Industry

Vacuum pumps for waste management and recycling

In waste management and recycling, vacuum extracts waste and residues, conveys them through closed pipelines and keeps process steps such as shredding, drying, distilling and degassing running. Only Elmo Rietschle names an industry, “Plastics & Recycling” – with its series C, S, G and L; all other statements come from the application pages of Busch, Leybold, Edwards, Becker, Atlas Copco and Pfeiffer Vacuum. Below you can see which series the manufacturers themselves name for these tasks – 441 models from 5 manufacturers.

Compare 441 modelsSee the applications

  • 441Models
  • 33Series
  • 5Manufacturers
  • 5Applications
Operating principle of an oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pump – the technology with the most models on this page. To the technology page

In short

Waste management and recycling: vacuum pumps – the key facts

  • One industry statementElmo Rietschle lists “Plastics & Recycling” as an industry and names its series C-KLR, C-VLR, C-VLU, S-SVT, S-VSI, G-BH and L-BV/L-BL for it: vacuum for moisture-sensitive polymers such as PET and PA, for extrusion, degassing, cooling and shaping. All other information on this page comes from the manufacturers’ application pages.
  • Battery recyclingBusch describes the recycling of lithium batteries with shredding, drying and distilling under vacuum and names a recycling rate of over 90%. The series named are R5, HUCKEPACK, COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK and PANDA/PUMA.
  • Conveying wasteFor vacuum conveying, Leybold names a working pressure of often above 200 mbar: the pressure difference draws the conveyed material through pipes, and a separator stops it before the pump (CLAWVAC, SOGEVAC). According to Leybold, the CLAWVAC conveys meat waste to containers by vacuum.
  • SeparatorBecker describes the extraction of mixtures of gas, liquid and solids; a separator protects the pump. For slaughterhouse waste, Atlas Copco names liquid ring vacuum pumps in once-through operation and a pipe network to the collection point.

Applications

Waste management and recycling: what vacuum pumps are used for

For each application: what the vacuum does and which series the manufacturers name for it. The information comes from the manufacturers’ own pages.

Extraction of waste and residues

Vacuum extracts waste together with air, liquid and solids and carries it through a pipe network to the collection point – this is how Atlas Copco describes the disposal of slaughterhouse waste with liquid ring vacuum pumps in once-through operation, and how Busch describes the extraction of offal and trimmings with MINK, R5 and TYR. Becker describes the extraction of mixtures of gas, liquid and solids, in which a separator protects the pump. Edwards lists waste disposal for EDC and nEDC, Leybold waste management for SCREWLINE and Becker waste recovery for the BCP claw compressors only in a list, without a description.

  • BuschMINK, R5, TYR, DOLPHIN, SAMOS DOLPHIN and SAMOS from the Busch product finder
  • BeckerVT, VX, KVT, KVX, VTLF, VXLF, O, U, U4, VADS, BCV, RBP waste recovery named only for BCP; the other series come from Becker’s general page on extraction
  • EdwardsnEDC, EDC waste disposal only listed, without a description
  • LeyboldSCREWLINE waste management only listed, without a description

More on Extraction of waste and residues →

Plastics and battery recycling

In recycling, part of the process chain runs under vacuum: for plastics recycling, Busch names conveying, extrusion, pyrolysis and dissolution with R5, MINK, DOLPHIN, SAMOS and COBRA, and for lithium battery recycling shredding, drying and distilling under vacuum with a recycling rate of over 90%. Edwards names melt degassing, depolymerisation, pyrolysis, gasification, solvents and SSP/LSP with GXS and EDS, Leybold PET degassing, in which monomers and water vapour are released, with the SCREWLINE (EXTRUVAC SP). Elmo Rietschle names the industry Plastics & Recycling with its series C, S, G and L, and Pfeiffer Vacuum lists HiLobe and ACP in its product finder.

