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Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Basic principles of reliability, human error, and other general issues
- 2 Mathematical calculations
- 3 Basic issues concerning hardware systems
- 4 Obtaining items from commercial sources
- 5 General points regarding the design and construction of apparatus
- 6 Vacuum-system leaks and related problems
- 7 Vacuum pumps and gauges, and other vacuum-system concerns
- 8 Mechanical devices and systems
- 9 Cryogenic systems
- 10 Visible and near-visible optics
- 11 Electronic systems
- 12 Interconnecting, wiring, and cabling for electronics
- 13 Computer hardware and software, and stored information
- 14 Experimental method
- Index
- References
7 - Vacuum pumps and gauges, and other vacuum-system concerns
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Basic principles of reliability, human error, and other general issues
- 2 Mathematical calculations
- 3 Basic issues concerning hardware systems
- 4 Obtaining items from commercial sources
- 5 General points regarding the design and construction of apparatus
- 6 Vacuum-system leaks and related problems
- 7 Vacuum pumps and gauges, and other vacuum-system concerns
- 8 Mechanical devices and systems
- 9 Cryogenic systems
- 10 Visible and near-visible optics
- 11 Electronic systems
- 12 Interconnecting, wiring, and cabling for electronics
- 13 Computer hardware and software, and stored information
- 14 Experimental method
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Aside from leaks, which are discussed in Chapters 6 and 8, and outgassing, which is discussed in Chapter 6, other kinds of problem often afflict vacuum apparatus. For instance, vacuum pumps are frequently mechanical devices, and can suffer from the reliability difficulties that are common to machines in general. Contamination is often a concern in vacuum systems, and the pumps themselves are frequently sources of contaminants. These often take the form of pump oils and their vapors, and various types of particulate matter. Besides these general difficulties, there are numerous others that are peculiar to each particular type of pump.
Vacuum gauges are generally affected by contamination, and are often degraded by substances released from the pumps. The vibrations produced by some vacuum pumps can, in addition to increasing the likelihood of leak problems, also damage delicate structures inside certain vacuum gauges. (These points are also relevant for mass spectrometers, which are common items in vacuum equipment.)
These issues, and others pertaining to the use of vacuum equipment, are discussed in the following chapter.
Vacuum pump matters
Primary pumps
General issues concerning mechanical primary pumps
Perhaps the most serious problem pertaining to the use of mechanical vacuum pumps concerns, not difficulties with the pumps themselves, but those that they may cause to the rest of the system in the form of contamination – especially by pump oil.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Reliability in Scientific ResearchImproving the Dependability of Measurements, Calculations, Equipment, and Software, pp. 190 - 217Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011