Rotary vane vacuum pumps for research and industrial production

Atlas Copco has launched the GVS A range of oil-sealed rotary vane vacuum pumps, which is cooler, quieter and up to 15 per cent more efficient than the previous GVS range. The new pumps are extremely reliable and have a more compact design, making them suitable for use in both research and industrial production applications, such as packaging, wood processing, rubber, plastics, paper and printing and material handling environments. GVS A pumps provide flow rates from 16 to 7 00 m³/h, up from 20 to 305 m³/h for the previous range, have motor ratings between 0.75 and 15 kW and offer ultimate working pressures between 0.1 and 0.5 mbar. 

GVS A vacuum pumps have been designed to minimise total operating expenses. The new units have a smaller footprint than their predecessors, making them easier to build into machines or install within a workplace. They also offer lower vibrations and are about 3 to 5 dB(A) quieter. Crucially, the pumps operate at optimised shaft speeds and the lowest temperatures in the market, which reduces wear and protects the pumps’ oil consistency as well as extending their service life and maintenance intervals.

To ensure reliability, GVS A pumps provide very high oil retention levels at all operating pressures. The pumps operate with internal injection channels, reducing the number of gaskets and the amount of external piping required. In total, the number of components has been reduced by 20 per cent and the risk of leakage and failures has been further minimised. In addition, GVS A pumps can handle higher inlet pressures than other rotary vane pumps. At coarse pressures other pumps can be prone to overheating or oil spills, whereas the GVS A range is suitable for a much wider range of applications.

For added peace of mind, the inlet non-return valve protects the vacuum pump against counter-rotation in the event of it stopping without venting. This device also prevents back-sucking of oil. Additionally, the oil separation circuit of the GVS A has been optimised to minimise oil vapours in the exhaust gas.

The larger models in the series, the GVS 470 A and GVS 630 A, benefit from extra design improvements. For instance, their ball bearings feature permanent lubrication, which prevents bearing contamination and extends service intervals. A special lubrication system also ensures homogeneous temperatures of the rotors. This avoids the risk of local overheating and provides better conditions for the oil. Additionally, the inclusion of guided rotary vanes helps reduce noise levels further and allows higher intake flows at lower pressures, reducing cycle times and improving productivity.