Multi-Stage Vacuum Pump Recirculation Valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum pumps used in semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturing face challenges in maintaining low pressure with high gas flow, as existing multi-stage pumps require excessive energy to rotate the high volumetric capacity booster stage due to significant fluid resistance at high pressures.

Innovation Solution

A multi-stage vacuum pump design featuring a booster stage with a recirculation path and valve that selectively recirculates pumped fluid from the outlet to the inlet above a predetermined pressure, reducing the energy required to drive the booster stage by minimizing resistance during initial vacuum enclosure evacuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the booster stage has high volumetric capacity to provide high gas flow, then the pumping capacity is improved, but the power required to rotate the booster stage becomes excessively high due to fluid resistance at high pressures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping capacityVSAvoidpower required to rotate booster stage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is divided into multiple compression stages with progressively smaller volumetric capacities. The first compression stage has a smaller volumetric capacity than the booster stage, creating a stepped reduction in size. This segmentation allows the system to handle high gas flow initially while progressively reducing the power requirement in subsequent stages, resolving the contradiction between high pumping capacity and excessive power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pump system dynamically adapts its compression ratio across stages. The first compression stage operates with a lower compression ratio than subsequent stages, allowing the booster stage to maintain high volumetric capacity for high gas flow while the downstream stages handle the compression with smaller volumetric capacities. This dynamic distribution of compression ratios optimizes both pumping capacity and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the booster stage operates at high volumetric capacity during initial pump down from atmosphere, then the gas flow is improved, but the energy consumption becomes unduly high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas flowVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The compression process is segmented into multiple stages with progressively smaller volumetric capacities. The first compression stage is designed with a smaller volumetric capacity than the booster stage, creating a stepped reduction that allows high gas flow during initial pump down while progressively reducing energy consumption in subsequent stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the compression ratio distribution across stages. The first compression stage operates with a lower compression ratio during initial pump down, allowing high gas flow while reducing energy consumption. As the system progresses through subsequent stages, the compression ratio increases while volumetric capacity decreases, optimizing the balance between productivity and energy use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9869317B2Pump
Publication Date: 2018.01.16 EDWARDS LTD
  • US9869317B2 patent drawing
  • US9869317B2 patent drawing
  • US9869317B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a multi-stage vacuum pump having a plurality of compression stages 12, 14, 16, 18 20 and a booster stage 22. The pump 10 is arranged to pump a chamber 24. The pumping stages include respective rotors supported for rotation on one or more common drive shafts 26. A recirculation valve 28 is associated with the booster stage 22 for selective recirculation of pumped fluid from an outlet 32 to an inlet 30 of the booster stage above a predetermined pressure.