Aux 1 Unit 5 Q4

A vane type pump is a type of rotary positive displacement pump. It operates using a rotor with sliding vanes that move in and out of slots within the rotor. The rotor is positioned eccentrically within a circular casing, creating chambers that change in volume as the rotor turns. This change in volume creates a pumping action, drawing fluid in on one side and pushing it out on the other.  

1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk

2. About Rotary Vane Pumps Technology – thomas

Key Components:

• Rotor: A cylindrical rotor with slots that house the vanes. It rotates eccentrically within the casing.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Vanes: Rectangular or blade-like vanes slide in and out of the rotor slots, maintaining contact with the casing wall.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Casing: The circular housing that encloses the rotor and provides the pumping chambers.
• Inlet and Outlet Ports: Openings in the casing for fluid to enter and exit.

Working Principle:

1. Suction: As the rotor turns, the vanes are pushed outward by centrifugal force and/or springs, maintaining contact with the casing wall. This creates expanding chambers on the inlet side, resulting in a vacuum that draws fluid into the pump.   1. Rotary vane pump – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org2. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
2. Compression: The fluid is trapped between the vanes and the casing wall. As the rotor continues to rotate, the chambers on the discharge side decrease in volume, compressing the fluid.   1. Rotary Vane Pump Guide www.castlepumps.com2. How Rotary Engines Work? | Advanced Innovative Engineering www.aieuk.com
3. Discharge: The compressed fluid is forced out of the pump through the outlet port.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com

Types of Vane Pumps:

• Sliding Vane Pumps: The vanes are rigid and slide within the rotor slots.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Flexible Vane Pumps: The vanes are made of a flexible material (like rubber or composite) and bend to maintain contact with the casing wall.   1. Flexible Impeller Pump Guide & Flexible Vane Pump Design | Castle Pumps www.castlepumps.com

Advantages:

• Self-Priming: Vane pumps can handle air and create a vacuum, allowing them to self-prime.   1. Gear or Vane? No Need To Abstain – Fluid Handling Pro fluidhandlingpro.com
• Handles Thin Liquids: They are particularly well-suited for pumping low to medium viscosity liquids, including those with entrained gases.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Smooth Flow: They provide a relatively smooth and continuous flow with low pulsation compared to some other positive displacement pumps.   1. About Rotary Vane Pumps Technology – thomas www.thomaspumps.com
• Good Suction: They can maintain good suction lift even with varying inlet pressures.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Dry Run Capability: They can tolerate short periods of dry running without significant damage.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk

Disadvantages:

• Limited Pressure: Vane pumps are typically used for low to medium pressure applications.   1. Vane Pumps – Hydraulics – GS Global Resources gsglobalresources.com
• Wear and Tear: The vanes and casing are subject to wear, especially when handling abrasive fluids, requiring periodic maintenance and replacement.   1. Maintenance Practices and Troubleshooting Strategies for Rotary Vane Pumps – Medium medium.com

Applications:

• Fuel Transfer: Transferring fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuels.   1. Understand Industrial Fuel Pumps: Types, and Key-Features – Micro-Lube www.micro-lube.com
• Lubrication: Supplying lubricating oil to engines and machinery.   1. Rotary pump – Wärtsilä www.wartsila.com
• Refrigeration: Circulating refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
• Chemical Processing: Handling various chemicals, solvents, and other liquids.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Food and Beverage Industry: Pumping beverages, syrups, and other food products.

Overall, vane pumps are reliable and versatile positive displacement pumps, particularly well-suited for handling thin liquids at low to medium pressures. Their self-priming capability, smooth flow, and ability to tolerate some dry running make them useful in various marine and industrial applications.

The main components of a vane type pump include:

