FEATURE PUMPS & VALVES
ENSURING CARBON VANE reliability in vacuum pumps
Maintaining reliability of carbon impeller blades is vital to avoid costly pump downtime and damage. Adrienne Houston explores steps end users can take to ensure correct operation
O
ne of the main facets of a rotary vane vacuum pump are the carbon
impeller blades that rotate inside the casing, creating the pressure differential between the contact area and chamber to push gases in or out of the device. We provide a wide range of vacuum
pump spares in our product range to help support end users so naturally we deal with carbon vane failure, however in most cases there are a number of issues that can be simple to rectify to protect this integral part of the pump. The operating temperature of a vacuum
pump has a great effect on vacuum, flow and power. When operating at a higher vacuum level relatively little air is present in the pump to transfer heat. Therefore the heat created by friction is dissipated throughout the pump, increasing stress on the components within the device, especially the carbon blades.
SPECIFYING THE CORRECT OIL This can drastically reduce pump efficiency and service life while reducing the integrity of the blades which over the long term can cause blade and pump failure. Specifying the correct oil for an application has a great bearing on the wear of the carbon blades; selecting the correct oil for operating temperature is paramount for a long service life. Vacuum pumps can operate in a wide range of temperatures, therefore it is
itself within tolerable levels. As such, maintenance is kept to a minimum for cost effective efficient operation. Another common issue with regard to the protection of carbon vanes within a vacuum pump is the contamination of vapours and particulates within the pump chamber which can greatly damage the blades. The internals of a vacuum pump must
important to specify oils with a high viscosity rating. For operating in a wide range of temperatures synthetic oil represents the best choice. Such oils can reduce wear on parts during cold starts but retain their viscosity when the pump operates at high temperatures. This minimises the friction endured by the carbon vanes within the pump while keeping the temperature of the pump
Discolouring provides visible signs of carbon material degrading; in this example the blade has turned dark grey showing degradation
be clean to allow the pump to reach a required pressure as quickly as possible. Contaminants can include residue from when the system was installed such as grease and oil; and environmental contaminants including dust and vapour that has condensed inside the chamber that is absorbed into the chamber walls. To reduce these risks vacuum pump systems must be installed cleanly leaving no residue and should feature rigorous filtration to deny particles access to the internals of the pump. Furthermore, the use of cooled condensers can ensure vapour is separated, limiting absorption in the pump chamber walls. By complementing a vacuum pump
with required accessories, carbon blade durability is greatly increased.
PUMP SYSTEM ASSESSMENTS FOR ENERGY AUDITS
The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) Regulations 2014 are a mandatory energy assessment and energy saving identification scheme for large undertakings (and their corporate groups) and applies throughout the UK. ESOS Energy Audits have the potential to increase
businesses profitability and competitiveness by identifying cost-effective savings which if implemented will improve energy efficiency. The scheme is estimated to lead to £1.6bn net benefits to the UK with the majority of these being directly felt by businesses as a result of energy savings. ESOS is the UK Government's approach to transposition of Article 8(4) of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive which required all large (non- SME) enterprises to undertake energy audits by 5 December 2015 and every 4 years thereafter. Guidance has already been published to help
28 FEBRUARY 2016 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
potential participants understand their obligations and within the full ESOS guidance document the ISO/14414-Pump System Energy Assessment standard is referenced as an auditing methodology that can be accepted by Lead Assessors approved by the Environment Agency. It is envisaged that BPMA CPSA accredited persons (who are trained according to the IS0 14414 standard) will be recommended by Lead Assessors to undertake the pumping system elements of company energy audits. BPMA are holding a four-day residential course
25-28 April 2016 culminating in certification and the eventual personal ID status of Certified Pump System Auditor. To find out more and book your place please contact Jeanne Page on 0121 601 6350 or email
j.page@
bpma.org.uk
www.bpma.org.uk
TOUGH AND RELIABLE CARBON VANES The EuroVacuum Products range of blades are tough and reliable carbon vanes that have been proven to outlast OEM products. This encourages quieter operation due to the blades being specially impregnated and an isostatic graphite that gives the product its special characteristics. It is resistant to liquids and any chemically inert and non toxic gases. Due to the vanes low thermal expansion properties they offer good wear resistance. By taking advice from a vacuum professional end users can be sure of access to premium quality vacuum pumps and spares and all the necessary support and advice to create a complete product and service package. End users can therefore benefit from the cost effective reliable pump operation that industry demands.
EuroVacuum T: 01562 631184
www.eurovacuumproducts.co.uk
/ FACTORYEQUIPMENT
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