Application
Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation under vacuum
Vacuum intervenes in chemical reactions: it draws volatile products out of the reactor and so shifts the equilibrium – according to Edwards, this raises the yield. In polymerisation, residual monomer is removed; in vulcanisation and in the moulding of rubber and composites, the vacuum removes the air from the mould. Below you can see how the application works, what vacuum the manufacturers name and which of their series are intended for it – 61 models from 2 manufacturers.
- 61Models
- 6Series
- 2Manufacturers
- 3Industries
Touch the points: each part of the system explains itself.
In short
Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation: the key facts
- EquilibriumFor reactions, Edwards names the yield gained by shifting the equilibrium: if products are drawn off under vacuum, the reaction continues towards the product.
- Residual monomerFor bio-based polymer production (PLA), Edwards names the reaction under vacuum and the removal of residual monomer.
- VulcanisationAtlas Copco names rubber vulcanisation and forming with LRP 700–1000 VSD+ and tyre manufacturing with AWS, Busch the moulding of plastics, composites and rubber, Edwards rubber vulcanisation with scroll vacuum pumps.
- Three manufacturersEdwards names the liquid ring series LR1A, LR1C and LR1D and the EDS screw vacuum pump, Atlas Copco AWS and LRP VSD+ as well as ejector and liquid ring systems for reactors; Busch names the application without a series.
Operating principle
How it works: Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation
The drawing shows the basic principle in section. The systems and pumps of the individual manufacturers differ in detail.
- EvacuationThe reactor or mould is evacuated. Atlas Copco names the evacuation of chemical reactors, Busch the moulding of plastics, composites and rubber under vacuum.
- ReactionUnder vacuum, products are drawn off: Edwards names equilibrium shifting for a higher yield and, for PLA, the removal of residual monomer. In vulcanisation, the rubber cures in the evacuated mould – Atlas Copco names LRP VSD+ for rubber vulcanisation and AWS for tyre manufacturing.
- CondensationVapours are condensed in the condenser and collected; the vacuum pump removes the residual gases.
Vacuum and sizing
Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation: how much vacuum is needed
What the manufacturers say about pressure, pumping speed and sizing.
Which vacuum
The pressure follows from the reaction and the substance that is to be drawn off.
What determines the sizing
For reactions, Edwards names liquid ring pumps (LR), for polymerisation LR and the EDS screw vacuum pump; Atlas Copco names ejector and liquid ring systems for reactors and the liquid ring series LRP VSD+ and AWS for vulcanisation and tyres. What is drawn off – reaction gases, monomer, air from the mould – determines the pump.
What the manufacturers point out
Besides polymerisation, Edwards also lists fluorination and hydrogenation as applications in chemistry without describing them, and for PLA names the residual monomer that is removed from the polymer.
Technology
Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation: 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
58 models · 20–26,000 m³/h
Screw vacuum pumps
3 models · 210–460 m³/h
Busch names the application without naming a series for it.
Product overview
Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation: all 61 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 AWS series 22 models
AWS 180Pumping speed 168 m³/h 50 Hz202 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 6AWS 280Pumping speed 246 m³/h 50 Hz290 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz11 kW 60 HzVariants 6AWS 360Pumping speed 340 m³/h 50 Hz412 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 6AWS 450Pumping speed 450 m³/h 50 Hz535 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz22 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 600Pumping speed 600 m³/h 50 Hz700 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 18.5 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 800Pumping speed 750 m³/h 50 Hz888 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 22 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 1100Pumping speed 1,080 m³/h 50 Hz1,320 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz45 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 1300Pumping speed 1,230 m³/h 50 Hz1,452 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz55 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 1600Pumping speed 1,700 m³/h 50 Hz2,000 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 45 kW 50 Hz75 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 2500Pumping speed 2,450 m³/h 50 Hz2,780 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 75 kW 50 Hz90 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 3300Pumping speed 3,200 m³/h 50 Hz3,840 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 75 kW 50 Hz110 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 3800Pumping speed 3,750 m³/h 50 Hz4,520 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 90 kW 50 Hz132 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 5500Pumping speed 5,300 m³/h 50 Hz5,850 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 160 kW 50 Hz185 kW 60 HzVariants 8AWS 6500Pumping speed 6,510 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 169 kW 50 HzVariants 8AWS 8000Pumping speed 8,100 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 200 kW 50 HzVariants 8AWS 10000Pumping speed 9,450 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 235 kW 50 HzVariants 8AWS 12000Pumping speed 11,652 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 305 kW 50 HzVariants 8AWS 12500Pumping speed 11,820 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 253 kW 50 HzVariants 8AWS 16000Pumping speed 16,380 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 420 kW 50 HzVariants 8AWS 19000Pumping speed 18,250 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 430 kW 50 HzVariants 8AWS 23000Pumping speed 22,800 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 555 kW 50 HzVariants AWS 26000Pumping speed 26,000 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 590 kW 50 HzVariants Atlas Copco LRP VSD+ series 3 models
