Extending life cycles of vacuum pumps used in manufacturing processes

Abstract

An abatement system with liquid-ring pump maintains an exhaust line at a negative pressure during operation of a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump operates to exhaust process gas and by-products from a process chamber through a foreline. The vacuum pump exhausts the process gas to the abatement system with liquid-ring pump through the exhaust line. The overall life of the vacuum pump is increased significantly because the exhaust line is maintained at a negative pressure which reduces precipitation of gases in the vacuum pump thereby reducing by-product accumulation and damage to the vacuum pump. The liquid-ring pump receives the exhaust process gas from the vacuum pump and outputs gas to a burn chamber and liquid to a recirculation tank. Liquid is recycled through the liquid-ring pump thereby reducing accumulation of precipitated gas and by-product. The overall life of the liquid-ring pump and vacuum pump are increased.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.