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Technical Information
Pressurization Hazards
Large vacuum pumps and their components are designed for vacuum service. They
are not designed for pressurization, which could cause them to burst possibly
expelling shrapnel at lethal velocities. Serious accidents have been caused by
intentional pressurization of vacuum systems and their components.
Never pressurize any part of a vacuum system for test or any other purpose.
Always provide pressure relief when designing diffusion pumps into systems
and ensure that pressure relief motion is limited to safe envelopes.
Never permit the hazards in the following table to develop.
Table 3
Hazard
Do not block inlet or vent of liquid nitrogen trap
and lines
Do not close isolation valves at inlet and
discharge of main water cooling coils when
pump is heated
Do not pressurize the pump body (above 1 atm.) Body of pump bursts
Do not make a hole through the vacuum wall
Pressure Relief Devices: Systems must be designed with pressure relief
devices to provide safe pressure relief from internal explosions. Always
recognize that safety devices can fail or malfunction. Provide redundant
protection by installing devices having different failure modes, failure
mechanisms, and failure causes. Be certain that exhaust duct materials are
capable of withstanding the corrosiveness, temperature, and pressure of
exhausted products.
20
Pressurization Hazards
Suggested Corrective Action
LN
trap and/or lines burst
2
Water turns to steam and bursts coils
Loss of structural integrity of wall
High Throughput Diffusion Pumps User Manual
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