Application
Vacuum pumps for priming centrifugal pumps
A centrifugal pump only delivers once its housing and the suction line are filled with liquid. During priming, a vacuum pump extracts the air from the suction line and pump housing, the air pressure pushes the water in after it, and the centrifugal pump can start. Below you can see how the application works, what vacuum the manufacturers name and which of their series are intended for it ā 84 models from 2 manufacturers.
- 84Models
- 3Series
- 2Manufacturers
- 2Industries
Touch the points: each part of the system explains itself.
In short
Centrifugal pump priming: the key facts
- Venting and fillingThe vacuum pump removes the air from the suction line and housing of the centrifugal pump. For power plants, Atlas Copco describes venting the water boxes of the condenser; Busch lists filling the water pump and water chamber priming in its product finder.
- Liquid ringFor priming, Atlas Copco names the AWC liquid ring vacuum pumps and Busch DOLPHIN; Pfeiffer Vacuum lists water chamber priming in its product finder without naming a series.
- Siphon in the power plantFor power plants, Atlas Copco describes venting the condenser water boxes with the AW range; the siphon reduces the start-up power of the cooling water pumps. As an alternative, Atlas Copco names the DZS VSD+ claw vacuum pumps.
- SizingThe pumping speed required results from the volume of air in the suction line and housing and from how quickly the centrifugal pump is to start up.
Operating principle
How it works: Centrifugal pump priming
The drawing shows the basic principle in section. The systems and pumps of the individual manufacturers differ in detail.
- VentingThe vacuum pump extracts the air from the housing and suction line of the centrifugal pump; Atlas Copco names venting the water boxes, Busch filling the water pump.
- FillingThe air pressure pushes the water into the suction line until the housing and line are filled.
- Start-upThe centrifugal pump starts up and delivers; the valve isolates the vacuum pump. In power plants, according to Atlas Copco, the siphon reduces the start-up power of the cooling water pumps.
Vacuum and sizing
Centrifugal pump priming: how much vacuum is needed
What the manufacturers say about pressure, pumping speed and sizing.
Which vacuum
The pumping speed required results from the volume of air in the suction line and housing and from the time within which the centrifugal pump is to start up.
Which pumps
Atlas Copco names the AWC liquid ring vacuum pumps for priming (pre-filling) and the AW range for the condenser water boxes, with the DZS VSD+ as an alternative. Busch names DOLPHIN for filling the water pump and for water chamber priming; Pfeiffer Vacuum lists water chamber priming without a series.
Technology
Centrifugal pump priming: the vacuum pumps the manufacturers name
Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this application. āShow only ā¦ā sets the filter of the product overview.
Liquid ring vacuum pumps
79 models Ā· 25ā16,160 mĀ³/h
Claw vacuum pumps
5 models Ā· 105ā1,140 mĀ³/h
Pfeiffer Vacuum names the application without naming a series for it.
Product overview
Centrifugal pump priming: all 84 models compared
Use the filters on the left to narrow the selection ā by manufacturer, technology and the modelsā key figures, for 50 or 60 Hz.
Atlas Copco AWC series 9 models
Atlas Copco DZS VSD+ series 5 models
DZS 100 VSD+Pumping speed 105 mĀ³/h 50 Hz105 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 50 mbarRated motor power 3 kW 50 Hz3 kW 60 HzVariants 3Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models
DOLPHIN LX 0030 BPumping speed 25 mĀ³/h 50 Hz31 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 1.1 kW 50 Hz1.5 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LX 0055 BPumping speed 45 mĀ³/h 50 Hz56 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 1.5 kW 50 Hz2.2 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DOLPHIN LA 0053 APumping speed 50 mĀ³/h 50 Hz60 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 130 mbarRated motor power 1.5 kW 50 Hz2.2 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LB 0063 APumping speed 60 mĀ³/h 50 Hz65 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 3 kW 50 Hz4 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LX 0110 CPumping speed 72 mĀ³/h 50 Hz83 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz3 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LM 0100 APumping speed 82 mĀ³/h 50 Hz97 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 130 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz3 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LA 0103 APumping speed 100 mĀ³/h 50 Hz135 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 130 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz4 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LX 0140 CPumping speed 100 mĀ³/h 50 Hz120 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 3 kW 50 Hz4 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LT 0130 APumping speed 105 mĀ³/h 50 Hz128 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 3 kW 50 Hz4 kW 60 HzVariants 
DOLPHIN LB 0113 APumping speed 110 mĀ³/h 50 Hz120 mĀ³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz4 kW 60 HzVariants No model matches these filters.
