Vacuum pump

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.

Diagram of a Roots blower

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

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.

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.

Natalia Molchanova

Related Pages

• Vacuum technology
• Pressure measurement
• Gas laws

Vacuum_pump

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  Roots blower with 2 lobes
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  Vacuum pump
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  High vacuum apparatus by Tesla
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  Two moving spirals in a scroll pump