The landscape of modern industrial vacuum technology is more complex and diverse than at any other point in engineering history. For a facility seeking the optimal balance of performance and efficiency, the sheer variety of mechanical designs can be overwhelming. Engineers must evaluate and choose between a wide range of distinct technologies: Rotary Vane Technologies: … Read more
A lab facility in the Denver area (about 5000 ft elevation) receives the new vacuum system with a rated end vacuum of 27”HgV (74 torr). When first started the lab manager watches the bourdon tube vacuum gauge provided with the system and it stalls out around 22”HgV. The manger quickly looks up data on-line and … Read more
Understanding the behavior of gases is the cornerstone of effective vacuum system management. In the pressure ranges where most industrial processes operate—from atmospheric pressure down to 10-3 Torr—the transition from “dense” gas to a rarefied state dictates how a system will respond to changes in environment and load. For technicians and engineers, mastering these laws … Read more
In thermodynamics, enthalpy is a measurement of the total energy of a system. It is specifically useful because it accounts for both the energy required to create the system (its internal energy) and the energy required to “make room” for it by pushing against the surrounding pressure. The standard definition of enthalpy is the sum … Read more