Application
Vacuum pumps for condenser air extraction in power plants
In the condenser of a steam power plant the turbine exhaust steam condenses, and this creates a vacuum. Air that enters through leaks and gases that do not condense accumulate there – condenser air extraction draws them off and so maintains the condenser vacuum, as Atlas Copco describes it. Below you can see how the application works, what vacuum the manufacturers name and which of their series are intended for it – 153 models from 3 manufacturers.
Compare 153 modelsHow it works
- 153Models
- 6Series
- 3Manufacturers
- 2Industries
Touch the points: each part of the system explains itself.
In short
Condenser air extraction: the key facts
- Non-condensable gasesAtlas Copco describes turbine condenser extraction as follows: the vacuum pump draws off air and non-condensable gases and maintains the condenser vacuum.
- Air leakageAs the task at the power plant condenser, Edwards names the removal of air leakage and links it to the efficiency of the plant.
- GeothermalBusch names gas extraction in geothermal power plants: non-condensable gases from the condenser, with the DOLPHIN liquid ring series.
- ManufacturersAtlas Copco names the AWD liquid ring vacuum pumps, Busch DOLPHIN and COBRA, Edwards its liquid ring series LR1A, LR1C and LR1D; Pfeiffer Vacuum lists condenser air extraction in its product finder without naming a series.
Operating principle
How it works: Condenser air extraction
The drawing shows the basic principle in section. The systems and pumps of the individual manufacturers differ in detail.
- CondensationThe turbine exhaust steam condenses on the cooled tubes of the condenser. Because water takes up far less space than steam, the condenser vacuum is created.
- ExtractionAir from leaks and non-condensable gases accumulate in the condenser. According to Atlas Copco, the vacuum pump draws them off; Edwards names the removal of air leakage.
- MaintainingThis keeps the condenser vacuum in place (Atlas Copco). Edwards links this to the efficiency of the plant, Busch names the same task for geothermal power plants.
Vacuum and sizing
Condenser air extraction: how much vacuum is needed
What the manufacturers say about pressure, pumping speed and sizing.
Which vacuum
The pressure is set by the plant; according to Atlas Copco, the pump draws off air and non-condensable gases and maintains the condenser vacuum.
Which pumps
Atlas Copco names the AWD liquid ring vacuum pumps, Busch DOLPHIN and Edwards LR1A, LR1C and LR1D. Busch also lists the COBRA screw vacuum pumps in its product finder. Pfeiffer Vacuum names condenser air extraction without a series.
What the manufacturers point out
Edwards names air leakage as what has to be extracted, and efficiency as the reason; its LR page also lists flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) and fly ash alongside the condenser. Busch names the non-condensable gases from the condenser in geothermal power plants.
Technology
Condenser air extraction: the vacuum pumps the manufacturers name
Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this application. “Show only …” sets the filter of the product overview.
Liquid ring vacuum pumps
117 models · 20–16,160 m³/h
Screw vacuum pumps
36 models · 70–4,652 m³/h
Pfeiffer Vacuum names the application without naming a series for it.
Product overview
Condenser air extraction: all 153 models compared
Use the filters on the left to narrow the selection – by manufacturer, technology and the models’ key figures, for 50 or 60 Hz.
Atlas Copco AWD series 14 models
Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models
COBRA NS 0070 CPumping speed 70 m³/h 50 Hz85 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.03 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz4.4 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0100 BPumping speed 110 m³/h 50 Hz130 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 3.5 kW 50 Hz4.8 kW 60 HzVariants 4
COBRA NC 0100 B ECOTORQUEPumping speed 130 m³/h 50 Hz130 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 4.8 kW 50 Hz4.8 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NS 0160 CPumping speed 135 m³/h 50 Hz170 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.03 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz6.6 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0200 BPumping speed 220 m³/h 50 Hz265 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 6 kW 50 Hz7.6 kW 60 HzVariants 4
COBRA NC 0200 B ECOTORQUEPumping speed 265 m³/h 50 Hz265 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 7.6 kW 50 Hz7.6 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0300 BPumping speed 320 m³/h 50 Hz385 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 4
COBRA NC 0400 BPumping speed 350 m³/h 50 Hz420 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NX 0450 APumping speed 350 m³/h 50 Hz420 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.1 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0300 B ECOTORQUEPumping speed 385 m³/h 50 Hz385 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 9.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models
Edwards LR1A series 12 models
Edwards LR1C series 9 models
Edwards LR1D series 12 models
No model matches these filters.
