Sizing Mechanical Vacuum Pump under system Vacuum

1. The capacity required for pump-down of the system is as follows:

Capacity = 75.7 Acfm (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)

Vacuum pressure = 3.5 inches Hg absolute (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)
Process Temperature = 25 oC (Assume this as ambient, since not stated)

2. The capacity required for evacuating process gases and air seepage is as follows:

Capacity = 6,710 Acfm (air seepage + water vapor, without a vent condenser)
Vacuum pressure = 3.5 inches Hg absolute (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)
Process Temperature = 49 oC (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)

Capacity = 35 Acfm (air seepage + water vapor, with a vent condenser)

Vacuum pressure = 0.95 inches Hg absolute (Refer to Vent Condenser Application WorkSheet)
Process Temperature = 25 oC (Refer to Vent Condenser Application WorkSheet)

Sizing Specification for a Steam Vacuum Jet Ejector

1.The capacity required for pump-down of the system is as follows:

Capacity = 70.5 Lbs Steam/hr (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)

Vacuum pressure = 3.5 inches Hg absolute (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)
Process Temperature = 25 oC (Assume this as ambient, since not stated)

2. The capacity required for evacuating process gases and air seepage is as follows:

Capacity = 6,710 Acfm (air seepage + water vapor, without a vent condenser)
= 2,557 lb/hr of dry air @ 70 oF
Vacuum pressure = 3.5 inches Hg absolute (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)
Process Temperature = 49 oC (Refer to Sizing Example WorkSheet)

Capacity = 35 Acfm (air seepage + water vapor, with a vent condenser)

= 21 lb/hr of dry air @ 70 oF
Vacuum pressure = 0.95 inches Hg absolute (Refer to Vent Condenser Application WorkSheet)
Process Temperature = 25 oC (Refer to Vent Condenser Application WorkSheet)

Important observations to consider:

a. Note that the pump-down capacity is based on evacuating the reactor within the time span of 10 minutes.
 The calculated required pump capacity of 75.7 Acfm is a conservative value, since the
calculation does not take into consideration the net reactor volume after the vessel is charged. In other
words, the time required for reaching the design vacuum will be less due to the fact that the net volume
to evacuate is less than the total vessel volume. Since the problem does not state the volume of the
liquid reactants, the net reactor volume cannot be deduced nor calculated for a more accurate value.

b. Note that the employment of a vent condenser prior to the vacuum-producing equipment reduces the
amount of required capacity by 99.5 %. However, this dramatic reduction in equipment capacity
is obtained at the expense of a lower vacuum requirement due to the vapor pressure that must be
maintained at the vent condenser outlet in order to assure condensation and subsequent liquid
separation at the 25 oC outlet temperature. This physical example of Dalton's Law requires that the
pressure drop through the vent condenser's process side be no greater than (3.5 - 0.95) = 2.55 inches Hg.
If the pressure drop through the vent condenser is greater than this value, the ultimate vacuum level in
the reactor will be higher; i.e., the vacuum effect will be less (or the pressure will be more positive).
This relatively small amount of pressure drop (1.25 psi) is a very stringent design specification for a
shell-and-tube vent condenser and an experienced and recognized fabricator is usually called upon to
design this type of special equipment. Proprietary, special design baffles are often used in this type of
application.

c. The 10 minutes of pump-down time using a mechanical pump requires a capacity for 75.7
If a longer pump-down time can be tolerated, a smaller mechanical pump can be used by also
employing a vent condenser. For example, the 35 Acfm capacity required with a vent condenser can be
serviced by using a nominal 40 Acfm machine that would take 30 minutes instead.
By using a vent condenser, the capacity has been greatly reduced, but the pump-down time has been
tripled in duration.

d. The 10 minutes of pump-down time using a steam jet ejector requires a capacity for 70.5
lb dry air/hr. If a longer pump-down time can be tolerated, a smaller ejector can be used by also
employing a vent condenser. For example, the 21 lb/hr of dry air required with a vent condenser can be
serviced by using a nominal 24 lb dry air/hr unit that would take 29 minutes instead.
Again, take note that the time elapsed for pump-down has almost tripled due to the lower vacuum
that has to be produced at the ejector inlet due to the vent condenser's pressure drop.

e. There is not much one can do about non-condensable process gases in a vacuum operation. These
fluids impose a vacuum capacity requirement that can only be resolved with equally-sized vacuum
producing equipment. However, where condensable process vapors are involved, the utilization of
vent condensers is a conventional and natural technique to reduce process emissions and energy
requirements.
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