Vacuum pipe lifter The fast and safe way for handling pipes.
Vacuum pipe lifting is simple and effective for moving loads. Building up vacuum in a space is simply moving the air out. Normal air pressure is 1 atmospheric bar. Removing this pressure gives a sucking force (suction) of 1 bar. 1 bar is also 10 N/cm2 or 1kg/cm2. When the area inside a suction pads seal is 1m2 and the pressure difference between this area and the outer air is 1 bar you can lift with 10.000Kg this suction pad. Please keep in mind that you will need to have a safety factor of at least 2 and that your vacuum pipe lifter might already work above 0,8 bar. Now you can lift 10000x0,8/2=4.000Kg.
The Vacuum pipe lifters job is to build up this vacuum and control it. The lifting beam of most vacuum pipe lifters is also a vacuum tank. Without a vacuum tank the vacuum pump would need to pump all of the air between the pipe and the suction pad after placing it on the pipe, this could take more than 30 seconds. Inside or on the beam of the vacuum pipe lifter is a pump, engine, vacuum valve with filters and a (remote) control box.
There are 2 types of vacuum pumps used a vacuum pipe lifter, dry vacuum pumps and oil vacuum pumps. The dry vacuum pumps have the advantage of not having to change the oil every few months. The disadvantage of this pump is that it cannot create a vacuum pressure as high as the oil type. The oil vacuum pumps have a longer life, higher pressures can be reached and they pump air more efficiently to reach its maximum vacuum (approximately 0,98 bar) faster.
Another Important part of the vacuum pipe lifter is the vacuum valve. This valve has vacuum filter to keep dust out of its moving parts and out of the vacuum pump. Again, there are 2 types of valves used in vacuum pipe lifting, a bi-stable valves and servo valves. Servo valves are low in price and do their job. This valve will need vacuum to change position, at start-up in the morning the operator will need to start the vacuum pump first and then block the vacuum hole in the suction pad before he can close the valve. Also, when the power is lost the valve will shoot back to its open position and release the load. Bi-stable valves are more expensive but can change position with or without vacuum. It will remain in its position when there is a power failure. The Bi-stable valve is the safes for your vacuum lifter.
Hanging under the vacuum pipe lifter is a suction pad. The suction pad has a rubber seal on the outside to close out air from the inside. It is very important that this seal is always in good condition, if damaged a short section can be replaced. With some vacuum pipe lifters you can turn the seal around and use it again other have damaged the seal too much to be able to do this. A good operator can do thousands of lifts with the vacuum pipe lifter without having to replace the seal. If you need to lift more than one diameter pipes, for instance 20 and 22 inch pipes. You can do this with one suction pad if the pad is long and does not cover a large part of the diameter. A pad cannot fit more than one size pipe if it is short and covers a large part of the diameter.
Vacuum pipe lifter, the right tool for your pipeline.