Vacuum technology
Dry Rotary Vane
Oil-free vanes in a cylinder. Clean, simple, common.
Schematic section, not to scale
How it works
Dry rotary vane pumps use self-lubricating carbon-graphite vanes that slide in slots of an off-centre rotor. Because no oil is in the compression chamber, the exhaust is oil-free and maintenance is mostly vane and filter replacement.
An eccentric rotor spins inside a cylinder. Centrifugal force pushes the vanes against the cylinder wall, forming cells that grow on the inlet side and shrink toward the outlet, moving gas through the pump.
Performance range
Rough vacuum, typically down to roughly 100-150 mbar(a) ultimate
Typical industry range. Exact capability is model specific, see each model’s curve.
In the catalogue · 183 models from 10 manufacturers
- Pumping speed
- 0.084 – 600 m³/h · 152 models
- Motor power
- 0.09 – 22 kW · 137 models
- Weight
- 4.99 – 445 kg · 102 models
- Noise level
- 60 – 84 dB(A) · 88 models
- Max. vacuum
- 20 – 27 inHg · 60 models
- Ultimate pressure
- 100 – 200 mbar · 31 models
- Max. pressure
- 0.04 – 1.2 bar · 22 models
Spread of each model’s own rated figure, as published by its manufacturer.
Advantages & tradeoffs
- No oil to change or carry over
- Simple, compact, air-cooled
- Can often run as vacuum or pressure
- Vane wear produces carbon dust
- Limited ultimate vacuum
- Sensitive to moisture and solvent vapours
Best applications
Common in Woodworking + CNC, Printing, Electronics, General Manufacturing.
Maintenance
Inlet filter cleaning, periodic vane inspection and replacement, cooling fan and motor checks.
Energy characteristics
Specific-energy comparisons (kW per unit of flow at your operating point) appear here as sourced performance curves are added. Until then, compare models directly on the Performance Map.
Open the Performance Map