The maintenance and upkeep of the rotary evaporator should be combined with daily operating standards and regular in-depth maintenance. The following are the key methods:
1、 Daily maintenance
1. Interface maintenance
Immediately wipe the interface residue with a soft cloth dipped in ethanol/acetone after use to prevent crystallization from affecting the sealing.
Apply a thin layer of vacuum grease to the grinding area to prevent sand from entering; Tighten the grease canister with the back cover.
Do not overtighten the interface and loosen it regularly to prevent biting.
2. Sealing system maintenance
Weekly inspection of sealing ring cracks and silicone grease lubricated sealing surfaces; The PTFE sealing ring needs to be replaced due to hardening.
Regularly clean the dirt on the rotating shaft and apply vacuum grease to maintain lubrication.
3. Mechanical component maintenance
Lubricate the lifting guide rail with white lithium grease every month, and drip high vacuum silicone oil onto the rotating bearings (remove old grease first).
Adjust the deflection to<5mm when the drive belt is loose.
4. Cleaning and Protection
Clean the oil stains and solvent residue on the machine body after each experiment.
The electrical part is strictly waterproof and moisture-proof.
2、 Regular in-depth maintenance
1. Quarterly maintenance
Acid wash condenser tube (soaked in 10% dilute hydrochloric acid for 2 hours) to remove scale.
Calibrate the temperature sensor, if the error exceeds ± 1 ℃, it needs to be returned to the factory for adjustment.
2. Annual maintenance
Replace the main spindle carbon brush (mandatory replacement when length<5mm).
Check the oil quality of the vacuum pump. If it is cloudy or the viscosity decreases, it needs to be replaced.
Explosion proof film that has been in use for over 3 years needs to be replaced regardless of its appearance.
3、 Fault handling and safety regulations
1. Common problem solving
Insufficient vacuum: Check for leaks in soapy water, with a focus on inspecting the evaporator bottle clamp (torque 3N · m) and the vent valve gasket.
Rotation stutter: Check whether the motor is overheated and stopped, whether the belt is loose, or whether the spindle radial runout (>0.1mm needs to be corrected).
2. Safe operation
Solvent compatibility: Halogenated solvents (such as chloroform) require perfluoroether rubber sealing rings; The heating temperature shall not exceed the temperature limit of the sealing element by 10 ℃.
Power outage emergency: immediately turn off the heating and manually rotate the spindle to prevent material solidification; Open the valves in sequence during pressure relief (buffer bottle first, evaporator bottle later).
3. Long term suspension management
Drain the liquid from the pipeline, hang the rotating shaft vertically, and manually rotate 360 ° every month to prevent bearing jamming.
Place gas-phase rust inhibitor in a humid environment, with humidity ≤ 40%; Run without load for 48 hours before restarting.
Tip: Strictly follow the sequence of 'cooling first → vacuum → rotation, stop rotation at the end → release vacuum → turn off pump' during operation, which can significantly reduce the risk of equipment loss.