LRP 700 VSD+Pumping speed 740 m³/h 50 Hz740 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 25 mbarRated motor power 18.5 kW 50 Hz18.5 kW 60 HzVariants 10LRP 900 VSD+Pumping speed 940 m³/h 50 Hz940 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 25 mbarRated motor power 26 kW 50 Hz26 kW 60 HzVariants 10LRP 1000 VSD+Pumping speed 1,050 m³/h 50 Hz1,050 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 25 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz37 kW 60 HzVariants 10Edwards EDS series 3 models
Edwards EDS200Pumping speed 210 m³/h 50 Hz210 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 5.5 – 7.5 kW 50 Hz5.5 – 7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 10Edwards EDS300Pumping speed 280 m³/h 50 Hz280 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 10Edwards EDS480Pumping speed 460 m³/h 50 Hz460 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz11 kW 60 HzVariants 5Edwards LR1A series 12 models
Edwards LR1A700Pumping speed 601.2 m³/h 50 Hz698.4 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 18.5 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A800Pumping speed 748.8 m³/h 50 Hz889.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 22 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A1200Pumping speed 1,080 m³/h 50 Hz1,321.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz45 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A1300Pumping speed 1,231.2 m³/h 50 Hz1,450.8 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz55 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A1600Pumping speed 1,699.2 m³/h 50 Hz2,001.6 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 45 kW 50 Hz75 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A2500Pumping speed 2,451.6 m³/h 50 Hz2,779.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 75 kW 50 Hz90 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A4000Pumping speed 3,996 m³/h 50 Hz3,996 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 110 kW 50 Hz110 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A5000Pumping speed 4,536 m³/h 50 Hz4,536 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 132 kW 50 Hz132 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A5500Pumping speed 5,292 m³/h 50 Hz5,292 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 160 kW 50 Hz160 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A6500Pumping speed 6,012 m³/h 50 Hz6,012 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 160 kW 50 Hz160 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A8000Pumping speed 8,100 m³/h 50 Hz8,100 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 250 kW 50 Hz250 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1A500Pumping speed Ultimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz22 kW 60 HzVariants 2Edwards LR1C series 9 models
Edwards LR1C030Pumping speed 27 m³/h 50 Hz31 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 0.81 kW 50 Hz1.27 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1C050Pumping speed 50.4 m³/h 50 Hz61.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 1.45 kW 50 Hz2.55 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1C080Pumping speed 79.2 m³/h 50 Hz93.6 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 2.35 kW 50 Hz3.45 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1C110Pumping speed 111.6 m³/h 50 Hz129.6 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 3.85 kW 50 Hz6.3 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1C150Pumping speed 165.6 m³/h 50 Hz194.4 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz5.5 – 6.3 kW 60 HzVariants 6Edwards LR1C200Pumping speed 230.4 m³/h 50 Hz270 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 – 8.2 kW 60 HzVariants 6Edwards LR1C300Pumping speed 280.8 m³/h 50 Hz331.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz11 – 12.9 kW 60 HzVariants 6Edwards LR1C400Pumping speed 399.6 m³/h 50 Hz471.6 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz18.5 kW 60 HzVariants 6Edwards LR1C500Pumping speed 500.4 m³/h 50 Hz579.6 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz18.5 kW 60 HzVariants 6Edwards LR1D series 12 models
Edwards LR1D0035Pumping speed 20 m³/h 50 Hz28.8 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 0.9 kW 50 Hz1.12 kW 60 HzVariants 4Edwards LR1D0060Pumping speed 42.6 m³/h 50 Hz45.7 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 1.94 kW 50 Hz2.24 kW 60 HzVariants 4Edwards LR1D0100Pumping speed 69.5 m³/h 50 Hz90.1 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 2.8 kW 50 Hz4.1 kW 60 HzVariants 4Edwards LR1D0135Pumping speed 101.1 m³/h 50 Hz130.5 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 3.06 kW 50 Hz4.1 kW 60 HzVariants 4Edwards LR1D0170Pumping speed 117.7 m³/h 50 Hz148.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 3.8 kW 50 Hz4.1 kW 60 HzVariants 4Edwards LR1D0260Pumping speed 168.5 m³/h 50 Hz208 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 5.78 kW 50 Hz7.46 kW 60 HzVariants 4Edwards LR1D0340Pumping speed 252.7 m³/h 50 Hz301.6 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 7.8 kW 50 Hz11.19 kW 60 HzVariants 2Edwards LR1D0510Pumping speed 336 m³/h 50 Hz393.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 10.82 kW 50 Hz14.92 kW 60 HzVariants 2Edwards LR1D0770Pumping speed 476.7 m³/h 50 Hz578.7 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 14.92 kW 50 Hz18.65 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1D0940Pumping speed 729.6 m³/h 50 Hz880.5 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 23.13 kW 50 Hz29.84 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1D1280Pumping speed 951.5 m³/h 50 Hz1,193.4 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 28.35 kW 50 Hz41.03 kW 60 HzVariants 3Edwards LR1D2040Pumping speed 1,340 m³/h 50 Hz1,644.1 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 30 mbarRated motor power 42.15 kW 50 Hz60.43 kW 60 HzVariants 3No model matches these filters.
