Industrial Cylinder Vacuum Cleaners
Features and how they work

They are available in many different configurations.

Types range from single-operator units such as backpack vacuums, ride-on vacuums, and canister vacuums to industrial vacuum loaders and industrial vacuum trucks.

Specifications for industrial cylinder vacuum cleaners include system power, airflow, and vacuum pressure, maximum number of inlets or operators, the storage capacity of bins, the minimum particle size that devices are capable of filtering, and the end-user applications.

System power is specified in horsepower and indicates the power of the motor. Airflow refers to the velocity of the air stream created while vacuum pressure is commonly referred to as static pressure (SP) or water lift. In vacuum systems, vacuum pressure is used in discussions of pressure differential across a filter media.

Some industrial cylinder vacuum cleaners are capable of filtering dry media and others can filter wet media. In terms of applications, industrial cylinder vacuums can be used with abrasives, coolants and oil mist, explosive media, fine powders, general cleaning, litter pick-up, non-free flowing media, metalworking chips and fluids, reclaiming and recycling, spill recovery, toxic media, and welding fumes.

Industrial cylinder vacuum cleaners differ in terms of features such as cleanroom suitability, duty cycle, and filtering. A cleanroom vacuum is designed specifically for cleanroom applications and the continuous duty industrial vacuums are rated for 100% duty cycle (constant use).

The various types of industrial cylinder vacuum cleaners based on the principles of their operation are:

Rotary vane pumps
Rotary vane pumps generally have lower vacuum ratings than piston pumps so are best suited to rough vacuum applications. However, Multi-stage rotary vane systems can provide an economical alternative medium to high vacuum tasks, depending on the application. Advantages include high flow capacities, low starting and running torque, vibration-free operation, low running noise, and continuous airflow.

Liquid ring pumps
Liquid ring pumps are suitable for continuous operation, and are tolerant of entrained liquids and solids. Safe to use and they offer low noise operations. The simple design makes these industrial cylinder vacuum cleaners very robust.

Reciprocating piston pumps
Reciprocating piston pumps are able to generate relatively high levels of vacuum under a range of different operating conditions. But there are disadvantages in that capacity is somewhat limited, making reciprocating piston pumps best suited to pulling relatively small volumes of air through a high vacuum range. Also, noise levels and vibration are typically higher than for other technologies.

Diaphragm pumps
The diaphragm pump is essentially a modification to the reciprocating piston pump. A diaphragm flexing back and forth in a closed chamber compresses the gas, with the flexing generated by the motion of a connecting rod under the diaphragm. The design removes the need for a sliding seal between the moving parts, and only a short stroke is required to generate vacuum levels similar to those produced by a significantly larger reciprocating piston pump.

Rocking piston pumps
Rocking piston pumps are available in single stage or two stage units for higher vacuum capability. They also have the advantage of being able to supply vacuum and pressure simultaneously. Disadvantages include a limited airflow.

Rotary screw pumps
Being larger than alternative positive displacement technologies, the rotary screw pumps provide vacuum capabilities similar to those of piston pumps with the advantage of being nearly pulse-free. The key disadvantage is that they tend to run hot, making them unsuitable for thermally sensitive applications.

Rotary lobe pumps
Rotary lobe pumps employ a pair of mating lobed impellers that rotate in opposite directions, trapping air and removing it from the system. Based on the Roots blower principle, these pumps bridge the gap between the conventional positive displacement vacuum pumps and the various centrifugal exhauster designs.

Rotary claw vacuum pumps
Rotary claw pumps are available in two-stage and three-stage designs. Two stage units produce vacuum using gas compression alone. A three-stage unit uses a combination of mechanical and gas compression to produce a higher vacuum, but at the expense of a greater discharge temperature. Rotary claw designs are larger than either rotary lobe or rotary screw pumps, and tend to be slightly noisier.

Centrifugal and regenerative exhausters
Ideal for central vacuum systems, exhausters maintain a constant vacuum as the volume of air changes with the number of operators. The end result is not a particularly high vacuum, but flow capacity is very high. Multistage versions produce higher vacuum levels, but at lower flow rates. The physical size of the impeller determines the air flow range.

Venturi vacuum generators
Venturi vacuum systems are have no moving parts and use no electricity. They are also safe, easy to installation, and compact. However, venturi vacuum generators are a very inefficient use of compressed air (approximately 4% efficiency) and should only be specified for intermittent uses.

Summary
Industrial cylinder vacuum cleaners are versatile cleaning machines useful for various industrial conditions. They base their functioning on different kinds of pumps and generators and each of these has certain pros and cons. If you looking to get an industrial cylinder vacuum cleaner, carefully consider which type suits best your needs.

Related article: Small industrial vacuum cleaners



Back from Industrial Cylinder Vacuum Cleaners to Commercial Vacuum Cleaners

Back from Industrial Cylinder Vacuum Cleaners to Vacuum Cleaner Reviews