ROOTS PUMP

Design/Operating principle

The principle of operation of single-stage Roots pumps corresponds to the

operating principle of multi-stage pumps. In the Roots vacuum pump, two
synchronously counter-rotating rotors (4) rotate contactlessly in a housing (
Figure 4.16). The rotors have a figure-eight configuration and are separated
from one another and from the stator by a narrow gap. Their operating
principle is analogous to that of a gear pump having one two-tooth gear
each that pumps the gas from the inlet port (3) to the outlet port (12). One
shaft is driven by a motor (1). The other shaft is synchronized by means of a
pair of gears (6) in the gear chamber. Lubrication is limited to the two
bearing and gear chambers, which are sealed off from the suction chamber
(8) by labyrinth seals (5) with compression rings. Because there is no friction
in the suction chamber, a Roots vacuum pump can be operated at high
rotation speeds (1,500 3,000 rpm ). The absence of reciprocating masses
also affords trouble-free dynamic balancing, which means that Roots
vacuum pumps operate extremely quietly in spite of their high speeds.

Design

The rotor shaft bearings are arranged in the two side covers.
They are designed as fixed bearings on one side and as movable
(loose) bearings on the other to enable unequal thermal
expansion between housing and rotor. The bearings are
lubricated with oil that is displaced to the bearings and gears by
splash disks. The driveshaft feed through to the outside on
standard versions is sealed with radial shaft seal rings made of
FPM that are immersed in sealing oil. To protect the shaft, the
sealing rings run on a protective sleeve that can be replaced
when worn. If a hermetic seal to the outside is required, the
pump can also be driven by means of a permanent-magnet
coupling with a can.

Pump Properties

Since Roots pumps do not have internal compression or an outlet

valve, when the suction chamber is opened its gas volume
surges back into the suction chamber and must then be redischarged against the outlet pressure. As a result of this effect,
particularly in the presence of a high pressure differential
between inlet and outlet, a high level of energy dissipation is
generated, which results in significant heat-up of the pump at low
gas flows that only transport low quantities of heat. The rotating
Roots pistons are relatively difficult to cool compared to the
housing, as they are practically vacuum-insulated.

Usage

The Root's pump is a booster pump. It typically is found on a

large system between a diffusion pump and a rotary pump. The
rotary pump is permitted to operate in its high speed, high
throughput pressure (typically above 0.1 Torr) and at the same
time the diffusion pump is allowed to operate at its high speed,
high throughput pressure (typically below 0.5 m Torr). Thus the
Root's blower acts to maximize through put in a pumping
system and minimize the pump down time. It becomes cheaper
to buy a Root's pump and be able to use a smaller rotary pump,
than to buy a larger rotary pump of sufficient through put by
itself. The speed of the combination of Root's pump and rotary
pump is usually what is specified, and depends on the speed of
the rotary pump.