Vacuum pumps

05/25/17

 

“How can we induce a vacuum in a sealed container?”

 

In engineering projects, we often want to create artificial vacuums in sealed chambers. However, Doing so is an arduous technical task. So how can we use our engineering mindset to accomplish such a feat?

 

Well, let’s start with first principles. We know that when a gas expands, it loses density. And when it becomes less dense, it takes less energy to move around. Now let’s apply this fact into a working machine. Take a sealed volume of gas, let’s say 1m^3. Now expand it to 2m^3. Then, place a divider in the middle. Then flush out all of the gas on one side. Remove the divider, and let the process repeat until a desired density has been reached. This machine is known as a vacuum pump, and is used in a startling range of applications, from automobiles to semiconductor processing to air conditioner operation!