Dry Pump operates on as little as 3.9 kW input power.
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Press Release Summary:
Featuring optimized thermal control and dust handling capability, GXS Dry Pump supports pumping requirements for silicon ingot manufacturing and laminator applications in solar industry. Tapered variable pitch screw profile allows for tight clearances without need for rotor coatings and enables compression variations along rotor axis. Measuring 0.4 x 1.1 x 0.8 m, pump produces less than 64 db(A) noise and users inert, non-oxidizing oil to lubricate gears and bearings.
Original Press Release:
Edwards Announces New Dry Pump for Solar Crystal Puller and Laminator Applications
Fast pump down times improve process throughput, while optimized thermal stability and control address key process challenges
CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX, U.K. - Edwards, a leading global supplier of vacuum and abatement equipment and services, today introduced a new GXS dry pump designed to support pumping requirements for silicon ingot manufacturing and laminator applications in the solar industry. The GXS provides the optimized thermal control and dust handling capability needed to meet the pumping challenges encountered in these processes. The high atmospheric pumping speed capability of the GXS also enables faster chamber pump down, reducing cycle times and improving throughput.
"This new GXS dry pump has been optimized to meet the specific pumping process requirements for solar laminator and crystal pulling applications," said Dr. Allister Watson, solar and flat panel display dry pump product manager at Edwards. "Its closed-loop thermal management system ensures the pump remains at the optimal temperature to prevent pump seize-ups, due to either glue condensation in laminator applications or overheating when pumping high concentrations of argon during crystal pulling applications. At the same time, its fast pump down time, low utility consumption and reduced maintenance all contribute to a low cost of ownership."
The new GXS uses a tapered variable pitch screw profile (patent pending) that allows for tight clearances without the need for rotor coatings. It also enables compression variations along the rotor axis for improved thermal stability and better thermal control, making it an optimal pump to handle the high flows of argon gas used in crystal pulling applications, as well as the dust generated during the manufacturing process.
The GXS dry pump can operate on as little as 3.9 kW of input power (depending on the pump version) and uses 57 percent less energy than competing piston pumps. The high efficiency motors are inverter driven and enable reduced energy by running in idle mode, allowing further cost of ownership savings.
Inert, non oxidizing oil is used to lubricate the gears and bearings of the pump with no maintenance required between major services (unlike grease packed bearings). No oil within the pumping mechanism means no need for frequent and costly oil changes, unlike oil sealed rotary vane pumps.
A small footprint (approx. 0.4m W x 1.1m L x 0.8m H), less than 50 percent of competing pumps, saves valuable production space, while the low noise (<64 db(A)) eliminates the need for silencers and allows pumps to be located close to customers' chambers, if required. The GXS pump is compatible with Edwards Fabworks data monitoring system so that pump parameters can be monitored and trended in real-time via a central computer.
For further information about Edwards products please visit www.edwardsvacuum.com.
About Edwards
Edwards is a leading global technology company supplying vacuum and abatement equipment for the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells and is also a leader in vacuum technology for industrial, scientific, process and R&D applications. The company employs approximately 3,000 people worldwide and has its headquarters in Crawley, UK. Edwards created the concept of the low-maintenance, cost-effective, commercial oil-free 'dry' vacuum pump and offers a wide range of other pumping technologies, and related products, supported by an international sales and service organisation. For more information, please visit www.edwardsvacuum.com.
