Rotary Vane Pump / Rotary Vane Vacuum Pumps

A rotary vane vacuum pump relies on a rotating mechanism with sliding vanes that direct vapor flow through the pump. These pumps are available in a wide range of pumping speeds, and multistage vacuum pumps are able to attain ultimate pressure values that are quite low. Most rotary vane pumps, whether belt driven or directly driven by a shaft from the motor, use oil that lubricates the mechanism and provides a seal that permits the pumps to reach the design vacuum levels. Because chemical vapors common in laboratories eventually contaminate the pump oil, hybrid pumps (combining rotary vane and diaphragm pump components) and oil-less rotary vane pumps have been introduced in recent years to reduce service demands. The pump’s performance can also be extended with products that employ fluoropolymer or nitrogen plasma-treated components for corrosion resistance. Finally, many rotary vane vacuum pumps are compatible with gas ballasts that evacuate vapors that can compromise pump oil. Nonetheless, all rotary vane pumps are generally more susceptible to corrosion than dry, diaphragm pump technologies.