Atlas Copco AWD series 14 models
Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models
Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models
Edwards LR1A series 12 models
Edwards LR1C series 9 models
Edwards LR1D series 12 models
Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its “Outdated models” section.
Industries
Condenser air extraction: where the manufacturers name it
The manufacturers list these uses on their own pages.
Power generation
Atlas Copco names turbine condenser extraction with AWD (drawing off air and non-condensable gases, maintaining the condenser vacuum), Busch condenser air extraction with DOLPHIN and COBRA, Pfeiffer Vacuum condenser air extraction without a series.
Energy
Edwards names the power plant condenser among its energy solutions (removing air leakage, efficiency) with LR1A, LR1C and LR1D, Busch gas extraction from the condenser in geothermal power plants with DOLPHIN.
Frequently asked questions
Condenser air extraction: frequently asked questions
How does condenser air extraction work in a power plant?
The turbine exhaust steam condenses in the condenser, and this creates a vacuum. Air that enters through leaks and gases that do not condense accumulate there. A vacuum pump draws them off and so maintains the condenser vacuum, as Atlas Copco describes turbine condenser extraction.
Why must air be extracted from the turbine condenser?
Air and non-condensable gases do not condense and would accumulate in the condenser; the pressure would rise. Atlas Copco names the task as drawing off air and non-condensable gases and maintaining the condenser vacuum; Edwards names the removal of air leakage and links it to efficiency.
Which vacuum pump for turbine condensers?
Atlas Copco names its AWD liquid ring vacuum pumps, Edwards its liquid ring series LR1A, LR1C and LR1D, Busch DOLPHIN (liquid ring) and COBRA (screw vacuum pumps). Pfeiffer Vacuum lists condenser air extraction in its product finder without naming a series.
How much vacuum does a turbine condenser have?
Atlas Copco describes the task as maintaining the condenser vacuum, Edwards as removing air leakage. The pressure is set by the plant; the pump has to remove the incoming air and the non-condensable gases.
Why liquid ring vacuum pumps for condenser air extraction?
Atlas Copco names this design with AWD, Busch with DOLPHIN and Edwards with LR1A, LR1C and LR1D. The extracted air comes from the condenser and carries water vapour with it; a liquid ring vacuum pump works with water as its operating liquid and tolerates such moist gases. Busch also names the COBRA screw vacuum pumps.
Which vacuum pump for geothermal power plants?
For gas extraction in geothermal power plants Busch names its DOLPHIN liquid ring series: it draws the non-condensable gases out of the condenser.
Oil-free or oil-lubricated for condenser air extraction?
The pumps named are liquid ring vacuum pumps with water as the operating liquid (Atlas Copco AWD, Busch DOLPHIN, Edwards LR1A, LR1C, LR1D) and, at Busch, the COBRA screw vacuum pumps.
Which manufacturers name condenser air extraction?
Among our manufacturers: Atlas Copco (turbine condenser extraction, AWD), Busch (condenser air extraction with DOLPHIN and COBRA, gas extraction in geothermal power plants), Edwards (power plant condenser, LR1A, LR1C, LR1D) and Pfeiffer Vacuum (condenser air extraction in the product finder, without a series).
What to do if the condenser vacuum drops?
A rising pressure in the condenser shows that more air and non-condensable gases are accumulating than the extraction removes. Edwards names air leakage as what has to be removed, Atlas Copco the drawing off of air and non-condensable gases to maintain the condenser vacuum. Finding the leak and sizing the extraction for the amount of air that arises are therefore the two starting points.
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 – 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 – we advise you on selection, spare parts and service.
