As the impeller continues to rotate, the volume of these spaces is reduced, the vapor is compressed and then discharged through the exhaust port. The cooling jacket controls the pump operating temperature needed for the specific application. Standard Laboratory Safe Handling/Storage Requirements, Safety Instructions for Hydrogenation Laboratory. Precise manufacturing and minimal clearance between the moving parts enable this operating principle and, in addition, guarantees a low ultimate pressure of less than 0.1 Torr. Certain articles contain the author's personal recommendations only. 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Process Engineer - Upstream - Kelly Services - Augusta, GA, Process Engineer IV - Kelly Services - Austin, TX, Chemical Process Engineer - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Livermore, CA. But I was the only person there. I went back, looked it over, but couldn't see anything out of whack. Often, these factors lead to a customized vacuum system that is tailored to the requirements. (2007). Connect a clean and dry trap to the pump and to the vaccum line (grease it). There was the poor vacuum pump, trying to evacuate the air out of the state of North Carolina again.I went stomping through our labs, looking for the culprit. (I was there most Sunday mornings, too, damn it all.) Guest columnist Gary Dyson explains how improper installation can compromise the system. How IIoT Early Anomaly Detection Increases Reliability & Productivity, Software Helps Water Utility Avoid Unplanned Downtime, Basics of AODD Pumps & the Technical Advantages, Vacuum Technology Fundamentals & Innovations, Increasing the Lifespan & Reliability of Electronic Components, In-depth articles on pump industry issues, Expert insights into important topics in the field, effluent considerations (Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act), potential for recycling or recovery of solvents and materials removed with the vacuum stream, energy requirements and methods of reduction, expandability and flexibility of adding or subtracting capacity, dry compression, no contamination or reaction possible between process gas and operating fluid, can be designed for nearly all process gases thanks to material selection and temperature regulation, sensitive to particles entering the system, requires special considerations when used with process gases that tend to be reactive at high temperatures, not sensitive at all to vapor or liquid entering the system, materials of construction can be tailored to the process gas, possible contamination of the operating fluid with condensate from the process gas, affecting performance and making it necessary to subsequently treat the operating fluid before its disposal, ultimate pressure depends on the vapor pressure of the operating fluid, suited for conveying acid vapors and monomers or products that lead to polymerization when other vacuum technologies are used, operating fluids must be treated or correctly disposed of. This means the process gas does not heat up to a notable degree and the vacuum pump operates at relatively low temperatures, significantly reduceing the risk of unwanted reactions. I wandered into the lab one Saturday morning while I was in graduate school - (OK, scratch that, I wandered into the lab most Saturday mornings while I was in graduate school, which was one of the things I hated about it.) How to Handwash, Handrub and Remove Gloves? if you have any questions about your vacuum pumpset-up. Place the trap carefully into dewar half filled with liquid nitrogen and open the valve. 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Based on the information provided by the witnesses and responders, the most likely direct cause of the explosion was the ignition of an explosive concentration of diethyl ether vapor expelled from the pump exhaust. The source of ignition may have been either a spark from the pump motor or from the cooling fan inside the cabinet, both of which are controlled by the same power switch. Diethyl ether, which was evaporated using this system earlier in the day, may have been pulled into the vacuum pump and then been exhausted into the cabinet. The vapor from the pump exhaust could have ignited when the student flipped the toggle switch to energize the pump and cooling fan. Decrease SizeIncrease Size He gave me a big grin: "No, I have not used this pump. P (215) 898-4453 Dry screw vacuum technology is widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Water is usually used to create the liquid ring. This flyer describes the VACUUBRAND BVC Control and Basic Fluid Aspiration Systems. And as I walked past the pump, I could swear that something was odd yet again. See Fact Sheet: Vacuum Pump Use and Installation for guidance on vacuum pump maintenance requirements. Allow the trap to warm up tp the room temperature before disposing of any solvents. Labconco offers a number of vacuum pump types, including Rotary Vane Pumps, Combination Pumps, Diaphragm Pumps and Scroll Pumps. And I went about the rest of my merry morning's work.The next morning, I wandered into the lab yet again. So I twisted the glass stopcock closed, muttering foul gerunds, and left an unpleasant note taped to it. They, The Lemcom vacuum pump (photo) is said to be the worlds first vacuum pump with functionality for communicating mechatronics, making, Scrolling or Pushing? 