What is vacuum

VACUUM REFERS TO THE DEGREE OF

EMPTINESS OF A PROCESS SYSTEM
Rough vacuum is used in 90% of chemical, petrochemical and
other process industries. This range generally includes vacuum
distillation, filtration, crystallization, drying, reaction and
others

Medium vacuum is most applicable to molten metals

degassing and others

High and Ultra high vacuum are most useful for thin films,
research, and space simulation
 INDUSTRIAL GROUP
• Rough Vacuum 760 to 1 torr 
• Medium Vacuum 1 to 10-3 torr 
• High Vacuum 10-3 to 10-7 torr 
• Ultra-high Vacuum 10-7 torr and below

1 torr = 1 mm of Hg
PRESSURE TERMINOLOGY
 WHAT MAKES THEM
WORK ?

They operate on mass-velocity principle

A motive fluid (steam) expands through a divergent
nozzle, converting its pressure energy into velocity
energy
As it passes through the suction chamber, it comes in
contact with the vapors to be evacuated
The steam and vapor mixture then enters the diffuser
where velocity energy is converted again to pressure
energy at the discharge
 EJECTOR

Discharge
Nozzle
Suction
Nozzle

Steam jet
Nozzle
Pressure velocity profile.

Operating
steam pr.
 TYPES OF VAC. PUMPING
EQUIPMENT
• LIQUID PISTON/RING
• CENTRIFUGAL
• AXIAL
• TWO IMPELLER STRAIGNT LOBE
• HELICAL LOBE
• RECIPROCATING
• SLIDING-VANE ROTARY
• EJECTOR
• ROTARTY OIL SEAL
• DIFFUSION ( Not used in industrial application )
Typical Capacities and Operating
Ranges of Vac. Equipment
Steam Ejectors

No of stages Lowest Capacity,

suction press. Ft3/min
One stage 75 torr 10-1,000,000
Two stage 12 torr
Three stage 1 torr
Four stage 200 micron
Five stage 20 micron
Six stage 3 micorn
Typical Capacities and Operating
Ranges of Vac. Equipment
Liquid-ring pumps

150C Water Lowest Capacity,

sealed suction press. Ft3/min
One stage 75 torr 3-10,000
Two stage 40 torr
Oil sealed 10 torr
Air ejector 10 micron
first stage
Typical Capacities and Operating
Ranges of Vac. Equipment
Integrated pumping systems

Lowest Capacity,
suction Ft3/min
press.
Ejector-liquid ring pump 150 100-
micron 100,000
Rotary blower-rotary- 1 torr 100-
liquid ring pump 10,000
Rotary blower-rotary- 1 torr
piston pump Three stage
 EJECTOR TYPES
• SINGLE STAGE
• MULTI STAGE
• With or Without Inter condensers
• Various combination of series of jets with
no inter condenser
• The condenser may be barometric or
surface type.
 Material Of
Construction
Ejectors are available in wide variety of materials: Stainless
steel, Cast Steel, Monel, Haste alloy, Titanium, Rubber-lined
steel, graphite, PVC, FRP

The nozzle is usually of SS or Monel

The inter-condesers and after-condensers are usually made up

of the same material that of ejector.
 WHAT TO DO FOR DESIGN / SELECTION

Among the variables that affect design of steam

ejector are
1. Suction pressure required
2. Steam available
3. Water available
4. Fluid to be evacuated
5. Equipment cost
6. Installation cost
 System selection

• Capital, Operating and Maintenance cost

• Serviceability
• Effect on process
• Handling upsets
• Materials of construction
• Waste generation and Emission reduction
• Operating range
• Reliability
VAC. PROCESS CONDENSER

• A vacuum process condenser is positioned

between a process vacuum vessel and a vacuum
system
• Its main purpose is to reclaim fluids as condensate
before they enter the vacuum system
• Reduces the capital and operational cost of the
vacuum system
• Reduces waste treatment cost
• Recovers Valuable product for re-use
 AIR LEAKAGE
• AIR LEAKAGE = X = AIR+NON
CONDENSABLE + PROCESS RELEASED AIR
+ PROCESS RELEASED NON CONDENSALES
(PER Hr.)
• USE 2 TO 3 TIMES “X” FOR NEW DESIGN OR
USE DROP TEST ON THE SYSTEM
• ADD LEAKAGES FOR PIPING, FLAGES,
AGITATOR GLANDS ETC.
• ADD 5 Lb/Hr FOR EACH AGITATOR IN THE
SYSTEM
 AIR LEAKAGE (contd..)
• Since the determination of air leakage
involves considerable knowledge of
vacuum systems and judgments, no
empirical method can be expected to yield
exact and correct value
• In general the incremental cost may be very
small between a unit barely large enough
and one with ample capacity
 Steam Pressure

• Generally selected based on the steam available in

the system. Based on that the ejector is designed
• Higher the actual design pressure of an ejector,
lower is the steam consumption
• Increase in steam pressure over design will not
increase vapor handing capacity for the usual fixed
capacity ejector
• The best ejector steam economy is attained when
the steam nozzle and diffuser are proportioned for a
specified performance
 Suction / Discharge Pressure

• The suction pressure of an ejector is expressed in

absolute units. The suction pressure follows the
ejector capacity curve
• Performance of an ejector is a function of
backpressure
• The pressure drop through any piping and after
cooler must be a consideration
 Capacity

• The capacity of an ejector is expressed as Lb/Hr.

of total non-condensable plus condensable to the
inlet flange of the unit
• For multistage units, total capacity must be
separated
• The final stages are only required to handle the
non-condensable + saturation moisture leaving the
inter condenser
 Pressure Control

The pressure of a process that operates under vacuum will

vary if the vacuum system is left unrestrained
All processes do not require pressure control. In certain
cases, the higher the vacuum, the better the process runs
The type of control may vary based on the type of vacuum
equipment
Applying the right technology to a process is important.
Understanding the options is key to choosing the right
technology