More on Plastics and battery recycling →

Pneumatic conveying of waste

Conveyed material is drawn through pipes by a pressure difference, and a separator stops it before the pump – this is how Leybold describes vacuum conveying with CLAWVAC and SOGEVAC at a working pressure of often above 200 mbar; the CLAWVAC conveys meat waste to containers. Under pneumatic conveying, Busch names plastics, wet waste and food – bulk material and powder conveyed by suction or compressed air in a closed line with MINK, R5, SAMOS and TYR – and, in the product finder, wet food waste with DOLPHIN, HUCKEPACK, MINK, R5 and TYR. For granulate conveying, Leybold lists CLAWVAC and NOVADRY without a description.

More on Pneumatic conveying of waste →

Medical waste management

In medical technology, Becker lists smoke extraction and medical waste management as uses – only as keywords, without a description and without a series. For medical-surgical vacuum systems in central plants and devices, Becker names O, U, U4, VADS, BCV, SV and VASF on its family pages.

  • BeckerO, U, U4, VADS, BCV, SV, VASF Becker names the waste management itself without a series; the series apply to medical-surgical vacuum systems in general

More on Medical waste management →

Vacuum sewerage and waste water

In vacuum sewerage, negative pressure draws the waste water through the pipe network. Busch lists vacuum sewerage in its product finder with MINK, R5, SECO and TYR and, with the same series, describes vacuum supply and disposal systems for waste water in trains and ships.

More on Vacuum sewerage and waste water →

Manufacturers and series

Waste management and recycling: 5 manufacturers, 33 series

Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this industry. “Show only …” sets the filter of the product overview.

Elmo Rietschle names the industry without naming a series for it.

Product overview

Waste management and recycling: all 441 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.

Becker BCV series 7 models

BCV 100Pumping speed 100 m³/h 50 Hz120 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 50 mbarRated motor power 2.2 – 3 kW 50 Hz2.2 – 3 kW 60 HzVariants 4
BCV 150Pumping speed 150 m³/h 50 Hz180 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 3 – 4 kW 50 Hz3 – 4 kW 60 HzVariants 4
BCV 300Pumping speed 275 m³/h 50 Hz325 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 150 mbarRated motor power 5.5 – 7.5 kW 50 Hz5.5 – 7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 4
BCV 400Pumping speed 400 m³/h 50 Hz470 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 200 mbarRated motor power 9.2 kW 50 Hz11.8 kW 60 HzVariants 5
BCV 400 FDPumping speed 400 m³/h 50 Hz470 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 200 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9.2 kW 60 HzVariants 4
BCV 500Pumping speed 500 m³/h 50 Hz600 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 200 mbarRated motor power 9.2 kW 50 Hz11.8 kW 60 HzVariants 5
BCV 500 FDPumping speed 500 m³/h 50 Hz600 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 200 mbarRated motor power 9.2 kW 50 Hz11.8 kW 60 HzVariants 5

Becker KVT series 4 models

KVT 3.60 vacuum pumpKVT 3.60Pumping speed 55 m³/h 50 Hz66 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.6 kW 60 HzVariants 6
KVT 3.80 vacuum pumpKVT 3.80Pumping speed 67 m³/h 50 Hz78.5 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.6 kW 60 HzVariants 6
KVT 3.100 vacuum pumpKVT 3.100Pumping speed 98 m³/h 50 Hz112 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 3 kW 50 Hz3.6 kW 60 HzVariants 8
KVT 3.140 vacuum pumpKVT 3.140Pumping speed 129 m³/h 50 Hz154 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz4.5 – 4.8 kW 60 HzVariants 7

Becker KVX series 4 models

KVT 3.60 vacuum pumpKVX 3.60Pumping speed 55 m³/h 50 Hz66 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.6 kW 60 HzVariants 6
KVT 3.80 vacuum pumpKVX 3.80Pumping speed 67 m³/h 50 Hz78.5 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.6 kW 60 HzVariants 6
KVT 3.100 vacuum pumpKVX 3.100Pumping speed 98 m³/h 50 Hz112 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 3 kW 50 Hz3.6 kW 60 HzVariants 8
KVT 3.140 vacuum pumpKVX 3.140Pumping speed 129 m³/h 50 Hz154 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 100 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz4.5 – 4.8 kW 60 HzVariants 7

