Centralised Laboratory Vacuum Systems / Vacuum Suction Systems

WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING A LABORATORY VACUUM SYSTEM

Oil lubricated rotary vane vacuum pumps have been the main stay of laboratory vacuum applications. These machines offer low initial investment costs for a highly reliable, robust and accurate machine. Oil lubricated rotary vanes are also known to have relatively high life-time costs. They require regular maintenance to change oil, filters and seals as required. All oil lubricated vacuum pumps will create a small oil-mist from the exhaust which will contaminate the laboratory environment.
 
Moving to an external supply using a Centralised Laboratory Vacuum System will enable a reduction in life-time costs. They also remove the risk of contamination and additional sources of heat from the lab. 
 
Both solutions, vacuum pumps at the points of use or installed in a central supply location have their advantages and disadvantages. When deciding which solution best fits your needs you should ask the following questions:

• Vacuum Level - What are the application requirements of the pressures ranges for your vacuum application?
• Contamination - Have you carried out a risk assessment of any new equipment? When adding any equipment to a laboratory environment it is important that a risk assessment be carried out. This should include the identification of any potential contamination issues that may be caused.  When a pump is situated in a laboratory environment there will be a higher risk of contamination from oil-mist, condensate and exposed surface area.
• Noise Pollution - What sound level do you require within the laboratory? Some pumps create more ambient noise than others. Removing the vacuum supply away from the laboratory will reduce noise levels.
• Additional Heat - how much heat will the pumping system add to the laboratory environment? Vacuum pumps can create an additional heat source within labs. Locating the pumps remotely to the lab environment reduces additional temperature sources
• Footprint - what space do you have available? Space in and outside the laboratory can be a limiting factor on the type of solution you are able to install
• Control - what control method do you require? Can the pump be controlled via a HMI panel? Process control is important to laboratory equipment management whether to reduce cycle times, provide more constant pressure control. Or simply to provide vacuum supply on demand to reduce energy cost when not needed
• Whole Life Costs - have you looked at the whole life cost of the vacuum solution? Often, when looking at new vacuum pumps only the initial investment cost is reviewed. However, within vacuum technology the whole life costs of each technology type can vary hugely. A lower cost pump can be significantly more expensive over its life. This can include higher energy consumptions, more frequent maintenance intervals and higher consumables costs such as oil and filters. Remote and central systems can take the pain and cost out of pump maintenance. Central vacuum systems generally require fewer pumps resulting in less part wear, lower use of consumables such as oil and filters. In the case of dry technologies, longer service intervals and therefore negligible service costs.

FEATURES OF OUR LABORATORY VACUUM SYSTEMS

BUILT IN REDUNDANCY; for guaranteed vacuum supply and minimum downtime in the event of pumps being off-line.

 INTELLIGENT CONTROL PACKAGES; reliable PLC driven control systems are at the heart of the lab's central vacuum system. They offer complete flexibility and control of your process along with the option to build in remote management and monitoring. 

MAINTAINING A STERILE ENVIRONMENT MATTERS; locating the laboratories vacuum supply remotely has several key benefits for the pharmaceutical laboratory environment:

• Reduces contamination risks
• Lower ambient heat sources
• Lower noise levels
• Eliminates any risk of oil residue 
• Provides a more controlled laboratory environment.

LABORATORY CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEMS (CVS) TECHNICAL INFORMATION

This table shows a sample of popular CVS model package sizes. Medical specification vacuum vessels also available.

*NOTE: Additional packages available