Atlas Copco AWC series 9 models
Atlas Copco DZS VSD+ series 5 models
Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models
Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its āOutdated modelsā section.
Industries
Centrifugal pump priming: where the manufacturers name it
The manufacturers list these uses on their own pages.
Power generation
Atlas Copco describes venting the condenser water boxes with the AW range or DZS VSD+, with the siphon reducing the start-up power of the cooling water pumps; Busch names DOLPHIN for water chamber priming, and Pfeiffer Vacuum lists it without a series.
Mining
For mining, Busch lists the priming of water pumps with DOLPHIN in its product finder.
Frequently asked questions
Centrifugal pump priming: frequently asked questions
How does priming a centrifugal pump with vacuum work?
A centrifugal pump cannot convey air, so a vacuum pump extracts the air from the suction line and housing; the air pressure pushes the water in after it, and the centrifugal pump starts up filled. Atlas Copco calls this priming or pre-filling, Busch filling the water pump.
Which vacuum pump for priming centrifugal pumps?
Atlas Copco names the AWC liquid ring vacuum pumps, Busch DOLPHIN. For the water boxes of the condenser in power plants, Atlas Copco names the AW range and, as an alternative, the DZS VSD+ claw vacuum pumps. Pfeiffer Vacuum lists water chamber priming without naming a series.
How much vacuum does priming a pump need?
The negative pressure must raise the water over the suction lift; the pumping speed depends on the volume of air in the line and housing and on the desired start-up time.
Why a liquid ring vacuum pump for priming?
For priming, Atlas Copco and Busch name liquid ring vacuum pumps, AWC and DOLPHIN. A liquid ring vacuum pump itself works with water as the operating liquid, and at the end of priming, water arrives together with the air.
What is priming in pumps?
Priming is the English term for what is called Ansaugen or VorfĆ¼llen in German: air is removed from the housing and suction line of a centrifugal pump so that the pump can deliver. Atlas Copco calls the application āAnsaugungā on its German page and āprimingā on its English page, and lists the AWC for it.
How are condenser water boxes vented in power plants?
Atlas Copco describes the filling of condenser water boxes with liquid ring vacuum pumps of the AW range or, alternatively, with DZS VSD+: the vacuum pump vents the water boxes, and the siphon reduces the start-up power of the cooling water pumps. Busch names DOLPHIN for this under water chamber priming.
Oil-free or oil-lubricated for priming centrifugal pumps?
The pumps named work without oil in the pump chamber: AWC and DOLPHIN are liquid ring vacuum pumps with water as the operating liquid, DZS VSD+ is a dry claw vacuum pump.
What can be done if the centrifugal pump does not prime?
If air remains in the suction line or housing, the centrifugal pump does not deliver. A vacuum pump at the highest point extracts this air until water is present; Atlas Copco names AWC for this, Busch DOLPHIN. A valve between the two prevents water from entering the vacuum pump.
A single pump or a central vacuum system?
A central system in a room of its own keeps noise and heat away from production and matches its output to the demand. Central vacuum systems are planned and built by Eugen Theis Vakuum, a company of the Ehrler & Beck group ā more under Central Vacuum.
Does Ehrler & Beck also supply spare parts and service?
Yes. Ehrler & Beck offers original spare parts and accessories as well as maintenance and repair.
Which pump suits your process?
Tell us the application, the medium and the volume ā we advise you on selection, spare parts and service.
