At a glance
- Type
- Industrial vacuum pump
- Vacuum range
- Just below atmospheric to medium vacuum
- Route A
- High-speed contactless, oil-free, direct-driven
- Route B
- Permanent-magnet VSD oil-sealed twin-screw
- Selection basis
- Pumping speed (m³/h) and vacuum level (−kPa)
- Key principle
- The gas decides the machine before the level or flow
Overview
VACPRO VP is the SIND vacuum-pump series. It covers industrial vacuum service, from just below atmospheric pressure down to medium vacuum: removing gas from a volume, holding a level against a leak or an evolving load, or pulling a vessel down inside a set cycle time. It does not cover high-vacuum or ultra-high-vacuum equipment. The series is planned on two complementary technology routes, because industrial vacuum duty splits cleanly between them.
Model range
VACPRO VP covers two technology routes: Route A (high-speed contactless, oil-free) and Route B (permanent-magnet VSD oil-sealed twin-screw).
Route A
High-speed contactless, oil-free
- Best for
- Clean, dry gas on continuous duty
- Oil in compression
- None
- Drive
- High-speed direct-driven
Route B
Oil-sealed twin-screw, VSD
- Best for
- Wet, dirty, corrosive or variable gas
- Oil in compression
- Yes — oil-sealed
- Drive
- Permanent-magnet variable-speed
How to choose
By gas composition first
- Start with
- Gas composition (clean or wet/dirty?)
- Then check
- Required vacuum level and pumping speed
- Before a quote
- Confirm the model row with SIND
Technology
Technology Platform
VacPro VP covers industrial vacuum service on two complementary technology routes:
Why Two Routes?
Industrial vacuum duty splits cleanly between two categories, and the gas decides the machine before the level or flow does:
Pumping Speed and Vacuum Level
Vacuum equipment is sized by two parameters:
More technical detail
Technology Platform
- Route A — High-speed contactless, oil-free, direct-driven — suits large-volume coarse vacuum on long continuous runs where running cost dominates. The pump uses a high-speed motor directly driving a contactless impeller. No oil enters the compression chamber, so the pumped gas is oil-free. Contactless bearings eliminate wear and maintenance associated with mechanical seals and oil-lubricated bearings. Route A is specified for clean, dry gas on continuous duty.
- Route B — Permanent-magnet variable-speed oil-sealed twin-screw — suits process vacuum where the gas is wet, dirty, corrosive or variable, and tolerance matters more than the last kilopascal of ultimate level. The pump uses an oil-sealed twin-screw element with permanent-magnet variable-speed drive. Oil injected during compression seals gaps, removes heat and lubricates bearings. The oil-sealed design tolerates wet, dirty or corrosive gas better than dry pumps. Variable-speed drive holds vacuum level by slowing down, avoiding the waste of inlet throttling or the wear of start/stop cycling.
Why Two Routes?
Solvents, moisture, particulate, corrosivity and temperature rule out whole families of construction. The gas composition is the first selection criterion — before vacuum level, before pumping speed.
- Clean, dry gas on continuous duty — Route A (high-speed contactless, oil-free). Running cost dominates; oil-free gas is required; the gas can be kept clean and dry.
- Wet, dirty, corrosive or variable gas — Route B (oil-sealed twin-screw). Tolerance matters more than ultimate level; the gas carries condensate, particulate, corrosives or solvents; oil-sealed design tolerates these conditions.
Pumping Speed and Vacuum Level
These units differ from the m³/min and bar(g) used elsewhere in the SIND range, and they are always stated explicitly in the column header.
- Pumping speed (m³/h): the volume of gas the pump can remove per unit time at a given vacuum level. Pumping speed is not constant across the pressure range — the speed available at the working level is lower than the figure quoted near atmospheric.
- Vacuum level (−kPa or kPa abs): the pressure below atmospheric that the pump must achieve. Inlet line loss sits between the pump curve and the process — the pump must achieve the required level at the process connection, not at the pump inlet.
Variable-Speed Drive
Both routes use variable-speed drive. Variable speed holds vacuum level by slowing down, avoiding the waste of inlet throttling or the wear of start/stop cycling. When the vacuum level reaches the set point, the pump slows down to maintain the level, rather than throttling the inlet (which wastes energy) or cycling the motor on and off (which causes wear and pressure fluctuations).
Permanent-magnet motors have higher efficiency at partial load than induction motors, which further improves part-load energy performance.
Staging: Booster and Backing Pump
Where one machine cannot deliver both the required level and the required flow at it, a booster in series with a backing pump is normally cheaper and more efficient than one oversized machine. The backing pump (roughing pump) pulls the system down from atmospheric to a medium vacuum; the booster (roots or claw type) then increases the pumping speed at the working vacuum level. Staging allows each pump to operate in its most efficient pressure range.
Inlet and Exhaust Protection
Vacuum pumps require inlet and exhaust protection:
- Inlet protection — at minimum an inlet filter or strainer to prevent particulate from entering the pump. A knock-out pot where droplets are present. A condenser upstream if the gas arrives saturated.
