IDP-7 dry scroll pump startup procedure

Question

Hello, I'm working with a new IDP-7 dry scroll pump and need to start it up tomorrow morning. The IDP-7 instruction manual states that to place the pump into use and ensure it achieves maximum vacuum that I should seal the inlet port and operate the pump for 24 h in this manner. We have the appropriate NW caps but the practice in our lab is not to run equipment overnight. Can anyone elaborate on a suitable alternative for breaking in this IDP-7 to ensure good results? Strictly speaking I also need to place this pump into operation tomorrow because my current scroll pump overheated on Saturday and I need to place the chamber this pump is connected to under vacuum tomorrow.7

seobrien · Accepted Answer

Hi Rick, 
 The manual states to run the pump 24 hours with the inlet blanked off in order to ensure the pump can reach the maximum rated pressure that it's designed for; <20 mTorr. This is to help pump away condensed water vapor from within the pump. 
 An alternative: you can open gas ballast 1 for a few hours, remove the plug and insert the sintered plug, or remove the removable insert from the plug. By letting a little gas in through the gas ballast you help to sweep out or purge the pump from condensed water. For further details on gas ballast, please refer to the 2 minute tutorial: 
 https://www.agilent.com/en/product/vacuum-technologies/dry-scroll-pumps/using-scroll-pump-gas-ballast 
 Before doing this, do you need the pump to be able to reach maximum specified pressure (<20 mTorr) tomorrow? What pressure do you need to operate at tomorrow? You may just be able to hook it up and run it. 
 -Sean

Rick_2 · Answer

Good morning Sean, 
 
 Thank you for your response. i will review the tutorial and plan to simply connect the pump to use it as if if time pressure indicates this. I can certainly try the gas ballast method to prevent the 24 h operation our lab does nopt like. 
 
 Rick

IDP-7 dry scroll pump startup procedure

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