Vacuum pumps are used in various industries, including mining, medicine, and woodwork. They require a very high vacuum level for the machinery in their respective fields to work properly. Apart from the sanction of air, you will be surprised at how this simple principle is applied uniquely in each industry. Here are fields that require large machinery and vacuum pumps to operate:
Ceramics
Vacuum pumps are essential equipment in any ceramics workshop. They are used to remove air pockets and excess air from the extruder, which prevents breakage and helps to produce a smooth, consistent product. When air is trapped in wet clay, the products usually burst during the firing process in the kiln. The explosive burst might even destroy other otherwise good products being fired together with the faulty one. Players in this industry are advised to check the authenticity of the vacuum pumps for sale to ensure their suitability for the processes at hand.
Medicine
Vacuum pumps are useful and versatile tools in medicine, with applications ranging from suctioning and wound care to assisted reproductive technology and laboratory equipment. Here are a few detailed examples of how vacuum pumps are used in medicine:
a) Suctioning – Vacuum pumps suction fluids or substances from a patient’s body. For example, they are often used to remove mucus or other secretions from the airways of a patient with difficulty breathing.
b) Wound care – The pumps apply negative pressure to a wound in a treatment known as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). This helps to remove excess fluids and bacteria from the wound, promote healing, and reduce the risk of infection.
c) Breast pumps – They are also used in breast pumps to extract milk from the breast.
d) Assisted reproductive technology – In assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), vacuum pumps transfer embryos from the laboratory to the patient’s uterus.
e) Laboratory equipment – The pumps are also used in laboratory equipment, such as vacuum filtration systems, to remove gasses or create a vacuum environment for various purposes.
Metal Fabrication
Vacuum pumps are essential tools in metal fabrication and play an important role in various processes. In vacuum casting, a vacuum pump removes air from the mold cavity before the molten metal is poured in. This helps to eliminate air bubbles and improve the surface finish of the casting. A vacuum pump can also create a vacuum environment around the metal workpiece. This helps to prevent contamination of the surface and improve the quality of the heat treatment process. This is referred to as vacuum heat treatment.
In vacuum sintering, a vacuum pump removes air from the sintering chamber before the metal powder is heated to its melting point. This helps to improve the density and strength of the sintered part.
Vacuum pumps are also used in welding processes, such as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, to create a vacuum around the weld zone. This helps to improve the quality of the weld. It also reduces the risk of contamination.
Mining, Oil, Gas, and Petroleum Industries
Vacuum pumps are used in the mining, oil, gas, and petroleum industries for various purposes, including handling and processing materials and transporting fluids. Here are a few examples of how vacuum pumps are used in these industries:
a) Slurry handling – In the mining industry, vacuum pumps transport slurry, a mixture of solids and liquids, from one location to another. They also remove excess water from the slurry to increase its density.
b) Oil and gas processing – The pumps are used in the oil and gas industry to transfer and process liquids and gasses, such as crude oil, natural gas, and refined products. They are also used to remove impurities and create a vacuum environment for various processes.
c) Petroleum refining – Vacuum pumps are used to remove impurities and water from crude oil and other feedstocks. They also create a vacuum environment for various processes, such as distillation and hydrogenation.
d) Pipeline transportation – Vacuum pumps help to move liquids and gasses through pipelines over long distances. They are also used to maintain pressure in the pipeline and to evacuate the pipeline before maintenance or repair.
Vacuum pumps are essential tools in a wide range of industries, as they are used to create a vacuum, or a lower-pressure environment, for various purposes. Owing to their diverse nature in application, always rely on reputable suppliers of these pumps before you commit to a purchase. They will also help with repairs and maintenance.