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The ultimate pressure of the vacuum pump depends on the vapor pressure of the seal liquid, and the density and viscosity of the sealant will impact the power consumption of the vacuum pump. He can be contacted at uli.merkle@busch.de. With the dewar lowered and the system closed to air, turn the vaccum pump on and ensure vaccum preformance is leak free. Learn how performance and deviation from control limits can be visualized to allow operators and engineers to understand parameters affecting reliability. An editorially independent blog, all content is Dereks own, and he does not in any way speak for his employer. Sigma-Aldrich Labware Notes. Print for more information. Also, refer to the following Buchi recommendations for rotavap, use and optimal settings (See section 5.8 in the, Fact Sheet: Vacuum Pump Use and Installation. These pumps are water cooled, allowing the operating temperature to be regulated within a certain range. Philadelphia, PA 19104, E ehrs@ehrs.upenn.edu Product Service is ready to help with installation questions, troubleshooting and replacement parts for your existing Labconco equipment. There was more of a rattle in it this morning, and less of a hum, if that makes any sense. In the recent past, a process engineer had few things to consider when choosing a vacuum source for a process requiring less than atmospheric pressure. All rights reserved. Many factors help determine the best type for your application. Screw vacuum pumps use a cooling jacket, ensuring even temperature distribution and greater thermal efficiency and stability throughout the pump body. The metal has special coating to make it resistant to nearly all chemicals. Generally, dry screw vacuum pumps operate at temperatures sufficient to prevent condensation of the process gas. The Golden Rule for Solvent Removal for more information. Also, refer to the following Buchi recommendations for rotavap use and optimal settings (See section 5.8 in the BCHI Rotavapor R-200/205 manual.). 2022, Access Intelligence, LLC. Henry H. Hesser was a staff technical specialist at Busch, Inc. when this article was first published in Pumps & Systems in August 1993. Designed for use in labs without in-house vacuum. For 5248201 Diaphragm Vacuum Pump Assembly (5117105 Vacuum Pump), For 773940x Series and 1472100 model and 1467700 model Rotary Vacuum Pumps. And as I walked past the vacuum pump, I noticed something a little odd.For those who don't work in a synthetic chemistry lab, the vacuum pump is where you put flasks of stuff after you've evaporated most of the solvent off of them. These pumps have an advantage since they do not require operating fluid to compress the process gas. An insiders guide to maintaining electrical enclosure temperatures and protecting heat-sensitive equipment. Hesser earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Texas and a masters degree from the University of Delaware. And in an academic lab, it's not like you could just reach into a cabinet and pull out another vacuum pump when you burned one out. Leybold, a part of Atlas Copcos Vacuum Technique, Cologne, Germany, This publication contains text, graphics, images, and other content (collectively "Content"), which are for informational purposes only. VACUUBRAND HYBRID Vacuum Pumps integrate a high performance rotary vane pump with a chemical-resistant diaphragm pump to create a low maintenance, longer-lasting vacuum pump. Diaphragm Vacuum Pumps are sized for use with CentriVap Centrifugal Concentrators, RapidVap Vacuum Evaporation Systems and Vacuum Diesiccators. F (215) 898-0140, 2022University of Pennsylvania Environmental Health & Radiation Safety | Report accessibility issues & get help, Vacuum Pump Explosion in Chemistry Building. Empty the condenser trap immediately after evaporation is complete to eliminate the possibility that solvent will evaporate as the condenser warms to room temperature. Best Efficiency Point, Pump Selection, Control & Operation. Things I Won't Work With: Dioxygen Difluoride, Mercury Vapor Pumps for Vacuum Distillations, Vacuum Filtration of Large Volumes in the Laboratory. . Selecting the right vacuum technology for chemical and pharmaceutical processing applications is often difficult. Uli Merkle has more than 30 years of experience in the sector of industrial vacuum technology. Combination vacuum pumps are corrosion resistent rotary vane/diaphragm vacuum pumps designed for use with acidic samples and harsh chemicals. Community needs, infrastructure life span and viability of existing systems must be considered. .I went over to the next hall, and there was the pride of Marrakesh himself, humming tunelessly as he wandered about his lab.So in I went, demanding to know if he'd been in our lab that morning, used our vacuum pump, and so on. Other such pumps use oil circulating lubrication. Labconco Corporation All vacuum exhaust must be properly vented and include sufficient condensing capacity prior to the pump. The exhaust ports of pumps stored in vacuum pump cabinets must be connected directly to the vent port inside the cabinet. The pump may not vent into the cabinet interior. Seephoto for example of proper setup. The student was not standing in front of the cabinet when the explosion occurred and, as a result, was uninjured. The fire alarm was activated, and the fire department extinguished the fire using water. A defined amount of operating fluid, oil or other media-compatible fluid is injected into the compression chamber. With different compression systems and various coatings, screw vacuum pumps can be configured to be compatible with