Liquid Ring Vacuum System Troubleshooting Guide
system is:
WE SUGGEST YOU CHECK THIS:
A. The pump could be operating at a vacuum level that is too deep for its intended use. To make this determination, please consult a performance curve or chart for your pump model. One way to limit the maximum attainable vacuum level is to use a vacuum relief valve near the inlet of vacuum pump. When the vacuum level exceeds the setting of the relief valve, it will open and bleed in air from atmosphere.
B. It could be that your pump is starved for water or that the sealing water temperature is too high. Remember that a liquid ring vacuum pump needs water to form a "ring" as it pumps water into a progressively smaller cavity. The normal water level in a liquid ring pump is the centerline of the pump's shaft. Do not overfill the pump past the shaft centerline or the pump's impeller and/or shaft could be damaged. The most common method used to determine when a liquid ring vacuum pump is starved for water is to install a compound gauge on the water recirculation line, when operating between the ranges of 0-25" Hg, the compound gauge should read between 0-10" Hg. Any reading deeper than this is a good indication the vacuum pump is starving for water.
C. The check valve at the inlet of the vacuum pump could be defective. This is a mechanical device that opens and closes when the pump turns on and off. Over time, the valve could become defective due to corrosion or the introduction of particulate matter. This should be checked to make sure that it is opening and closing properly.
