How to Use a Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump

Liquid ring pumps are important machines used in various applications in many industries. These industries include sugar, paper, seawater deaeration, distilleries, pharmaceutical, asbestos manufacturing and even the textile industry, among others. These pumps operate better than other kind of pump because of their varied uses. They not only condensate vapors, but can also use various kinds of fluids while maintaining the performance at an optimal level. You can find a variety of these pumps from Vooner by just clicking this link https://www.vooner.com/liquid-ring-vacuum-pumps/. You, however, need to know how to use these pumps to get the best out of them. Here are a few pointers on how to do so.

A typical liquid ring vacuum pump consists of the rotor impeller, a shaft, a liquid ring, impeller blades, and inlet and discharge ports. The impeller and liquid sealant create a vacuum inside the housing. The impeller rotates in an eccentric casing that allows the liquid water in most cases to almost fill and almost empty the rotor chambers in one revolution. The liquid moves back to the center of the impeller. This movement creates a compression allowing for the pumping action to take place. The gas escapes via the discharge ports to the atmosphere. The exhaust fumes discharged are replaced by a constant flow of cool seal liquid to repeat the entire process.

Now that you know the basic principles behind the operation of a liquid ring vacuum pump, you must understand how to handle this machine to ensure you do not mess up with it. Once you get the pump, avoid the temptation of test running the machine. Take it through the installation process and fill it with the sealing liquid. Only then can you run it and keep watch for the first few hours.

You should place this pump on a stable platform like on a floor, or get a stable pallet. The pumps run smoothly, but the vibrations can move them. If placed on an unstable surface, it might interfere with their normal functioning like filling up the rotor chambers more than it is required. If the chambers fail to fill or empty as required, the gasses are not going to be compressed and hence interfere with the normal pump system.

When fixing the pipes, inspect them carefully to avoid stresses. Check the joints too, and ensure that they are also free from stress. These pipes and joints can develop stresses while in transit. If you fix them immediately after offloading, you might end up messing the entire pump system. The pumps are costly, and repairing them is not cheap either. So, be careful and patient when doing the installation.

There are those pumps that use V-belts. These belts will require you to set the tension on the belt drive, but you first need to install and align the sheaves. You can then fix the belt into the grooves while placed on the sheaves. Ensure that you check the sheaves and the belts’ tension after every few days to ensure the normal functioning of the pump. Stay keen for any odd noises from the belts. If you hear some squealing noises, then you need to adjust the tension. There are times when you need to shut down the pump for maintenance to just let the pump rest. When shutting the pump for a few days. Release the tension from those belts.

Vacuum pumps are vulnerable to extreme temperature conditions. You should not operate your pump in a freezing environment, as that will free the sealant liquid and mess up with the system. If the temperature is also too high, it will wear out the rubber from the belts causing them to lose their tension. The vacuum operates effectively at moderate temperatures and in a non-humid environment. Avoid coating the sheaves with lubricants like oil as it reduces the quality of rubber belts. You should also use the same type of belts instead of mixing a variety for the best performance.

You should ensure that there is a consistent supply of water all the time when the pump is running. Ensure that you connect the pipes bringing in the water properly to the inlet port, and check for any blockages and dirt. These pipes need to be as clean as possible, otherwise, any debris might mess up the rotating impeller blades.

Last but not least, always make sure you place the pump near a power supply to avoid the risk of unknowingly plugging off the pump. Check the power requirements before plugging in and running the pump.