1、 Check before startup

1. Before starting the vacuum pump, thorough inspection is the first step in preventing malfunctions and accidents.

-Confirmation of working environment: Ensure that the environment around the pump is dry, clean, well ventilated, and free of flammable and explosive materials.

2. Basic status check:

-Oil level inspection: Observe the pump oil position through the oil window, which should be between the upper and lower limits of the oil gauge line. Low oil level will reduce the vacuum degree, while high oil level may cause fuel injection.

-Oil quality assessment: The pump oil should be clear. If turbidity, emulsification, or obvious impurities are found, it needs to be replaced.

-Connection and sealing inspection: Check whether the power cord and switch are normal, ensure that all pipelines are firmly connected, sealed reliably, and have no leakage points. For water-cooled pumps, it is also necessary to confirm that the cooling water is unobstructed.

-Air inlet protection: Confirm that the filter screen of the air inlet is clean and unobstructed, which is an important barrier to prevent foreign objects from entering the pump chamber.

2、 Startup and Running Operations

Proper start-up and operation monitoring are key to ensuring the smooth operation of vacuum pumps.

1. Start process:

-Firstly, ensure that the intake valve between the pump and the pumping system is closed.

-Then, turn on the power switch to start the vacuum pump.

-After the motor runs smoothly (about 1-2 minutes), slowly and gradually open the intake valve until the desired vacuum level is reached. This can prevent fuel injection or damage to pump components caused by airflow impact.

2. Monitoring during operation:

-Listen for abnormal noises: Pay attention to whether there are abnormal impact sounds, friction sounds, or severe vibrations during the operation of the pump, which may be signals of spring breakage, loose parts, or impurities in the pump chamber. Once discovered, stop the machine immediately for inspection.

-Observe the oil temperature and oil level: The oil temperature will naturally rise during operation, but if local overheating or continuous abnormal oil temperature rise is found, the machine should be stopped for inspection to prevent "pump jamming". Meanwhile, the oil level during operation may slightly increase, which is a normal phenomenon.

-Pay attention to the vacuum degree: If a significant decrease in vacuum degree is found, possible reasons may include insufficient oil volume, oil degradation, system leakage, or wear of pump components, which need to be gradually investigated.

3. Special operation - use of gas damper: When extracting gas containing condensable steam (such as water vapor), the gas damper should be opened after connecting the extracted container and run for 20-40 minutes to discharge the steam along with a small amount of air, preventing steam condensation from mixing into the pump oil and affecting the vacuum degree. Afterwards, the gas damper can be closed, and it is best to open it again for a period of time without load before stopping the pump to purify the pump oil.

3、 Standardize shutdown procedures

The correct shutdown sequence is crucial for protecting the vacuum pump, and it is important to avoid directly cutting off the power supply.

1. Close the intake valve: First, close the valve between the pump and the vacuum system to stop pumping.

2. Pump inlet vent air: Subsequently, open the vent valve on the pump inlet side (if equipped) to allow air to enter the pump, avoiding the pump oil being sucked back into the pumped container or pipeline due to pressure difference after shutdown. This step is crucial!

3. Cut off the power: Then, turn off the power switch of the vacuum pump.

4. Follow up processing: For water-cooled pumps, the cooling water should be turned off after power failure. If the ambient temperature is below 0 ℃, all cooling water or working fluid in the pump body and pipelines must be drained to prevent freezing and cracking of the components. Finally, tighten the intake and exhaust caps to prevent dust from entering.

4、 Daily maintenance and upkeep

1. Regular maintenance is fundamental to extending the lifespan and maintaining the performance of vacuum pumps.

-Regularly replace pump oil: Pump oil is the "blood" of vacuum pumps, and it is recommended to replace it at least once a year. However, in harsh environments or high-intensity use, the oil change cycle should be shortened. It is best to change the oil when the pump body is still warm, so that the old oil has good fluidity and more complete discharge. First, open the oil plug and drain the old oil. You can turn on the machine for a while or add a small amount of new oil from the inlet to flush the pump chamber. Then tighten the oil drain plug and add the specified brand of new vacuum pump oil from the oil filling hole to the oil mark. Do not mix different grades of vacuum pump oil.

-Keep clean: Regularly clean the surface of the pump body with a clean cloth to remove dust and oil stains. Clean the air inlet filter and check if the oil mist filter at the exhaust outlet is effective.

-Regular inspection of components: Regularly check the wear of the rotary blades, and replace them in a timely manner if the wear is severe. Check if all seals (such as shaft seals and end cap seals) are aging or damaged, causing oil leakage. Check if the power and grounding wires are intact.

-Long term maintenance: If the vacuum pump needs to be idle for a long time, it should be completely replaced with new oil, and then run empty for a moment to allow the new oil to spread throughout the interior. Drain the coolant and working fluid completely. Use a clean rubber stopper or sealing cap to plug the intake and exhaust ports to prevent moisture and dust from entering. Store the pump in a dry and clean environment.

2. Key safety warning

-Personal protection: It is recommended to wear protective goggles and gloves during operation to prevent accidental oil spraying or component splashing from injuring people. Do not touch the rotating parts or high-temperature parts of the pump (such as the fuel tank and motor) during operation.

-Do not use a rotary vane pump to remove high oxygen, toxic, explosive, corrosive to metals, or gases that may react chemically with vacuum pump oil. It is also not allowed to extract gases containing a large amount of particulate dust unless there is an effective pre filtration device.

-Avoid prolonged operation under atmospheric load: It is strictly prohibited to run continuously for more than 1 minute while the air inlet is connected to the atmosphere (i.e. the valve is fully open and no container is connected), otherwise the pump oil will deteriorate rapidly or even spray due to excessive load and overheating.

-Power safety: Ensure that the power supply voltage is stable within the required range of the equipment (such as 220V ± 10%), and the socket must be reliably grounded.