Atlas Copco AWS series 22 models
Atlas Copco LRP VSD+ series 3 models
Edwards EDS series 3 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
Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation: where the manufacturers name it
The manufacturers list these uses on their own pages.
Chemicals
Edwards names reactions whose yield rises when the equilibrium is shifted (LR), polymerisation (LR, EDS) as well as fluorination and hydrogenation, which the manufacturer lists without a description.
Plastics and recycling
For plastics, Edwards names bio-based polymer production (PLA) with reaction and removal of residual monomer, as well as fluorination.
Automotive and transport
For automotive and transport, Busch names the moulding of plastics, composites and rubber including vulcanisation, without assigning a series; Atlas Copco names tyre manufacturing on the product page of the AWS series.
Frequently asked questions
Chemical reactions, polymerisation and vulcanisation: frequently asked questions
Why do chemical reactions run under vacuum?
Edwards names the yield gained by shifting the equilibrium: if gaseous or volatile products are drawn off under vacuum, the equilibrium shifts towards the product side. For this, Edwards names the liquid ring series LR1A, LR1C and LR1D; Atlas Copco names the evacuation of chemical reactors with ejector and liquid ring systems.
How is residual monomer removed from polymers?
For bio-based polymer production (PLA), Edwards describes the reaction under vacuum and the removal of residual monomer. For polymerisation, Edwards names the LR series and the EDS screw vacuum pump.
Which vacuum pump for chemical reactors?
For reactions, Edwards names liquid ring vacuum pumps of the LR1A, LR1C and LR1D series, and for polymerisation additionally the dry EDS screw vacuum pump. For the evacuation of chemical reactors, Atlas Copco names ejector and liquid ring systems without assigning a series.
Which vacuum pump for vulcanisation?
For rubber vulcanisation and forming, Atlas Copco names the liquid ring series LRP 700–1000 VSD+, and for tyre manufacturing the AWS series. Edwards names scroll vacuum pumps for rubber vulcanisation, Busch the moulding of plastics, composites and rubber – both without a series.
Oil-free or oil-lubricated for reactions and polymerisation?
The pumps named work without oil in the pump chamber: Edwards and Atlas Copco name liquid ring vacuum pumps (LR1A, LR1C, LR1D; LRP VSD+, AWS), Edwards also the dry EDS screw vacuum pump and, for vulcanisation, dry scroll vacuum pumps.
How much vacuum does polymerisation need?
Edwards describes the removal of residual monomer and the shifting of the equilibrium; the pressure required depends on the monomer and on the reaction temperature.
What is vacuum used for in tyre manufacturing?
Atlas Copco names tyre manufacturing as an application of the AWS series and rubber vulcanisation and forming for LRP 700–1000 VSD+, without describing the process. Busch names the moulding of rubber and composites under vacuum. In this process, the air is drawn out of the mould before the rubber fills it.
What can be done if reaction vapours get into the vacuum pump?
A condenser upstream of the pump condenses condensable vapours, and the condensate vessel collects them. For the rest, Edwards and Atlas Copco name liquid ring pumps (LR series, LRP VSD+, AWS), and Edwards also the EDS screw vacuum pump for polymerisation.
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.