1. Casing (or Housing):
   • The outer shell encloses the pump’s internal components.
   • Typically made of cast iron, ductile iron, steel, or aluminum.   1. Rotary vane pump – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
   • Contains the inlet and outlet ports for fluid flow.
2. Rotor:
   • A cylindrical rotor with slots that house the vanes.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
   • Mounted on the drive shaft and rotates eccentrically (off-center) within the casing.   1. Rotary vane pump – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
   • Made from hardened steel or other wear-resistant materials.
3. Vanes:
   • Rectangular or blade-like elements that slide within the rotor slots.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
   • They maintain contact with the casing wall, creating the pumping chambers.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
   • Can be made from various materials depending on the application:
     • Sliding Vane Pumps: Carbon graphite or other self-lubricating materials for wear resistance.
     • Flexible Vane Pumps: Flexible materials like rubber or composite materials.   1. Flexible Impeller Pump Guide & Flexible Vane Pump Design | Castle Pumps www.castlepumps.com
4. Cam Ring (or Stator):
   • A stationary ring within the casing, typically oval-shaped.
   • Provides the inner surface for the vanes to slide against.
   • Made from hardened steel or other wear-resistant materials.   1. US20140251510A1 – Cam ring of vane pump and method of manufacturing cam ring – Google Patents patents.google.com
5. Drive Shaft:
   • Transmits rotational power from the motor to the rotor.
   • Supported by bearings within the casing.
   • Made from hardened steel or other suitable materials.
6. Bearings:
   • Support and guide the rotating shaft, reducing friction and ensuring smooth operation.   1. Complete Overview of Pump Bearing Types – PIB Sales pibsales.com
   • Typically ball bearings or roller bearings.
7. Shaft Seal:
   • Prevents leakage of fluid from the pump along the drive shaft.   1. Useful information on pump shaft seals – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
   • Can be a mechanical seal, lip seal, or other type depending on the application and fluid being pumped.
8. End Plates:
   • Seal the ends of the pump casing and provide support for the bearings and shaft.
   • May contain ports for pressure relief valves or other accessories.

Additional Components:

• Pressure Relief Valve: Protects the pump and system from overpressure by releasing excess fluid.   1. What does a high-pressure water relief valve do on a water pump? – AWS HYDRO www.aws-hydro.com
• Wear Plates: May be installed in areas of high wear to protect the casing and rotor.
• Cooling System: In some applications, a cooling system may be incorporated to dissipate heat generated during operation.

Note: The specific design and materials used may vary depending on the type of vane pump (sliding vane or flexible vane) and the intended application.

Understanding the main components of a vane pump is essential for proper installation, operation, and maintenance. Regular inspection and replacement of worn components, particularly the vanes, are crucial to ensure the pump’s continued efficiency and reliability.

Key Components & Their Roles:

• Rotor: The heart of the pump, a cylindrical rotor with slots that house the vanes. It’s mounted eccentrically (off-center) within the casing.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Vanes: Rectangular or blade-like elements that slide within the rotor slots. They maintain contact with the casing wall, forming the pumping chambers.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com2. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Casing: The circular housing that encloses the rotor and provides the pumping chambers.
• Cam Ring: A stationary ring inside the casing, often oval-shaped, which the vanes slide against.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Inlet & Outlet Ports: Openings in the casing where fluid enters and exits.

Operational Cycle:

1. Suction (Intake):
   • As the rotor spins, centrifugal force and/or springs push the vanes outward, making them contact the cam ring.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com
   • This creates expanding crescent-shaped chambers on the inlet side of the pump.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com
   • The increasing volume in these chambers creates a partial vacuum.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com
   • Atmospheric pressure or head pressure forces fluid into these expanding chambers through the inlet port.
2. Trapping & Transport:
   • As the rotor continues to turn, the fluid gets trapped between the vanes and the casing/cam ring.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com
   • The vanes act as seals, preventing the fluid from flowing back to the inlet side.   1. Useful information on positive displacement pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
   • The rotating rotor carries these “pockets” of fluid around the casing towards the outlet.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com
3. Compression & Discharge:
   • On the outlet side, the shape of the cam ring forces the vanes back into their slots within the rotor.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com
   • This decreases the volume of the fluid pockets, compressing the trapped fluid.   1. How it Works: Vane Pump – YouTube www.youtube.com
   • The increased pressure forces the fluid out of the pump through the outlet port.

Key Points:

• Positive Displacement: The vanes create distinct sealed chambers, ensuring a fixed volume of fluid is moved with each rotation, characteristic of positive displacement pumps.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Self-Priming: The ability to create a vacuum allows the pump to draw fluid into the system, even if there’s initially air in the lines.
• Smooth Flow: The multiple vanes and continuous rotation lead to a relatively smooth flow with less pulsation compared to some other positive displacement types.
• Wear Compensation: In sliding vane pumps, wear on the vanes is compensated for as they extend further out of the rotor slots to maintain contact with the casing, ensuring continued performance.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk

Suitability for Thin Liquids:

Vane pumps excel at handling thin, low-viscosity liquids because:

• Close Tolerances: The sliding vanes maintain a close fit with the casing wall, essential for preventing leakage and maintaining efficiency with thin liquids.   1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk
• Less Friction: Thin liquids generate less friction between the vanes and casing, reducing wear and improving pump life.

In summary: A vane pump uses rotating vanes to trap and transport fluid, creating pressure and flow. The expanding and contracting chambers formed by the vanes and casing are key to its positive displacement action. This design makes them well-suited for handling thin liquids and applications requiring self-priming capability.  

1. Useful information on vane pumps – Michael-Smith-Engineers.co.uk

2. What is a Rotary Vane Pump and How Does it Work? – Anderson Process