Becker O series 6 models

O 6.4Pumping speed 4 m³/h 50 Hz4.8 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 mbarRated motor power 0.12 kW 50 Hz0.15 kW 60 HzVariants
O 6.8Pumping speed 8 m³/h 50 Hz9.6 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 mbarRated motor power 0.3 kW 50 Hz0.36 kW 60 HzVariants
O 5.10 (XL)Pumping speed 10.5 m³/h 50 Hz12.5 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 mbarRated motor power 0.37 kW 50 Hz0.45 – 0.66 kW 60 HzVariants 6
O 5.16 (XL)Pumping speed 16 m³/h 50 Hz19 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 mbarRated motor power 0.55 kW 50 Hz0.66 kW 60 HzVariants 6
O 5.21 (XL)Pumping speed 23.5 m³/h 50 Hz27 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 mbarRated motor power 0.75 kW 50 Hz0.9 kW 60 HzVariants 6
O 5.25 (XL K)Pumping speed 26 m³/h 50 Hz30 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 mbarRated motor power 0.75 kW 50 Hz0.9 kW 60 HzVariants 6

Becker RBP series 3 models

RBP 500Pumping speed 500 m³/h 50 Hz600 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure Rated motor power 2.2 – 3 kW 50 Hz2.2 – 3 kW 60 HzVariants 5
RBP 1000Pumping speed 1,000 m³/h 50 Hz1,200 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure Rated motor power 4 – 5.5 kW 50 Hz4 – 5.5 kW 60 HzVariants 5
RBP 2000Pumping speed 2,000 m³/h 50 Hz2,400 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure Rated motor power 5.5 – 7.5 kW 50 Hz5.5 – 7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 5

Becker SV series 16 models

Becker U4 series 6 models

Becker U series 8 models

Becker VADS series 3 models

Becker VASF series 6 models

Becker VTLF series 6 models

Becker VT series 7 models

Becker VXLF series 5 models

Becker VX series 4 models

Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models

Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models

Busch HUCKEPACK series 4 models

Busch MINK series 32 models

Busch PANDA/PUMA series 26 models

Busch R5 series 58 models

Busch SAMOS series 31 models

Busch SECO series 10 models

Busch TYR series 16 models

Edwards EDC series 2 models

Edwards EDS series 3 models

Edwards GXS series 10 models

Edwards nEDC series 3 models

Leybold CLAWVAC series 5 models

Leybold NOVADRY series 4 models

Leybold SCREWLINE series 2 models

Leybold SOGEVAC series 23 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum ACP series 4 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum HiLobe series 17 models

Model comparison

Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its “Outdated models” section.

Selection

Waste management and recycling: choosing a vacuum pump

What the manufacturers highlight for use in this industry.

Wet or dry

For wet waste, the manufacturers name pumps that tolerate liquid: Atlas Copco names liquid ring vacuum pumps in once-through operation for slaughterhouse waste – its page on poultry processing states that they tolerate water, blood and small parts. Busch names MINK, R5, SAMOS and TYR for wet waste and DOLPHIN, HUCKEPACK, MINK, R5 and TYR for wet food waste.

Separator before the pump

Becker describes the extraction of mixtures of gas, liquid and solids, in which a separator protects the pump. In vacuum conveying, according to Leybold, a separator stops the conveyed material before the pump; the working pressure is often above 200 mbar.

Solvents and vapours

In recycling, solvents, monomers and water vapour reach the pump: Busch describes how polymers are selectively dissolved in solvents during dissolution (COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK) and how electrolytes are separated by vacuum distillation. Edwards names solvents and melt degassing with GXS and EDS, Leybold PET degassing, in which monomers and water vapour are released, with the SCREWLINE.

Inert gas in the shredder

Busch describes how, in battery recycling, the air is first extracted from the shredder and nitrogen is then introduced (inert); R5, HUCKEPACK, COBRA, DOLPHIN and MINK are named. The electrolyte is then evaporated by heat and vacuum (COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK, PANDA/PUMA).

