What are the new pumps of the TURBOVAC i series?
August 26, 2022
4 MIN READ
We have been key developers of new vacuum technologies, always striving to have the best products for existing applications and for new and future applications that may not even exist yet.
One set of products that is a great example of this is our TURBOVAC i series. The standard pumps of this line, the TURBOVAC i/iX pumps, have already been optimized to deliver great performance for a wide variety of applications. However, because the range of applications that need turbomolecular pumps is so wide, we have developed additional variants to suit all market needs.
We, at Leybold, have multi-inlet TURBOVAC pumps ideally suited for analytical instrumentation. We also have developed pumps with remote electronics, industrial turbomolecular pumps, and a specialized ultra-high vacuum (UHV) turbomolecular pump.
Similarities and differences between TURBOVAC iX and iR
Mechanically speaking, our TURBOVAC iR series offers the same pump performance as our i/iX turbomolecular vacuum pumps. Both possess the same pumping speed, compression ratios, throughputs, and other essential pumping properties, but the difference between the two lies in how the pumps handle radiation.
While the TURBOVAC iX pumps have integrated electronics, with the frequency converter and interfaces located directly on the pump, the iR series has remote electronics. The external electronic components include:
- Power source
- Frequency converter
- Controller
- Interfaces
Having remote electronics makes the TURBOVAC iR series ideally suited to high-radiation scenarios that could damage integrated electronics or potentially harm operators nearby. Cyclotrons, particle accelerators, and nuclear medicine are just a few applications that stand to benefit from this design.
In addition to remote electronics, TURBOVAC iR pumps have been designed with materials from the published database created by CERN, where many different materials were tested with ionizing radiation. This allows TURBOVAC iR pumps to operate in radiation environments of up to 1 MGray.
Additional pump types: Industrial and UHV
Besides designing pumps with remote electronics for high-radiation applications, we managed to develop other turbomolecular pump variants to meet the requirements of specific, and challenging applications. This includes pumps for industrial use and pumps designed to reach ultra-high vacuum.
Four advantages of TURBOVAC iR in industrial applications
Many industries in need of a turbomolecular pump have strenuous operating conditions and require a pump that can hold up to the pressure. Our TURBOVAC iR vacuum pumps are built to withstand the harshest environments, providing the following advantages:
- Very high gas throughput, which is especially important for heavy gases such as argon that are common in industrial coating applications
- Great particulate intake, for processes that generate dust and other particulates, such as coating, vacuum furnaces, and electron beam welding
- Temperature, humidity, and dust resistance, as many industrial facilities are dirty with poorly regulated temperature and heat control. IP54-rated electronics are dust and water-resistant, protecting the turbomolecular pumps in these environments
- Vibration resistance, for environments where heavy machining can impact the pump, especially situations where large valves or loading doors are opening and closing causing mechanical shocks
From batch coating to electron beam welding and more, there are many industries that demand an industrial vacuum pump with the most rugged design — some of which are on the edge of innovation.
TURBOVAC i series for UHV applications
For applications making great technological advancements, only the highest-performing pump will do. The UHV variant is designed for the most cutting-edge applications and can achieve ultimate pressure values as low as 1 X 10-9 to 1 X 10-12 mbar, making it ideally suited for multiple applications, including:
- Particle accelerators
- Surface analysis
- Aerospace simulation
- University labs
- Gravitational weight detectors
Pumping light gasses, specifically hydrogen and helium, becomes extremely important for these applications, as they are the toughest to remove from the vacuum chamber when trying to achieve UHV.
To this end, the TURBOVAC UHV variant was designed for maximum light gas pumping speed and compression, enabling it to achieve UHV by itself, without the need for other UHV technology, such as ion and cryopumps. This can lower the complexity and cost of a UHV system.
The UHV variant will initially be released in the 850 i size, with both ISO-K and CF flange options, and it is uniquely suited to be an excellent turbo pump solution for any of the applications listed above.
How do we ensure the quality of our pumps?
At Leybold, we proudly engineer only highly-performing vacuum pumps, and we put our products through stringent testing to prove it.
Our team of engineers has conducted multiple tests to ensure that our product can hold up to the harshest industrial or research demands, including:
- Shock testing, to ensure maximum impact resistance
- Cyclic loading, to ensure long-lasting bearings
- Temperature and humidity testing, to maintain the quality of electronic components
- Vibration testing, for high-impact environments
Precision engineered and quality-tested- that's what goes into every Leybold vacuum pump, including each model in our TURBOVAC iR and iX series. Our engineers will be happy to find a vacuum pump that meets the needs of your application, so contact us today for help.