any chemical. The rotating creates centrifugal force that causes the vanes to slide out to the cylinder wall, creating spaces with different volumes and generating the suction and compression effect. Provides at-a-glance decision tree, features and benefits, specifications, and evaporation rates of the RapidVap Vertex, RapidVap Vacuum, RapidVap N2 and RapidVap N2/48 Evaporation Systems. Liquid ring vacuum pumps are available in different configurations and shaft seal arrangements, and in many materials of construction, from simple to exotic. Reliability and economic efficiency also play a significant role when deciding which vacuum technology to use. Hes worked for several major pharmaceutical companies since 1989 on drug discovery projects against schizophrenia, Alzheimers, diabetes, osteoporosis and other diseases. This webinar covers vacuum basics including gas laws, vacuum measurements, vacuum pump sizing and much more. Comment My testy reply was that if I found out that he'd been leaving the pump open then he would be sucking ze air, yes. 3160 Chestnut Street Surely not. In some applications, it is also recommended to flush the vacuum pump with a suitable cleaning fluid to remove process material that are in the pump prior to shutdown to avoid deposits forming as the pump cools. for more information about pump setup and use of cold traps. He has released numerous publications about industrial applications involving vacuum technology. Explains how to add oil, install exhaust filter, and more. These considerations have not disappeared, but like everything else in life, many more complications have arisen. Liquid ring vacuum pumps are rotating positive displacement pumps with an impeller that is eccentrically placed in a cylindrical housing. Low maintenance, corrosion resistant pumps that don't require oil. Flushing capability is another characteristic of the dry screw pump that arises, because the pump does not use an operating fluid. Rotary Vane Direct Drive Vacuum Pumps provide a reliable vacuum source for a variety of laboratory products including FreeZone Freeze Dryers, Protector Controlled Atmosphere Glove Boxes and CentriVap Centrifugal Concentrators. 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Second, it cannot be sensitive to process gases and must meet all requirements when it comes to CIP (clean-in-place) cleaning and gas recovery. A liquid sealant flows through the vacuum pump, and the rotation of the impeller creates a liquid ring on the inside of the housing that seals the spaces between the individual impeller blades. These rotary vane vacuum pumps are rotating positive displacement pumps. The ergonomic system includes the oil- and maintenance-free Turbovac i turbomolecular pump, the Divac 1.4 dry diaphragm backing pump and a simple controller, which can also serve as a speed and pressure display. The liquid ring vacuum pump can be operated as a simple continuous sealant flow system, or a partial or total recirculation sealant system. RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED IN THIS PUBLICATION IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. When Is it Appropriate to Use a Multistage Pump? Any rotary evaporator systems that are using rotary vane pumps should be reviewed to determine whether the vacuum pressure is appropriate to the application and is well controlled. A less powerful vacuum pump with more precise vacuum control (such as a diaphragm pump) is more appropriate for rotary evaporation of low boiling solvents. Diaphragm pumps offer advantages including their small size, chemical-resistance, and ability to fit next to the rotavapor in the fume hood. For guidance on selecting the best vacuum pump for your application, see Labconcos How to Select the Right Vacuum Pump and Lab Manager Magazines Independent Guide to Purchasing a Vacuum Pump., It is important to select the right pressure and temperature when condensing solvent vapor in rotary evaporation. For a sufficient condensation of the vapor, you should set the cooling temperature at about 20C lower than the vapor temperature. This is known as the Delta 20 Rule: set the bath temperature at 50C to yield a solvent vapor temperature of 30C, which is subsequently condensed at 10C. On the evening of August 14, 2020, a Chemistry graduate student was attempting to evaporate ethyl acetate and hexane using a Buchi Rotavapor (R-200) connected to a Savant VP100 rotary-vane roughing pump. The vacuum pump was located in a designated pump cabinet in the base of the fume hood, and power to the cabinet was controlled by a toggle switch on the face of the fume hood., The student was alone in the lab at 6:30 PM when he engaged the power switch on the hood to turn on the vacuum pump. He reports that the vacuum monitor on the rotary evaporator indicated that the pump was not supplying vacuum, so he turned off the power switch. When he flipped the switch back on, he heard a loud bang and saw the cabinet door burst open. The vacuum pump was on fire, producing orange flames and black smoke.. Due to the eccentric placement of the impeller, the volume of these spaces initially increases, drawing vapor in through the inlet. Processing & Handling, By Mary Page Bailey and Gerald Ondrey | January 1, 2022, TurboLab Core (photo) is a small plug-and-play high-vacuum pumping system for research and laboratory and industrial applications. Always close the valve between the vaccum vessel and the pump before shutting off the pump. 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