Vacuum Scroll Pump Secondary Mechanism for Condensation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum scroll pumps face issues with condensation of water vapor and other substances within the pump, leading to corrosion and operational problems, and existing solutions like ballast gas do not fully address residual gas leakage and compression efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a secondary pumping mechanism into the vacuum pump system, which evacuates residual gas from the compression stage upstream of the exhaust check valve, reducing pressure and minimizing condensation through a gas passageway connected to the scroll pump's compression stage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ballast gas is introduced into the compression stage to prevent condensation, then condensation is reduced, but gas leakage and compression efficiency are not fully addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts residual gas from the compression stage using a secondary pumping mechanism positioned in the exhaust passage. This removes the harmful residual gas that causes condensation problems while maintaining compression efficiency, as the secondary pump actively evacuates gas without requiring ballast gas introduction that would interfere with the compression process.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary pumping mechanism acts as an intermediary between the compression stage and exhaust system. It selectively removes residual gas and water vapor from the compression stage through the exhaust passage, preventing condensation without disrupting the main compression function of the scroll pump.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a secondary pumping mechanism is added to evacuate residual gas, then condensation is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the secondary pumping mechanism with the existing exhaust passage structure of the scroll pump. The secondary pump is integrated into the exhaust system rather than being a completely separate component, allowing residual gas evacuation functionality to be added while minimizing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust passage serves multiple functions: it is the normal exhaust route for the scroll pump and simultaneously serves as the intake passage for the secondary pumping mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components and simplifies the overall device structure.
3Device complexity
If residual gas is not evacuated from the compression stage, then pump structure remains simple, but base pressure increases and components corrode
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary pumping mechanism extracts residual gas and water vapor from the compression stage through the exhaust passage. This removal of harmful substances prevents corrosion of internal components and extends pump life, while the integration into the exhaust system keeps the structural complexity increase minimal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces base pressure, minimizes gas leakage, decreases power consumption, extends the life of pump components, and reduces condensation, while being simple and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
The orbiting plate scroll and hence, the orbiting scroll blade, is driven by the eccentric driving mechanism to orbit relative to the stationary plate scroll about a longitudinal axis of the pump passing through the axial center of the stationary scroll blade
Implementation Method 2
The added gas load also increases the temperature of the gas. The combination of these two factors reduces saturation pressure of the gas stream below the actual gas temperature and condensation of water vapor is prevented
Implementation Method 3
a secondary pump having a secondary pumping mechanism incorporated into an outboard section of a scroll pump... The secondary pumping mechanism is displaceable to draw gas into the second end of the gas passageway
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum pump system includes a secondary pumping mechanism incorporated into a stationary portion of a scroll pump. The stationary portion includes the stationary plate scroll of the scroll pump and defines a gas passageway in which the secondary pumping mechanism is disposed. The gas passageway is connected to a gas flow path through the scroll pump at a location upstream of an exhaust check valve of the scroll pump. The secondary pumping mechanism is displaceable within the gas passageway to draw residual gas in the compression stage upstream of the check valve into the gas passageway, and may pump the residual gas back out through the exhaust check valve, to evacuate residual gas from the compression stage.