ULVAC Roots Vacuum Pumps – High-Performance Boosters for Vacuum Systems
ULVAC Roots Booster Pumps – Increase Pumping Speed and Vacuum Depth
ULVAC Roots vacuum pumps are high-performance mechanical boosters designed to enhance the performance of backing vacuum pumps. These advanced pumps significantly increase the pumping speed of the entire vacuum system, enabling faster evacuation and deeper vacuum levels. ULVAC offers various Roots pump series for diverse industrial and research applications.
🎯 What are Roots Booster Pumps?
Roots vacuum pumps (also called Roots blowers or booster pumps) are mechanical positive displacement pumps with two counter-rotating figure-eight-shaped rotors. They cannot operate alone but must always be used in combination with a backing pump (rotary vane pump, piston pump, dry pump, or liquid ring pump).
⚙️ Operating Principle:
- Two synchronized rotors rotate in opposite directions
- Rotors do not touch each other or the housing (non-contact operation)
- Gas is trapped between rotors and housing wall
- Gas is transported from inlet to outlet without compression inside pump
- Compression occurs only at outlet when gas meets backing pump pressure
- Backing pump removes the gas and maintains pressure differential
- Continuous rotation creates very high pumping speeds
✅ Key Advantages of Roots Booster Technology:
| 🚀 Dramatically Increased Pumping Speed | 5-10 times higher pumping speed than backing pump alone in medium vacuum range |
| ⏱️ Reduced Evacuation Time | Significantly shorter pumpdown times = higher productivity |
| ⬇️ Deeper Vacuum | Achieves deeper ultimate vacuum faster |
| 📊 Constant Performance | Maintains high pumping speed across wide pressure range |
| ⚡ Energy Efficient | More efficient than using larger backing pump alone |
| 💰 Cost-Effective | Smaller backing pump can be used for same performance |
| 🔧 Dry-Running | Oil-free pumping chamber – no contamination |
| 💪 Reliable | Non-contact operation = minimal wear, long service life |
📊 ULVAC Roots Booster Pump Range:
🔷 Single-Stage Roots Boosters
ULVAC offers single-stage Roots booster pumps for standard applications requiring increased pumping speed.
| Capacity Range | Pumping Speed | Operating Range | Power Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Boosters | 100 - 500 m³/h | 10⁻³ - 10 mbar | 1.5 - 7.5 kW |
| Medium Boosters | 500 - 2,000 m³/h | 10⁻³ - 10 mbar | 7.5 - 30 kW |
| Large Boosters | 2,000 - 10,000+ m³/h | 10⁻³ - 10 mbar | 30 - 150 kW |
✅ Single-Stage Features:
- ✓ 5-10x pumping speed increase in medium vacuum range
- ✓ Cost-effective solution for most applications
- ✓ Simpler system configuration
- ✓ Typical pressure range: 10⁻¹ to 10 mbar
- ✓ Ideal for coating, drying, and general industrial vacuum
🔶 Multi-Stage Roots Booster Systems
For maximum performance, ULVAC offers multi-stage Roots configurations with multiple boosters in series.
| Configuration | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Stage Booster | 2 Roots boosters + backing pump | Even higher pumping speeds, deeper vacuum, wider operating range |
| Three-Stage Cascade | 3 Roots boosters + backing pump | Maximum performance for demanding applications, ultra-fast pumpdown |
✅ Multi-Stage Features:
- ✓ 10-50x pumping speed increase possible
- ✓ Deeper ultimate vacuum achievable
- ✓ Extended operating pressure range
- ✓ Optimized for large-scale industrial processes
- ✓ Maximum productivity for high-volume applications
💎 Compact Series – Space-Saving Solutions
ULVAC offers compact Roots boosters for installations with limited space.
- ✓ Reduced footprint for tight spaces
- ✓ Integrated mounting options
- ✓ Lower weight for easier installation
- ✓ Suitable for laboratory and small production systems
- ✓ Quick installation and commissioning
🏭 High-Performance Series – For Large Industrial Plants
For demanding large-scale applications, ULVAC provides high-capacity industrial Roots boosters.
