Dry vacuum pumps

Dry vacuum pumps are used to remove air from one confined area to another, leaving behind a ‘rough’ or partial vacuum.  They are designed to compress gas without sealing fluids like water or oil.  Some dry vacuum pump vanes are made of graphite, which is a self-lubricating substance and some with carbon, which are durable and slow-wearing.

Dry vacuum pumps were originally designed for use by the semiconductor industry but have since been developed to function for businesses involved in production and manufacturing. 

There are several different designs: claw, screw and lobe.  Vacuum measurement is measured in Torr units, where one Torr is equal to 1mm of mercury absolute. 

Dry vs. Wet
Unlike dry vacuum pumps, wet pumps need fluids to produce a vacuum.  Wet vacuum pumps are utilized for vapor load conditions.  They are used to pump wet gas mixtures and liquids.  They are also ideal for use in processing gas or liquids that might otherwise harm other pump types.

Uses and applications
Dry vacuum pumps are used by industrial and manufacturing companies and have a wide variety of applications, including the manufacture of vacuum tubes, electric lamps, electron microscopes, cathode ray tubes (CRT) and vacuum tubes.  They are also used in the production of semi-conductor chips and in the manufacture of boards.

They are also the preferred machines to use in highly corrosive applications, in which corrosion can directly affect the machine and cause failure.  They are a good choice when environmental issues are concerned.

Dry pumps can also be used as a blower to deliver dry, clean air.  This makes them ideal for use by pharmaceuticals and food industries because they can produce a clean vacuum, preventing water or air from coming in contact with the product, thus avoiding contamination with oil.

The food industry also benefits from because by using this type of equipment in sanitary packaging and conveying.  Dry pumps are also used in degassing, plastics vacuum formation and vacuum sintering.  Biomedical and medical laboratories also use dry vacuum pumps in certain highly specialized applications, and in chemical and petrochemical processes.

Dry vacuum pumps can also be used to start equipment like aircrafts, where gyroscopes in the flight instruments use vacuum as a power source in case the electrical functions fail.

Advantage
The air pumped through any equipment will be void of water vapor or water condensation droplets that may have formed inside the pump, preventing corrosion.  They are designed to operate at high temperatures to prevent condensation. They are also easily maintained, and current models have mechanical parts that are non-contacting and therefore produce no wear.

Dry vacuum pumps may be more favorable than wet types because they do not require handling of waste from lubricating oil.  Not only does this prevent process contamination, but since water is not used, there is no need to produce facilities for wastewater.

However, there is also a downside.  They are pricier than wet pumps and the cost of maintenance can be expensive.  There is also a danger of explosion if there are flammable vapors present because of the high temperatures that dry pumps are normally operated at.

Dry vacuum pumps cannot be used to pump organic gases, acid or base.  They are run at high temperatures, so using them to pump flammable gases or vapors can create a safety hazard that can lead to explosion. 

Dry vacuum pumps have evolved from a staple in semiconductor industries to multi-functional machines that are being utilized to address a wide range of functions in different industries, making them very indispensable.

common typos: vacun, punp, pupm