A vacuum pump is a versatile laboratory equipment used for lyophilization, evaporation, or concentration of any volatile solvents in a controlled vacuum chamber. One of the key factors for the pump’s performance depends on the vapor tolerance of the pump. Based on design and components, Vacuum Pumps may differ from one another and thus you need to find the one which is perfect for you.
There are some considerations to take into account while choosing one. Lyophilization requires a vacuum that is deep enough to induce sublimation and thus making it difficult for ordinary diaphragm pumps to do that. So the range of the Vacuum also plays a vital role in the selection of your desired pump.
Necessary factors to keep in mind while buying your Vacuum Pump are:
- Speed of the motor (rpm): The revolution that the motor makes per minute generally varies between110V/60Hz and 220V/50Hz variants and range from 1275rpm to 1750 rpm.
- Hose barb (mm): It’s the internal diameter of the hose barb fittings which is consistent in every model at 8-10mm.
- Horsepower (hp): It’s the rate of mechanical energy used by the pump while functioning.
- Noise level (dB): It’s the amount of sound that the pump creates while functioning, roughly standing at 50-70dB for any oil-free Vacuum Pump.
- Net weight (kg): The weight of the Vacuum Pump unit generally ranges from 5-14 kg.
Types of Vacuum Pumps
There are mainly three types of Vacuum Pumps out there, each with its specifications and uses. While choosing from one of them, you must also consider the max Vacuum and Max Flow of the pump, balancing them can help you minimize the sample loss while using the pump.
Oil-Free vacuum pumps
These Pumps use dry lubricant instead of oil to prevent the forming of any kind of friction between internal components. Piston, Diaphragm, and Scroll pumps are some examples.
Rotary Vane Vacuum pumps
These are oil-sealed large pumps mainly used in laboratories for providing a strong, consistent vacuum pressure below 10-3 mbar. Freeze dryers and Hydraulic braking systems fall in this category.
Water Aspirators
These pumps use water as their main source for suction to form the negative pressure responsible for the vacuum. They are generally inexpensive and easy to use.
LeDab vacuum pumps provide you with a large range of vacuum pumps to choose from as per your need.
