The medical vacuum station provides the required vacuum mode and the planned vacuum flow. It can consist of 1, 2, 3, and sometimes 4 pumps, a control unit, a receiver and filter elements. It must comply with international standards. The use of such equipment makes it possible to carry out operations, intensive care and resuscitation. It can also be used in dentistry and industry.
Features of medical vacuum
A medical vacuum is needed for surgeries and other complex manipulations. Such units are used to remove blood and secretions and drain cavities. Operating rooms and intensive care units are equipped with such stations; this specific equipment ensures the life of the patient. Only a high-quality station is able to satisfy the needs of a medical institution.
The unit for this purpose is rather large, it consists of a large number of separate devices that interact with each other and give the desired result. Each component performs a specific task, therefore, the health station’s performance depends on the functioning of absolutely all components.
Vacuum station design
The standard vacuum station includes:
- Two or three pumps, one, two, three flap-type;
- Collector of vacuum, which the pumps are connected to;
- Purification filters – carry out purification from emissions and blown air;
- Vacuum receiver, its capacity depends on the performance of the pumps;
- Vacuum gauges and digital gauges for more convenient operation;
- Vacuum meters;
- Check and sectional valves;
- Control block. Its application helps to switch compressors and monitor their performance;
- Remote signaling.
There are certain installation features, such a station is installed separately from the compressor room. The vents are discharged into a room where there are no medical personnel. Equipping each such station with high-efficiency filters and collectors for drainage is of great importance.
The principle of equipment operation
You should carefully consider the principle of operation of the unit. Its main task is to distribute the flows of the honey vacuum, supply or pump out oxygen from pre-purified, compressed air, nitrogen impurities, carbon mixtures, nitrous oxide. An absolutely suitable system for a medical institution is completed with a central vacuum station and additional units in the amount required for a particular hospital.
You should understand that the air that is emitted by the pump is polluted, so its multi-stage cleaning is of great importance. Antibacterial filters are used for this. Piston compressors are often used in the station configuration, they compress air as a result of the translational movements of the piston, and are pumped by a screw. The latter showed high productivity and high processability.
Another important component of the station is the receiver. Its inclusion in the system is necessary because the receiver smoothes the air. The receiver can be composed of 1 or 2 motors. It differs in volume, and the selection of this indicator depends on the outlet pressure and the compressor used.
Types of pumps for vacuum stations
One of the essential components of any medical station is the pump. Modern stations can use:
- Oil-free vacuum;
- Rotary vane oil;
- Liquid ring vacuum pumps.
Liquid ring vacuum pumps are chosen for medical stations be-cause they have high pumping speed, low power consumption, and high productivity. Also, their design is extremely simple, and they are convenient in use and maintenance. Liquid ring vacuum pumps are manufactured from carbon, stainless steel, cast iron, titanium and other alloys. An important condition is the strength and durability of the material, the ability to withstand strong pressure. Their peculiarity is the ability to pump out aggressive and fire-resistant gases, including chemical and gaseous ones.
Oil-free vane pumps operate without oil to achieve the required vacuum parameters. Due to this, the vacuum at the outlet is quite clean, you need a minimum number of filters. The drive comes directly from the motor, they are single-stage, air cooling. Such pumps have a rotor that does not require lubrication, it works both for suction and for compressing air. In such a pump, a system with elastic bearings is provided, due to which vibrations are eliminated.
In oil pumps, lubricant circulates for normal operation, the drive also comes directly from the motor, air cooling. Due to the presence of an oil component for lubricating the moving parts, the vacuum contains oil mist, therefore it is important to equip the system with such pumps with the required number of filters. In this case, the concentration of oil in the air is absolutely negligible.
Technical parameters of stations
Many manufacturers offer 2 or 3 pump models. Their technical characteristics are more dependent on the number of pumps and depend. So stations with two pumps can have the following parameters:
- Productivity from 2 * 16, that is, each pump provides a pumping capacity of 16 m3 / h. The maximum indicator is 2 * 244 cubic meters / h;
- Power consumption also for each pump – from 2 * 0.55 to 2 * 5.5 kV;
- The volume of the receiver is 250-1000l.
The productivity and power of models with three pumps are much higher:
- Productivity from 3 * 25 to 3 * 244 cubic meters / hour;
- Power consumption from 3 * 0.75 to 3 * 5.5 kW;
- The receiver can have a capacity from 250 to 1500 liters.
The parameters are approximately the same for both oil and oil-free pumps. The only thing is that in oil pumps the power consumption is higher and reaches 7.8 kW per pump.
Popular medical vacuum stations
The demand for such equipment is quite high, so not all manufacturers of vacuum equipment produce them. E-Series vacuum pumps – models E-28 / E / 28K – are widely used.
28 / 28K VDC modes are used for pumping blood, secretions, drainage. They are applicable in operating rooms, intensive care units, intensive care units, emergency care, dentistry. There are versions with 2 and 3 rotary vane, oil-type air-cooled pumps.