- ✓ Very high pumping speeds (up to 10,000+ m³/h)
- ✓ Heavy-duty construction for 24/7 operation
- ✓ Water-cooled for continuous high-load duty
- ✓ Suitable for large coating chambers, furnaces
- ✓ Optimized for semiconductor and display manufacturing
Available ULVAC Roots booster types: Single-stage Roots boosters, multi-stage Roots boosters, compact Roots pumps, high-performance Roots pumps, Roots blowers, vacuum boosters, mechanical boosters, dry-running boosters, oil-free Roots pumps, cascade Roots systems
🔩 Construction & Design Features:
⚙️ Core Components:
| Component | Material/Design | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Cast iron or aluminum alloy | Precision-machined, robust, dimensionally stable, cooling jackets available |
| Rotors | Precision-machined cast iron or steel | Figure-eight profile, dynamically balanced, hardened surface, minimal clearances (0.1-0.3 mm) |
| Timing Gears | Hardened steel gears | Synchronize rotor rotation, oil-bath lubricated, long service life |
| Bearings | Heavy-duty roller bearings | Oil or grease lubricated, designed for continuous operation |
| Shaft Seals | Mechanical face seals | Reliable sealing, prevents oil migration to pumping chamber |
| Cooling System | Air-cooled or water-cooled | Controls operating temperature, essential for continuous duty |
🛡️ Special Design Features:
- ✓ Non-contact operation – rotors never touch = no wear in pumping chamber
- ✓ Oil-free pumping chamber – clean, uncontaminated gas handling
- ✓ Separate gear lubrication – timing gears in isolated oil chamber
- ✓ Precision clearances – 0.1-0.3 mm for optimal efficiency
- ✓ Dynamically balanced rotors – low vibration, quiet operation
- ✓ Modular construction – easy maintenance and component replacement
- ✓ Water cooling jackets – for high-capacity continuous operation
- ✓ Safety bypass valve – protects against pressure differential overload
💡 System Configuration – How to Use Roots Boosters:
🔄 Basic Single-Stage Configuration:
System: 1 Roots booster + 1 backing pump (rotary vane, piston, or dry pump)
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Backing Pump | Pre-evacuates system from atmospheric to ~10-30 mbar |
| Roots Booster | Starts when pressure drops below ~10 mbar, increases pumping speed 5-10x |
| Result | Fast evacuation to working vacuum (10⁻¹ to 10⁻³ mbar) |
🔄🔄 Two-Stage Booster Configuration:
System: 2 Roots boosters in series + 1 backing pump
- First Roots booster: Operates at higher pressure (1-10 mbar)
- Second Roots booster: Operates at lower pressure (10⁻² to 1 mbar)
- Result: Even higher combined pumping speed, deeper vacuum
- Typical applications: Large coating systems, semiconductor equipment
⚙️ Backing Pump Selection Guide:
| Backing Pump Type | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Rotary Vane Pump | Clean, dry gases; standard industrial applications; cost-effective |
| Dry Screw Pump | Corrosive gases; semiconductor applications; oil-free required |
| Rotary Piston Pump | Very large capacity; heavy-duty industrial use; robust operation |
| Liquid Ring Pump | Wet gases; condensates; explosive atmospheres; chemical vapors |
🏭 Primary Applications:
| Industry | Applications |
|---|---|
| 🎨 Vacuum Coating | PVD coating, CVD coating, sputtering, evaporation, optical coatings, decorative coatings, metallization |
| 🔬 Semiconductor Production | Etching, deposition, ion implantation, wafer processing, clean room applications |
| 🔥 Vacuum Metallurgy | Vacuum furnaces, heat treatment, degassing, vacuum melting, sintering, brazing |
| 💊 Freeze Drying (Lyophilization) | Pharmaceutical freeze dryers, food lyophilization, biological sample preservation |
| 📺 Display Manufacturing | LCD production, OLED manufacturing, flat panel display coating |
| ⚡ Electron Beam Welding | High-precision welding in vacuum chambers |
| 🧪 Vacuum Distillation | Chemical distillation, solvent recovery, purification processes |
| 🔬 Materials Research | Thin film research, surface science, material processing |
| 🚀 Space Simulation | Thermal vacuum chambers, satellite testing, space environment simulation |
| ☀️ Solar Cell Production | Thin film deposition, PECVD processes |
📈 Performance Benefits – Before & After:
Without Roots Booster (Backing Pump Alone):
- Pumping speed decreases rapidly below 10 mbar
- Long evacuation times to reach working vacuum
- Limited ultimate vacuum
- Process cycle times longer
- Lower productivity
✅ With ULVAC Roots Booster:
- ✅ Pumping speed maintained down to < 10⁻² mbar
- ✅ Evacuation time reduced by 50-80%
- ✅ Deeper ultimate vacuum achieved faster
- ✅ Process cycle times significantly shorter
- ✅ Productivity increased dramatically
- ✅ Better process control and repeatability
- ✅ Energy savings compared to oversized backing pump
⚠️ Important Operating Considerations:
🚨 Critical Points:
- ⚠️ Never start booster without backing pump running!
