General Operation; How The Vacuum System Works - BeaconMedaes Lifeline Camel Installation, Operation And Maintenance Manual

"Camel" Liquid Ring Medical Vacuum

3. General Operation

3.1 How the Vacuum System Works (See Figures 3-1-1 & 3-1-2)
The BeaconMedæs "Camel" Liquid Ring Medical Vacuum System works basically like other vacuum systems with
the air from the system piping (vacuum system inlet) being drawn through the vacuum control tank, then through
the inlet check valve, and finally into the inlet of the vacuum pump. The air is then discharged into the "Camel"
reservoir tank, which is vented to the atmosphere (air discharge).
The BeaconMedæs "Camel" vacuum system is unique because it uses water instead of pistons, screws, etc., to
compress the air in the vacuum pump and to produce a vacuum in the inlet lines. The water is also used to seal the
internal clearances, absorb the heat of compression as well as scrub the air of impurities.
The path of the water goes through a dielectric union, anti-siphon valve, strainer, solenoid valve, and flow control
valve, before it enters the vacuum pump. The water then enters the pump and combines with a spinning rotor to
compress the air creating a vacuum. The vacuum pump discharges both the air and the water into a specially
designed muffler/baffle system located inside the Camel water reservoir. The water is then reclaimed by the
reservoir while the air is discharged to the atmosphere via the vent line.
The BeaconMedæs system is a package consisting of a direct driven pump and motor combination supported by a
series of components which enable the system to run automatically without operator attention.
The system includes four functional groups of components:
a. Vacuum Inlet Line
b. Water Supply Line
c. Air Discharge Line
d. Camel Reservoir Tank
3.1.1 Vacuum Inlet Line
The vacuum inlet line is connected to the receiver with a 3-valve bypass, which allows for receiver isolation and
service without shutting down the vacuum system. The vacuum inlet line continues to the vacuum pump(s) through
an isolation valve and check valve. The check valve is used to isolate the vacuum pump from the system when the
vacuum pump is stopped.
3.1.2 Water Supply Line
The water supply line includes an anti-siphon valve, strainer, solenoid valve, flow control valve and dielectric
fitting. The anti-siphon valve is used to prevent back-siphoning of the seal water from the vacuum pump into the
water supply. The strainer is used to catch any pipe scale or foreign matter in the water line that might harm the
vacuum pump. The solenoid valve turns on the water supply when the vacuum pump runs. The flow control valve
regulates the flow to a specific gpm rate as required by the vacuum pump (See Section 1.5.2). The dielectric fitting
helps to isolate the vacuum system electrically from the water supply to prevent galvanic corrosion in the vacuum
pump.
3.1.3 Air Discharge Line
The air and water is discharged into the Camel reservoir through a specially designed muffler/baffle system. The
water is retained in the Camel reservoir and the air is discharged to atmosphere via the vent line. (See Section 1.5.4
for correct exhaust piping sizes)
The vacuum exhaust vent must be located away from medical air intakes, doors and
openings in the buildings to minimize possible contamination to the facility, in
WARNING:
accordance with NFPA 99.
3-1
Medical Systems