-pressure or low-shear applications.
Rotary vane vacuum pumps employ a process that can be divided into three separate phases. First, gas or fluid moves through the inlet. Next, the rotating vane closes the gas or liquid between the vane and the housing wall. Finally, the gas or liquid is moved through to the outlet.
With regular oil and vane/filter changes, the reliability of rotary vane vacuum pumps, as far as maintaining maximum up-time, is moderate. Rotary vane vacuum pumps can be used for laboratory purposes and other automation purposes.