How Does A Vacuum Pump Work?A vacuum pump is a device that works by removing gas molecules from a sealed space to create a vacuum. Invented in 1650, this system has become an important device for industrial and scientific environments. It is used in various semiconductor manufacturing processes, such as dry etch and ion implantation. In medicine, the device is used in procedures that require suction. Vacuum pump systems are of different types. One of the more common ones is the positive displacement system which functions by expanding a cavity to allow gases to flow in from the chamber and exhaust it to the air. Positive displacement vacuum pumps are mostly used for industrial applications. Some of the more common examples of this type of pump are rotary vane, piston pump, liquid ring and roots blower. Another type of this device is the molecular pump. This type features rotating blades operating at high speed to remove gaseous molecules out of a chamber. Some molecular or momentum transfer pumps use jets of dense fluid moving at high speed to release gaseous molecules. Molecular pumps are further categorized into diffusion and turbomolecular pump. The former exhausts gas molecules using jets of oil or mercury, while the latter features high speed fans to release gas molecules. The third most common type is the entrapment pump. This device works by capturing gases in absorbed state and has several sub-types, including ion pump, sorption pump, getters and cryopump. A cryopump condenses gases to a solid state through the use of cold temperatures, while ion pumps make use of electric fields to ionize gases and convert ions into a solid substrate. In addition to these three common types, there are also Venturi and stem ejector pumps. There are a number of brands of these pumps available in the market. Some of the commonly used ones are Nash, Alcatel, Busch and a host of other names that are used in different processes. These devices are most commonly used in the manufacture of electric lamps and vacuum tubes. They are also needed in procedures such as freeze-drying, vacuum engineering, trash compacting, coatings for glass, radiotherapy, electron microscopy and even in sewage systems. The devices either provide power to industrial or scientific instruments or assist mechanical device operations. Their effectiveness depends on the speed by which they pump gases and in their throughput performance. A vacuum pump has become one of the most important types of devices both in industrial processes and in scientific and medical procedures. Several types of systems are offered commercially and are specifically designed for various functions. |