Screw Pump

Screw pumps operate using two counter-rotating screw rotors which are engineered so that they

rotate “towards each other”. This traps the gas in the space between the “screws” of their rotors. As

the screws rotate, this trapped volume decreases which not only compresses the gas but moves it

towards the exhaust

Components of Screw Pump
1. Screwdriver
2. Slave screw
3. Timing gear
4. Inlet and outlet
5. Pressure relief valve
6. Bearings
7. Drive shaft
Working Principle
• Screw pump operates with two counter-rotating
screw rotors that are carefully designed to rotate
“toward each other”. This traps the gas in the space
between the rotor “screws”. As the screws rotate, this
trapped volume is reduced, which not only
compresses the gas, but also moves it toward the
exhaust port.
• Screw pumps can reach ultimate pressures of ~ 1e-3
mbar. The operating pressure range is 103to10-2 mbar.
Various sizes with pumping speed ~ 60 - 1200 m³/h
are available. The pumping speed in the vacuum
range < 10 - 50 mbar can be enhanced by placing a
roots blower on top. These combinations, often in
one single pump housing, are available up to 9000
m³/h
Animation
Discharge Efficiency
Net area of flow = Ag-(A1+A2) η= Pw/Ps
Where, Ag= Area of cross section of casing
A1= Area of cross section of spindle 1 Where, Pw= Water power
A2= Area of cross section of spindle 2 Ps=Shaft Power

Qth = Ahn
Where, h=length perpendicular to plane of paper
n= Speed in r.p.s
ADVANTAGES
• high robustness
• high tolerance against water vapour
and particles/dust
• scales to customer requirements
• very high pumping speeds
• no contamination of the medium being
pumped
• frictionless rotation - rotor wear is
eliminated
• highly efficient due to internal
compression
• Operational costs and maintenance
requirements are relatively low
• frequency converter operation – easily
optimized for process requirements –
leads to high energy efficiency
DISAVANTAGES
• a gas ballast needed to pump light gasses
• worse ultimate pressure and lower pumping speed
for light gasses (Helium and Hydrogen) if without
gas ballast
• cannot be scaled down to small pumping speeds
below 50 m³/h; below approx. 100 m³/h multistage
roots or scroll pumps are used
• Installation costs for small industries are high.
• The pump requires gas ballast to transfer light gases
quality
• Without gas ballast, the ultimate pressure and
pumping speed of light gases (helium and
hydrogen) are reduced
• cannot be scaled down to small pumping speeds
below 50 m³/h; below approx. 100 m³/h multi-stage
Roots or scroll pumps are used
Characteristics of Screw Pump
Applications
• Handling diesel and fuel oil
• Lube oil transfer
• Circulating lubricants in a closed system
• Fuel oil separating
• Oil burner/boiler boosting