Vacuum Pump Rotor Composite Layers Tip Speed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum pump rotors made of steel or aluminum face limitations in achieving high tip speeds necessary for pumping light gases like helium or hydrogen, as they can only reach tip speeds of up to 400 m/s, which is insufficient for efficient gas handling.

Innovation Solution

The rotor design incorporates a hub element with multiple material layers, including fiber-reinforced materials, to increase the tip speed by distributing different materials in heavily stressed areas, allowing for higher operational speeds and enhanced load-bearing capacity, achieving tip speeds of over 400 m/s, particularly more than 600 m/s.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If rotors are made of steel or aluminum, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but tip speed is limited to 400 m/s

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetip speedVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is constructed using composite materials consisting of multiple material layers, including fiber-reinforced materials (such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or aramid fiber) combined with metallic or polymer matrices. This composite structure enables the rotor to achieve tip speeds exceeding 400 m/s while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength and load-bearing capacity, overcoming the limitations of conventional steel or aluminum rotors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If rotor speed is increased to handle light gases, then gas conveying efficiency improves, but centrifugal forces and stress increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas conveying efficiencyVSAvoidcentrifugal stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material structure with fiber reinforcement provides high specific strength and stiffness, allowing the rotor to operate at higher speeds necessary for efficient light gas conveying while withstanding the increased centrifugal stresses through the enhanced mechanical properties of the composite construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor design incorporates material layers with different properties optimized for specific regions: fiber-reinforced materials are strategically positioned in areas experiencing highest stress concentrations, while other layers provide structural support or damping characteristics, creating a locally optimized structure that handles high-speed operation and light gas conveying effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3280916B1Vacuum-pump rotor
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 LEYBOLD AG
  • EP3280916B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum-pump rotor, in particular a vacuum-pump rotor for a turbomolecular pump, having a hub element (10) for connecting to a rotor shaft or for forming a rotor shaft. A plurality of rotor blades (12) are connected to the hub element (10). In order to form a vacuum-pump rotor by means of which a high tip speed can be achieved, the hub element (10) and/or the rotor blades (12) are produced of a plurality of material layers.