Side channel vacuum pumps and compressors operate by dynamic compression - thereby transforming flow energy into pressure energy.

	Suitable for applications requiring pressure, vacuum or pressure/vacuum simultaneously
	Vacuum up to 800 mbar in suction operation Pressure up to 1000 mbar
	Capacities range from 16 to 1850 m³/hr
	Non-contact operation for reduced wear and virtually maintenance-free service
	No contamination from carbon dust or oil

Technical Overview
The side channel principle is based on the method of dynamic compression, i.e. transforming flow energy into pressure energy.

The side channel design is suitable for applications requiring both pressure and vacuum. Depending upon model and size - single-stage to four stage - vacuum up to 800 mbar in suction operation and pressure up to 1000 mbar in pressure mode can be obtained.

The capacities range from 16 to 1850 m³/hr. Non-contact operation means side channel blowers are practically free of wear and maintenance. The pumping medium is not contaminated from carbon dust or oil, as occurs with dry running or oil lubricated rotary vane pumps.

The Side Channel Principle
As can be seen in the diagram, the ring shaped working chamber (1) has a circular cross section (2). One half of this cross section is formed by the impeller (3) with its radial blades (4) on one side, while the other fixed half is formed by the housing (5). The working chamber has an inlet port (6) and an outlet port (7) with the impeller shown in the diagram rotating in an anti-clockwise direction. Between the inlet and outlet ports is the >rotor< (8) filling up the side channel. Air is trapped between the impeller pockets of the rotating impeller and is then accelerated centrifugally.

The air stream is ducted by the centrifugal force into the side channel blower. It is then taken up by the impeller pockets and the air is then re-directed back into the following pocket which repeats the process. The air is accelerated and compressed in the impeller several times. The more the blower is throttled, either at the inlet or discharge the greater the number of impeller re-entries and hence increased compression.

One can compare the movement of an air molecule within a side channel with a spring, the pitch of which becomes tighter the more the air is throttled. When you measure the pressure at different points on the ring channel, you find that it rises constantly from inlet (6) to outlet (7). The side channel principle works as a vacuum pump when throttled on the suction side, and as a compressor when throttl ed on the pressure side.

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