



The value of vacuum flow




Conductor size: a Catch-22





Reliability, safety, and maintenance issues



Flexibility and energy efficiency

Decentralized systems allow users to control cups and pumps individually to adapt to changing requirements. If they choose not to operate specific cups in an array, users can simply shut down the generator that corresponds to that cup, and expend less operating energy. If the cups link together as in a centralized system, a vacuum valve could be used at each cup, but this does nothing to reduce the pump's energy consumption.

Regardless of the system layout, other application concerns should be evaluated. Consider the operating vacuum levels as they relate to the performance of the system and the amount of energy needed to operate at these levels. It is also useful to consider the size and style of vacuum cups and the effect they will have on the system, as well as the various options available for vacuum generation.

Boyle's Law states that an inverse relationship exists between pressure and volume for a gas at constant temperature, and that pressure multiplied by the volume is constant. Imagine pulling a piston in a cylinder in order to change the internal volume, thereby creating a vacuum in the cylinder, Figure 3. As the internal vacuum level rises toward absolute vacuum, the volume — and the distance that the piston needs to travel — increases toward infinity.

What this means is that to produce a high vacuum level, considerably more energy in the form of piston travel is required than is needed to produce lower levels. The relationship between energy input and vacuum output is not linear but exponential as the vacuum level increases. There is, therefore, more efficient energy transfer when operating at lower vacuum levels. This is similar to the relationship of energy requirements needed to compress air.

In the case of a sealed system, you can theoretically expend up to ten times more energy to receive only minimal gains in holding force at the cup. For an application with porosity or leaks, the effort needed to overcome leakage at deeper vacuums requires significant vacuum flows, and can be prohibitive. Working at lower vacuum levels, where a vacuum pump naturally generates more flow, is a better option. On any system, the response time and release time will be enhanced working at lower vacuum levels, and the life span of the vacuum cups will be increased because of the reduced stresses.

Inevitably, limitations on the design of a vacuum gripper may force the use of smaller vacuum cups and require the use of higher vacuum levels. This is unavoidable in some cases, but if the option to use larger vacuum cup sizes and operate at lower vacuum levels presents itself, this is ideal.

For instance, if we look at a 2-in. diameter flat cup, the rated holding force at 18 in.-Hg is roughly 16.5 lbf. By replacing that with a 3-in. diameter flat cup, the holding force at 18 in.-Hg is now 45 lbf. In this example, by using a vacuum cup with a 1-in. larger diameter, we realize 64% greater holding capacity and have the option of operating the system at a lower vacuum level with no loss of performance at the cup.

The vacuum cup factor

Vacuum cups have a big impact on how a system functions. Because the cups are the portion of the system that contacts the product, it makes sense to evaluate available options and determine the best solution for the application. Although vacuum cups may have historically been viewed as commodity items, they are now considered to be engineered products.

New designs of vacuum cups have been developed with specific applications in mind. For example, in the automotive industry, cups have been developed for durability, coefficient of friction, resistance to machine oils, and mark-free performance. In the packaging industry, cups have been developed for increased grip and sealing capabilities around the lip of the cup. Objects that may not have been considered for vacuum handling in the past — such as high-temperature or unusually shaped items — can now be handled routinely.

New pump technologies

Consider also using some new pump technologies to further improve vacuum system design.

Vacuum generators are being produced today that operate at lower supply pressures without sacrificing performance. Using a low-pressure generator builds safety into the system by effectively eliminating the impact of fluctuating supply pressures, as seen in most manufacturing environments.

Operating at lower pressures also saves energy by reducing the compressed air flow through the nozzles. Using this type of vacuum source in a decentralized system can produce high performance with a minimum of energy. Vacuum generators are also available in a wide range of sizes, with different characteristics to suit applications' vacuum and flow requirements.

Energy-saving devices

Energy-saving devices, Figure 4, have the ability to shut off the supply of air to the pump while maintaining a preset vacuum level. These simple devices incorporate a valve controlled by a vacuum switch and a check valve in the vacuum line.

The generator will operate until a set vacuum level is reached, then shut off. If the vacuum level drops due to leakage, the pump will turn back on at the startup level of the device. Energy-savings systems should be used with sealed systems and are not recommended for porous applications.

Compressed air vs. mechanical vacuum pumps

Reduction of energy costs is currently the most common form of justification. Generating vacuum using compressed air requires more energy than mechanical vacuum pumps on a straight comparison of equivalent performance — assuming a 100% duty cycle, and comparable pump performance. In reality, however, a compressed air-driven vacuum pump can reduce the energy costs in most applications in several ways:

  • Mechanical pumps are generally mounted further away from the application than a comparable air-driven pump. This can be due to space constraints, maintenance issues, or the noise and heat generated by the pump. The need to overcome losses and performance degradation through the required fittings, manifolds, and vacuum lines requires the pump to be sized accordingly. As we have seen, mounting an air-driven pump closer to the vacuum pump, with proper line sizing, can result in downsizing the pump while achieving similar performance.
  • Mechanical pumps cannot cycle on and off as frequently as an air-driven pump can. Therefore, mechanical pumps typically run 100% of the time, even though the vacuum requirements at the cups are significantly less.
  • An optimally performing vacuum system can increase the productivity of a machine. When decreasing cycle time and increasing the output of a process, production gains can be measured.
  • Consider costs associated with maintenance and downtime, which may sometimes only be accounted for after installation.

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