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Benefits of Oilless Vacuum Pumps

Many vacuum pumps use lubricant oil for seals, and this oil can cause troublesome back migration, oil mist and can make maintenance more challenging. One solution for some of these issues would be the use of foreline or roughing traps, meant to eliminate or reduce backstreaming oil from oil-sealed pumps. However, these usually have room temperature walls, allowing liquid oil to line inner surfaces. If the oil passes through to the system side of the trap, it will become a vapor source and entrance into the system is no longer preventable. In the long run, these traps can create more work- removing traps to check if oil is passing through and additional cleaning and maintenance. Oilless vacuum pumps, on the other hand, are completely clean-running and there are no traps to fiddle with. There is also no oil pollution or annoying smell, and there is no longer the cost and hassle of waste oil disposal. Some other advantages of oil-free vacuum pumps include increased efficiency, reliability, and flexibility.

Photo courtesy of Vacuubrand

Oilless vacuum pumps are more efficient than their oil-sealed counterparts. Their performance is improved by providing a lower foreline pressure and will help achieve vacuum to an order of magnitude that is higher than that with mechanical pumps. They also do not require oil filtration accessories, traps or special oils. Because they often require more attention and maintenance, pumps with traps experience speed losses while oil-free pumps can deliver full pumping speed at all times. Also, since there is no danger of oil or oil molecule contamination with these pumps, they can be safely operated unmanned. That means improved reliability and cost savings. Some other positive aspects of oilless vacuum would be that they are generally more light-weight, compact and portable. They are also more flexible- they can pump any gas, whether helium, hydrogen or condensables such as water vapor or solvents. These pumps are quite versatile as the lack of fluids allows the pump to be operated in any orientation- sideways or even upside down.

With all of these benefits, oilless vacuum pumps are the most ideal choice for many applications, whether they require versatility or no risk of oil contamination. Say goodbye to messes, pollution, oil odor, contamination, slow-downs, and costly maintenance and say hello to smoother, reliable, quieter, cleaner, more efficient operation of an oil-free vacuum pump. Once you experience the hassle-free (and headache-free) operation of such a pump, and you’ll never go back to using oil-sealed pumps again. They are so much easier to use, maintain, and repair. Contact a manufacturer of oilless vacuum pumps near you and discuss your specifications and requirements. It’s never too late to enjoy these numerous benefits and forget the hassle of your old pump. You will watch your operating systems improve right before your eyes.