Rotary vane vacuum pumps are a popular choice in laboratories when a strong vacuum application is needed, but they do need maintenance to keep them running smoothly.

However, there are some simple steps you can follow to extend the life of your pump and the pump oil

Over time the oil inside the rotary vane vacuum pump will need replacing as it becomes contaminated with solvents or water.

You can extend the time needed between oil changes by limiting the amount of solvent entering the pump by a simple solvent trap, sometimes known as a cold trap.

This features a central well which is filled with dry ice or an ice and alcohol slurry to condense the solvent vapours as they pass, meaning less will reach the pump oil.

To read more about rotary vane vacuum pumps and how they work, see our previous post here.

For more details just click on the links above, or contact us below with any questions about using vacuum pumps in your lab.