- ⚠️ Maximum pressure differential must not be exceeded (typically 30-80 mbar)
- ⚠️ Bypass valve required for safe startup and shutdown
- ⚠️ Overload protection necessary to prevent motor overheating
- ⚠️ Proper startup sequence critical – see below
- ⚠️ Adequate cooling essential for continuous operation
✅ Correct Startup Sequence:
- Start backing pump first
- Wait until backing pump reaches pre-vacuum (typically < 10-30 mbar)
- Close bypass valve (if manual) or allow automatic valve to close
- Start Roots booster
- System reaches working vacuum rapidly
✅ Correct Shutdown Sequence:
- Stop Roots booster first
- Open bypass valve (if manual)
- Continue running backing pump to vent system or maintain base vacuum
- Stop backing pump after venting complete or when system idle
🎛️ Control & Protection Systems:
🔌 Essential Control Features:
- ✓ Automatic bypass valve – opens at high pressure differential, protects pump
- ✓ Pressure switches – prevent booster start at too high pressure
- ✓ Temperature monitoring – protects against overheating
- ✓ Motor overload protection – prevents motor damage
- ✓ Interlock system – ensures proper startup/shutdown sequence
- ✓ Pressure gauges – inlet and outlet monitoring
- ✓ Cooling water flow monitor (for water-cooled models)
- ✓ Alarm outputs – integrates with system controls
🔧 Maintenance & Service:
📅 Maintenance Schedule:
| Task | Interval | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Inspection | Weekly | Check for leaks, unusual noises, vibrations, temperature |
| Gear Oil Level Check | Monthly | Check oil level in gear housing, top up if necessary |
| Cooling Water Check | Monthly | Verify water flow, check for blockages (water-cooled models) |
| Gear Oil Change | 6-12 months | Replace timing gear lubricating oil |
| Bearing Lubrication | 6-12 months | Relubricate or check grease-packed bearings |
| Shaft Seal Inspection | Annually | Check seals for leakage, replace if necessary |
| Rotor Clearance Check | 2-3 years | Measure clearances, adjust if necessary |
| Complete Overhaul | 5-10 years | Full disassembly, replacement of wear parts, reassembly, testing |
🔧 Common Wear Parts:
- Shaft seals (mechanical face seals)
- Bearings (long life with proper maintenance)
- Timing gears (minimal wear if properly lubricated)
- O-rings and gaskets
- Cooling water seals (for water-cooled models)
⏱️ Expected Service Life:
- ✓ Rotors: 50,000-100,000+ hours (virtually wear-free due to non-contact operation)
- ✓ Bearings: 20,000-40,000 hours typical
- ✓ Timing gears: 30,000-60,000 hours with proper lubrication
- ✓ Overall pump life: 15-25+ years with proper maintenance
🌟 Why Choose ULVAC Roots Boosters?
| 🇯🇵 Japanese Precision | ULVAC quality manufacturing since 1952 |
| 🚀 Dramatic Performance Gain | 5-10x (or more) pumping speed increase in critical vacuum range |
| ⏱️ Faster Processes | 50-80% reduction in evacuation time = higher productivity |
| 💪 Robust Construction | Designed for continuous 24/7 industrial operation |
| 🔧 Low Maintenance | Non-contact operation = minimal wear, long service intervals |
| 🛢️ Oil-Free Pumping | Clean gas handling, no contamination from pump |
| 💰 Cost-Effective | Smaller backing pump sufficient, energy efficient operation |
| 🌍 Proven Worldwide | Thousands of installations in demanding high-tech industries |
🔧 Our Service for ULVAC Roots Boosters:
| 🛒 Sales | Complete range of ULVAC Roots boosters – single and multi-stage configurations |
| 🎯 System Design | Complete vacuum system engineering including Roots booster sizing and backing pump selection |
| ♻️ Complete Overhaul | Full reconditioning: rotor resurfacing, bearing replacement, seal renewal, testing |
| ⚙️ Repair | Expert repair: rotor alignment, clearance adjustment, component replacement |
| 📦 Spare Parts | Genuine ULVAC parts: seals, bearings, gears, rotors, controllers |
| 🚗 On-Site Service | Installation, commissioning, alignment, troubleshooting at your facility |
| 🔍 Performance Testing | Pumping speed curves, clearance measurements, vibration analysis |
| 🎓 Training | Operator training, maintenance training, system optimization |
Need a ULVAC Roots Booster System?
Whether single-stage Roots booster for standard applications, multi-stage cascade system for maximum performance, compact booster for laboratory use, or high-capacity industrial system – our ULVAC experts are happy to advise you.
We design complete turnkey vacuum systems including proper booster sizing, backing pump selection, control systems, safety interlocks, and full integration – all tailored to your specific process requirements.
Transform your vacuum system performance: Reduce evacuation time by 50-80%, increase productivity, achieve deeper vacuum faster, and optimize your entire vacuum process.
Japanese high-tech quality since 1952 – professional local service! Contact us today for expert consultation and vacuum boosting solutions that deliver real performance gains.