Edwards IDX and GV/GVM Pumps
Edwards is a market leader in dry pump technology and has
pioneered the use of dry vacuum in some of the harshest
applications.
The IDX uses the very latest in double ended screw pumping
technology, whilst the GV and GVM ranges utilize a reverse claw
mechanism, proven over more than 10 years and 100,000
installations worldwide. Both provide reliable and economical
solutions to the demands of today's industrial processes.
The product range is available from 80 m3hr-1 / 47 ft3min-1 to
1300 m3hr-1 / 766 ft3min-1 with capacity expandable to 7000 m3hr-1 /
4120 ft3min-1 using directly mounted boosters and is ideal for backing
large booster arrays or diffusion pumps.
Why Dry?
Dry Vacuum pumps - why not you? The competitive nature of today's
business means changes are required to improve performance, lower
costs, and provide optimal process solutions. The GV /IDX Dry
pumping solution is the change from traditional oil sealed pumps to a
proven technology for this industry. Edwards, a world leader in dry
pump technology, has demonstrated the ability to provide a low-cost,
custom tailored solution to your vacuum application. The benefits
offered by the GV Dry/IDX Dry pumping solutions are:
- Maintenance
- Low capital cost and minimal maintenance requirements lead to lowest cost of ownership
- Extended periods between user intervention
- Lower consumable costs
- Environmental
- No oil disposal
- No oil emissions into atmosphere
- Performance
- Very stable pumping speed gives repeatability to processes
- Continuous pumping at atmosphere
- Ability to handle particulates
- Dry eliminates back-streaming, thus protecting reactive alloys from contamination
- Significantly higher capacity for water vapor pumping than traditional oil sealed pumps
- Safety
- Unobtrusive noise levels
- No unsightly oil spills
- No hazardous oil vapors
Cost Effective Technology
In addition to the elimination of the costs
of handling effluent and frequent oils changes, the IDX and GV/GVM
ranges are designed to be 'fit and forget' products. The IDX and GVM
range incorporates oil lubricated bearings (GV are grease packed)
and high performance seals, proven on the EH booster range, to
provide extended service intervals.
The IDX utilize the latest double ended screw profile technology
whilst the GV pumps are multi-stage claw pumps with the GVM range
having an additional roots stage to enhance both pumping speed and
ultimate pressure. All Edwards dry pumps are designed to minimize
the amount of power they consume.
All Edwards dry pump ranges are ideally suited to:
- Metallurgy
- Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM)
- Precision Investment Casting (PIC)
- Vacuum Arc Refining (VAR)
- Electron beam welding
- Vacuum sintering
- Steel degassing
- Heat treatment
- Hardening
- Plasma & LP nitriding
- LP carburization
- Vacuum brazing
- Coating
- Roll coating
- Glass coating
- Optical filters & lenses
- Vacuum metallizing
- Hard drive & CD mastering
- Solar cell production
- Drying
- Transformers, capacitors & cables
- Leather
- Spices & fragrances
- Nuclear industry
- Chamber hogging
and many more.
With such a range of pumping speeds combinations and applications
available, Edwards retains a comprehensive Applications
Engineering capability and are able to offer a solutions package that
includes:
- Process design
- Equipment specification and selection
- Safety and operating procedures
- Vacuum system and control integration
- Commissioning advice
Solutions Engineering
The range and complexity of industrial applications means a 'one size
fits all' policy does not result in system optimization. A detailed
appreciation of the process, environmental and safety issues is
required to tailor systems to match performance and process.
Applications Design & Support
Edwards comprehensive design
service is based on in-depth knowledge of the industries and
applications involved. This expertise is held in the highly focused and
experienced applications team, which consists of a Central
Applications Group supported by a regional network of Applications
Specialists. Proprietary software is used to define pumping
requirements and a suite of optional accessories or modules are
available. For larger or more unusual applications a custom
engineering service is available.
Solutions could cover:
- Process design
- Equipment selection
- Safety and Operating Parameters
- Integration with plant control system(s)
- Commissioning advice and more...
Contact your local office to request an initial discussion with an
Applications Specialist. Typically, discussions will include gases /
materials to be pumped, cycle times and duty pressures, system
capacities, control systems, utilities, system footprint and all other
aspects of the vacuum system to ensure that we are able to offer the
most effective solution for your application.
Modular & Custom Accessories
Accessory modules allow systems
to be produced that address customer requirements without
impacting on system lead times and allow a highly flexible approach
to solutions engineering.
Accessory modules offered include:
Gas Purges
Gas purge can be nitrogen, CDA (Clean Dry Air) or
atmospheric air. They are used to protect seals, clean/blow through
dust and particulates, cooling the gas load, etc. Options available are
shown below and all are available with a control panel.
- Shaft seal purge
- Gas ballast purge
- Exhaust purge
- Atmospheric purge
- High flow air purge (see filtration)
Utilities Control Panel
Water and gas may be monitored and
controlled by the addition of a gas panel. The panel also allows full
integration with supervisory control systems.
GV/GVM Temperature Control
The pumps are supplied as directly
cooled as standard but, where poor quality cooling water is available
or increased temperature control is required, an indirect cooling
system can be specified. This module uses an external heat
exchanger and an adjustable TCV (Temperature Control Valve) to set
operating temperature. Options are:
- Direct cooled -pump only
- Direct cooled -pump and booster
- Indirectly cooled -pump only
- Indirectly cooled pump, directly cooled booster
All of the above options are available with a control panel.
- Air blast cooling may be specified and sized to suit the system heat load
IDX Temperature Control
These pumps are supplied with indirect
cooling as standard fitting.
Mechanical Boosters
Addition of a booster provides increased
pumping speed & improved ultimate. The GV and GVM ranges are
available with EH hydro-kinetically driven boosters and Stokes 6"
series direct drive mechanical boosters directly mounted onto the
pump. The pumps are also suitable for backing larger boosters, such
as Edwards HV range.
Boosters are available with:
- Cooling options
- Rotation & pressure sensors
- Variable speed drives
- By-pass valve technology for shortened pump down times
Acoustics
Silencers reduce pulsations in the exhaust and hence
noise in the exhaust line.
They also act as a dust trap and can accumulate condensates. All
silencers are drainable and for high dust loads, a cleanable unit is
available. This allows the silencer to be cleaned without breaking the
process line. Enclosures are lined by foam panels with absorbance
frequencies that match the pumping system and reduce system noise
by >5dB(A).
- Silencers - stainless steel, drainable
- Silencer - stainless or mild steel, cleanable and drainable
- Full system enclosures
Filtration
Many industrial processes produce large quantities of dust
of varying particle size that may also be wet, pyrophoric or corrosive.
Edwards recommend that the main dust load is removed before the
inlet of the pump and offer the following:
- ITF filters for dry dust
- ITM filters for wet dust or backing diffusion pumps
- High flow air purge (700 mbar) to blow dust build up though the
pump as required
Local Control Panels
For all systems supplied by Edwards a range of
control panels are available. They vary in sophistication and are
designed to offer basic control through to complete plc-based control.