Frequently asked questions

Waste management and recycling: frequently asked questions about vacuum pumps

Which vacuum pump is suitable for plastics recycling?

For plastics recycling, Busch names conveying, extrusion, pyrolysis and dissolution with R5, MINK, DOLPHIN, SAMOS and COBRA; for the pyrolysis of plastic into fuel Busch names the DOLPHIN. Edwards names melt degassing, depolymerisation, pyrolysis, gasification, solvents and SSP/LSP with GXS and EDS. Leybold names PET degassing for virgin material and recycling with the SCREWLINE as EXTRUVAC SP. For the Plastics & Recycling industry, Elmo Rietschle names its series C, S, G and L.

Which vacuum pump for recycling lithium-ion batteries?

Busch describes lithium battery recycling with shredding, drying and distilling under vacuum and names R5, HUCKEPACK, COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK and PANDA/PUMA; Busch gives the recycling rate as over 90%. Pfeiffer Vacuum lists the HiLobe for dissolution as well as drying and degassing in its product finder.

Why is the shredder operated under vacuum in battery recycling?

According to Busch, the air is first extracted from the shredder and nitrogen is then introduced so that the atmosphere is inert. For this step, Busch names R5, HUCKEPACK, COBRA, DOLPHIN and MINK.

How are electrolytes recovered in battery recycling?

Busch describes two steps under vacuum: in drying, the electrolyte is evaporated by heat and vacuum; in distillation, the electrolytes are separated by vacuum distillation. For both, Busch names COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK and PANDA/PUMA.

Which vacuum pump for conveying waste through pipelines?

Leybold names the CLAWVAC for waste conveying – meat waste is conveyed to containers by vacuum – and CLAWVAC and SOGEVAC for vacuum conveying in general. Under pneumatic conveying, Busch names wet waste with MINK, R5, SAMOS and TYR and, in the product finder, wet food waste with DOLPHIN, HUCKEPACK, MINK, R5 and TYR.

How much vacuum does the pneumatic conveying of waste need?

For vacuum conveying, Leybold names a working pressure of often above 200 mbar: the conveyed material is drawn through the pipes by the pressure difference, and a separator stops it before the pump (CLAWVAC, SOGEVAC). Busch describes the conveying of bulk material and powder by suction or compressed air in a closed line (MINK, R5, SAMOS, TYR) without giving a pressure.

Which vacuum pump for slaughterhouse waste?

For slaughterhouse waste, Atlas Copco describes a pipe network to the collection point with liquid ring vacuum pumps in once-through operation, without naming a series. For the extraction of offal and trimmings, Busch names MINK, R5 and TYR, and in the product finder also DOLPHIN and SAMOS. According to Leybold, the CLAWVAC conveys meat waste to containers by vacuum.

Which vacuum pump for vacuum sewerage?

Busch lists vacuum sewerage in its product finder with MINK, R5, SECO and TYR. Busch names the same series for vacuum supply and disposal systems that remove waste water from trains and ships.

What to do when liquid and solids are extracted as well?

For the extraction of mixtures of gas, liquid and solids, Becker describes a separator that protects the pump. In vacuum conveying, Leybold also stops the conveyed material with a separator before the pump. For wet processes in poultry processing, Atlas Copco names liquid ring vacuum pumps that tolerate water, blood and small parts.

Which vacuum pump for degassing recycled PET?

For PET degassing of virgin and recycled material, Leybold names the SCREWLINE as EXTRUVAC SP; monomers and water vapour are released in the process. Edwards names melt degassing in plastics recycling with GXS and EDS. Elmo Rietschle names vacuum for moisture-sensitive polymers such as PET and PA as well as for extrusion and degassing with its series C, S, G and L.

Does Ehrler & Beck also supply spare parts and service?

Yes. Ehrler & Beck offers original spare parts and accessories as well as maintenance and repair.

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