Vacuum is essential to support many different laboratory test processes and equipment. The most common uses for a vacuum in a lab include filtering mixtures, removing unwanted fluids, or evaporating solvents.
The type of vacuum pump needed for these processes will differ depending on the application required. Choosing the wrong vacuum pump for the application can cause several issues, including reduced pump performance and increased maintenance requirements.
A variety of pump technologies can be found in labs, including rotary vane vacuum pumps, oil-less vacuum pumps, diaphragm vacuum pumps, scroll vacuum pumps, screw pumps, belt-driven pumps, and piston pumps, among others. Depending on your facility’s requirements, you may need either a centralized vacuum system or small individual pumps – and it is typical to see both types of vacuum pumps in a lab setting.
VACUUM APPLICATIONS IN A LAB
Vacuum pumps create and maintain a low-pressure (vacuum) environment within a vessel or chamber. An important use of this feature in a laboratory is testing and calibration.
For example, vacuum pumps can assist with leak detection of various objects (fittings, chambers, etc). The pressure differential across the inlet and outlet of a tested object is measured to determine the presence of any leaks. Vacuum chambers are also used to simulate low atmospheric pressure to see how a device will function at various altitudes.
When calibrating lab equipment such as vacuum gauges, a vacuum pump is used to create a known low-pressure within a chamber where the gauge is placed. This allows the gauge reading to be compared to the standard reference of the vacuum level generated by the pump.
Vacuum pumps also are used to remove air and vapor molecules so that calibrated instruments can be stored in an environment free of moisture.
MORE TESTING APPLICATIONS
Some laboratory techniques (i.e., mass spectrometry, chromatography, etc.) require vacuum environments for accurate results. In an enclosed volume, vacuum is created as the molecules in the chamber are removed. The reduction of molecules under a vacuum allows for improved testing – fewer molecules are present to disrupt the test process.
Vacuum pumps are used to assist with cell culture growth, mostly through aspiration and filtration. Removing old culture media using vacuum before adding fresh media provides optimal growth conditions for cells. Vacuum also can be used to harvest cells for further analysis or testing.
Commonly, vacuum can be used for degassing liquids used in cell culture or other experiments or freeze drying of samples for long-term storage. In this process, known as lyophilization, vacuum can remove water from biological samples.
LABORATORY VACUUM PUMP APPLICATIONS
It is common to see rotary vane pumps, diaphragm pumps, scroll pumps, piston pumps, etc. It is typical to see both central vacuum systems and small individual pumps in lab settings. Depending on the needs of your facility, you may have a combination of both centralized vacuum and individual pumps.
Click through the following applications for guidance on how to choose the right vacuum pump for your facility.
- Membrane Filtration
- Aspiration
- Distillation or Rotary Evaporation
- Degassing
- Analysis Equipment
MEMBRANE FILTRATION
This process uses vacuum to create a drop in pressure on one side of the filter to force the liquid through the filter membrane and/or speed up the vacuum filtration process.
Critical pump factor – Pumping speed
A higher pumping speed, or flow rate, means faster evacuation times. This is important because the evacuation time/pumping speed directly impacts the speed at which the liquid solution passes through the filter.
Becker Pumps models: The best pump for this task depends on the application size and vacuum requirements. Generally, our rotary vane pumps are ideal as these units reach the necessary vacuum levels and have quick pump-down times.
ASPIRATION
The process of removing fluids (liquids or gases) from a container. This process can include sample collection or removal of unwanted/waste fluids, using a water aspirant or other pump.
Critical pump factor – Pumping speed & suction control
The most important application requirements may vary depending on the specific aspiration process. In some cases, high pumping speed is crucial to remove larger volumes of fluids. At other times, the ability to regulate the flow rate of a pump may be more important so that lab samples are not damaged.
Becker Pumps models: For wet applications, lubricated pumps are typically recommended.
DISTILLATION OR ROTARY EVAPORATION
A process used to purify liquids/solvents or isolate different components of a solution.
Critical pump factor – The ability to handle ingestion of vapors
Distillation and rotary evaporation are used to purify liquids by turning them into vapors and then condensing those vapors back into a liquid that can be recovered. Vacuum is used in these processes to lower the boiling point of liquids, allowing evaporation to occur at lower temperatures. It is crucial that a vacuum pump can handle the potential ingestion of condensable vapors without failing or reducing the vacuum level.
Becker Pumps models: Our oil-sealed rotary vane pumps include a gas ballast valve, which is used to draw dry, cool air into the pump working chamber and sweep out vapors before they condense inside the pump. For applications with high levels of vapor ingestion, Becker Pumps can offer an enlarged gas ballast valve, which can remove vapors at a higher rate.
DEGASSING
The removal of gases from liquids. Most commonly degassing involves removing air from samples so that air bubbles do not form or interfere with testing/analysis.
Critical pump factor – Continuous operation at deep vacuum
For degassing to occur, a deep vacuum level must be achieved and maintained. The exact vacuum level required will vary based on the liquids and gases involved. Most commonly used liquids require at least 75 torr – 0.75 torr (100 mbar abs. – 1 mbar abs.) for adequate degassing.
Becker Pumps models: Our oil-sealed rotary vane vacuum pumps are well-suited to this application because they can achieve deeper vacuum levels (1.5-0.075 depending on specific pump type). These units also run most efficiently when running at or close to their max vacuum and max flow rate.
ANALYSIS EQUIPMENT
(i.e., mass spectrometers)
There are many applications/uses of vacuum for this application, including calibration of equipment, maintaining a specific environment for testing, etc.
Critical pump factor – Equipment & application dependent
In some cases, oil-free units such as rotary claw pumps are preferred to avoid potential contamination. Other times, a deep vacuum level is a more important consideration.
Becker Pumps models: Some applications, like mass spectrometry, require high or ultra-high vacuum pumps. In these cases, our pumps are not able to reach the required vacuum levels, however, they may be used as a backing pump for the high/ultra-high pump so that the necessary vacuum level can be achieved faster.
REDUCING NOISE IN VACUUM PUMP LAB USE
At Becker, our new U5 series pumps were designed with improved pumping speeds and faster evacuation times. We have also reduced noise levels, especially for smaller units that are situated in the lab room. Our oil-lubricated line (and our smaller dry vane pump VT series) are designed for quiet operation.
BECKER: YOUR SOURCE FOR LAB VACUUM SYSTEMS
Becker Pumps offers solutions for rough to fine vacuum-level applications for most laboratory testing applications. As mentioned above, many labs also require high or ultra-high vacuum for their equipment and processes, also known as turbomolecular pumps. Although Becker does not manufacture turbomolecular pumps, these often require a roughing, or backing pump, which is where Becker stands out.
As a leading supplier of quality vacuum pumps and related equipment to university labs, businesses, and research institutions, Becker knows a thing or two about vacuum pump uses in laboratories.
Make it Becker and start a conversation with us about your vacuum pump needs. Our laboratory pump experts are ready to help you identify the right vacuum pump solution for your application.
