Vacuum pump: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:57, 9 February 2025

Vacuum Pump

A vacuum pump is a device that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum. The first vacuum pump was invented in 1650 by Otto von Guericke.

History

The development of vacuum pumps began with the invention of the barometer by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643. Otto von Guericke's pump was the first to create a vacuum, and it was followed by the Boyle and Hooke pump in 1656. The industrial revolution saw the development of more advanced vacuum pumps, which were used in a variety of scientific and industrial applications.

Types of Vacuum Pumps

Positive Displacement Pumps

Positive displacement pumps work by expanding a cavity, allowing gases to flow in from the chamber, sealing off the cavity, and then exhausting it to the atmosphere. Examples include:

Roots blower: A type of positive displacement pump that uses two lobed rotors to move gas.

Scroll pump: Utilizes two interleaved spiral scrolls to pump gases.

Momentum Transfer Pumps

Momentum transfer pumps, also known as molecular pumps, use high-speed blades or jets to impart momentum to gas molecules, moving them from the vacuum side to the exhaust side. Examples include:

Turbomolecular pump: Uses rapidly spinning rotors to direct gas molecules towards the exhaust.

Entrapment Pumps

Entrapment pumps capture gases in a solid or adsorbed state. These include:

Cryopump: Traps gases by freezing them onto a cold surface.
Sorption pump: Uses materials that adsorb gases.

Applications

Vacuum pumps are used in a variety of applications, including:

Medical: In surgery and dentistry for suction.
Industrial: In manufacturing processes such as vacuum forming and vacuum coating.
Scientific research: In particle accelerators and electron microscopy.

Notable Figures

Natalia Molchanova: A renowned freediver who utilized vacuum techniques in her training.

Related Pages

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{jpg-image}}
+== Vacuum Pump ==
-A '''vacuum pump''' is a device that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum. The first vacuum pump was invented in 1650 by Otto von Guericke, and since then, vacuum pumps have become indispensable in many scientific and industrial processes where a vacuum is required. These processes include electron microscopy, vacuum coating, and the manufacturing of semiconductors, as well as in applications such as vacuum packing and vacuum braking in vehicles.
-==Types of Vacuum Pumps==
+A '''vacuum pump''' is a device that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum. The first vacuum pump was invented in 1650 by [[Otto von Guericke]].
-Vacuum pumps can be broadly categorized into three main types based on their operating principle: positive displacement, momentum transfer, and entrapment pumps.
-===Positive Displacement Pumps===
+== History ==
-Positive displacement pumps work by mechanically moving a volume of gas and isolating it from the vacuum system before expelling it to the atmosphere. This category includes [[Piston pump|piston pumps]], [[Diaphragm pump|diaphragm pumps]], and [[Scroll compressor|scroll pumps]]. These pumps are typically used for creating low to medium vacuums.
-===Momentum Transfer Pumps===
+The development of vacuum pumps began with the invention of the [[barometer]] by [[Evangelista Torricelli]] in 1643. Otto von Guericke's pump was the first to create a vacuum, and it was followed by the [[Robert Boyle|Boyle]] and [[Robert Hooke|Hooke]] pump in 1656. The [[industrial revolution]] saw the development of more advanced vacuum pumps, which were used in a variety of scientific and industrial applications.
-Momentum transfer pumps, also known as molecular pumps, work by transferring momentum to the gas molecules, driving them in the desired direction. This category includes [[Turbo pump|turbo pumps]] and [[Diffusion pump|diffusion pumps]]. These pumps are used for creating high to ultra-high vacuums.
-===Entrapment Pumps===
+== Types of Vacuum Pumps ==
-Entrapment pumps capture gas molecules on surfaces within the vacuum system. These surfaces can be cooled to extremely low temperatures (cryopumps) or can involve materials that chemically bind or adsorb the gas molecules (getter pumps). Entrapment pumps are used for creating ultra-high to extreme vacuums.
-==Applications==
+=== Positive Displacement Pumps ===
-Vacuum pumps are used in a wide range of applications across various industries. In the scientific field, they are essential for experiments that require low-pressure environments, such as particle physics experiments. In the industrial sector, vacuum pumps are used in the production of electric lamps, vacuum tubes, and semiconductor devices. They are also used in the food packaging industry for vacuum packing, which extends the shelf life of food products by removing atmospheric oxygen.
-==Maintenance and Issues==
+Positive displacement pumps work by expanding a cavity, allowing gases to flow in from the chamber, sealing off the cavity, and then exhausting it to the atmosphere. Examples include:
-Regular maintenance is crucial for the optimal operation of vacuum pumps. This includes checking for leaks, changing the oil in oil-sealed pumps, and cleaning or replacing filters. Common issues with vacuum pumps include contamination from the process gases or from the environment, which can degrade performance, and mechanical wear over time.
-==Environmental and Safety Considerations==
+* '''[[Roots blower]]''': A type of positive displacement pump that uses two lobed rotors to move gas.
-The operation of vacuum pumps, especially those that use oil or other fluids, can pose environmental and safety risks. Proper handling, disposal of waste materials, and adherence to safety standards are essential to mitigate these risks.
-[[Category:Vacuum]]
+[[File:Roots_blower_-_2_lobes.svg|thumb|Diagram of a Roots blower]]
-[[Category:Industrial equipment]]
-[[Category:Physics]]
+* '''[[Scroll pump]]''': Utilizes two interleaved spiral scrolls to pump gases.
-{{physics-stub}}
+[[File:Two_moving_spirals_scroll_pump.gif|thumb|Animation of a scroll pump]]
+=== Momentum Transfer Pumps ===
+Momentum transfer pumps, also known as molecular pumps, use high-speed blades or jets to impart momentum to gas molecules, moving them from the vacuum side to the exhaust side. Examples include:
+* '''[[Turbomolecular pump]]''': Uses rapidly spinning rotors to direct gas molecules towards the exhaust.
+[[File:Cut_through_turbomolecular_pump.jpg|thumb|Cut through a turbomolecular pump]]
+=== Entrapment Pumps ===
+Entrapment pumps capture gases in a solid or adsorbed state. These include:
+* '''[[Cryopump]]''': Traps gases by freezing them onto a cold surface.
+* '''[[Sorption pump]]''': Uses materials that adsorb gases.
+== Applications ==
+Vacuum pumps are used in a variety of applications, including:
+* [[Medical]]: In [[surgery]] and [[dentistry]] for suction.
+* [[Industrial]]: In [[manufacturing]] processes such as [[vacuum forming]] and [[vacuum coating]].
+* [[Scientific research]]: In [[particle accelerators]] and [[electron microscopy]].
+== Notable Figures ==
+* [[Natalia Molchanova]]: A renowned freediver who utilized vacuum techniques in her training.
+[[File:Molchanova_by_levitskiy.jpg|thumb|Natalia Molchanova]]
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Vacuum technology]]
+* [[Pressure measurement]]
+* [[Gas laws]]
+[[Category:Vacuum pumps]]