- Exhaust protection — a silencer to reduce noise. A mist element for an indoor exhaust on a sealed machine (Route B) to remove oil mist. A check valve to prevent backflow. A routed line to a safe discharge point.
Selection Logic
VacPro VP selection requires the following information:
- Absolute level required at the process connection (kPa abs or −kPa): the vacuum level the process requires.
- Gas load to be removed (m³/h or kg/h): the volume or mass of gas to be removed at the working level.
- Gas composition: solvents, moisture, particulate, corrosives — the gas decides the machine before the level or flow does.
- Inlet temperature: affects pump selection and materials.
- Duty pattern and annual hours: continuous or intermittent; affects running cost vs purchase cost trade-off.
- Discharge routing: indoor or outdoor exhaust; affects exhaust treatment requirements.
- Ambient conditions and cooling-water availability: affects pump cooling selection.
Selection & quote checklist
- Absolute level required at the process connection (kPa abs or −kPa): the vacuum level the process…
- Gas load to be removed (m³/h or kg/h): the volume or mass of gas to be…
- Gas composition : solvents, moisture, particulate, corrosives — the gas decides the machine before the level…
- Inlet temperature : affects pump selection and materials.
- Duty pattern and annual hours : continuous or intermittent; affects running cost vs purchase cost trade-off.
- Discharge routing : indoor or outdoor exhaust; affects exhaust treatment requirements.
FAQ
What must I supply before you can select a machine?
The absolute level required at the process connection; the gas load to be removed there; gas composition — solvents, moisture, particulate, corrosives; inlet temperature; duty pattern and annual hours; discharge routing; ambient conditions and cooling-water availability.
Why is a level and a flow not enough?
Pumping speed is not constant across the pressure range. The speed available at the working level is lower than the figure quoted near atmospheric, and inlet line loss sits between the curve and the process.
Dry and oil-free, or oil-sealed?
Oil-sealed where the gas is wet, dusty or variable and a small stated exhaust carry-over is acceptable — normally the lower capital cost and the more tolerant machine. Dry or contactless where carry-over into the process or an indoor exhaust is unacceptable.
How do I choose between the two routes?
Route A for large-volume coarse vacuum on continuous duty, with gas that can be kept clean and dry. Route B for process vacuum with condensate, particulate, corrosives or heavy load swings.
Can you replace an existing liquid-ring installation?
That is the commonest enquiry in this category and it is answerable, but only with the existing machine’s level, flow at that level, seal-water flow and temperature, annual hours and inlet-gas condition.
More questions
Do I need a booster or a staged set?
Where one machine cannot deliver both the required level and the required flow at it, a booster in series with a backing pump is normally cheaper and more efficient.
What inlet and exhaust protection do I need?
At minimum an inlet filter or strainer, a knock-out pot where droplets are present, and a condenser upstream if the gas arrives saturated. On the discharge: a silencer, a mist element for an indoor exhaust on a sealed machine, a check valve, and a routed line.
Is 60 Hz available?
50 Hz standard. 60 Hz configuration on request — confirm voltage, frequency and phase with your SIND representative before order.
Ownership & service
Energy, maintenance and service
Target Industries and Markets
VacPro VP is specified where industrial vacuum is required:
- Pulp and paper wet-end dewatering — vacuum for paper formation and dewatering.
- Alumina and non-ferrous processing — vacuum for filtration and drying.
- Industrial gas and oxygen generation — vacuum for pressure-swing adsorption (PSA).
- Chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical drying and degassing — vacuum for process operations.
- Food processing and packaging — vacuum for packaging, degassing and drying.
- Plastics, thermoforming and composites — vacuum for forming and clamping.
- Woodworking and CNC hold-down — vacuum for workholding.
- Printing, converting and bottling — vacuum for paper handling and bottling.
- Electronics and flat-panel display process vacuum — vacuum for process operations.
- Central vacuum for hospitals, laboratories and test facilities — central vacuum systems.
Energy and Total Cost of Ownership
The total cost of ownership for a vacuum pump turns on three items: purchase cost, energy cost and maintenance cost.
- Purchase cost — Route A (high-speed contactless) typically has higher purchase cost than Route B (oil-sealed twin-screw) for the same pumping speed.
- Energy cost — Route A typically has lower running cost for clean, dry gas on continuous duty. Variable-speed drive on both routes eliminates the waste of inlet throttling and matches pump speed to gas load. For intermittent duty or wet/dirty gas, Route B may offer lower total cost.
- Maintenance cost — Route A has lower maintenance cost (no oil changes, no oil separator, contactless bearings). Route B requires oil changes, oil separator replacement and more frequent maintenance, but tolerates wet/dirty gas better.
Specifications are typical values. Pumping speed is quoted at the rated vacuum level — confirm the complete curve, inlet conditions and gas composition before quotation.
