OMB Valves s.p.a.

con Socio Unico

Via Europa, 7 24069 Cenate Sotto (BG) - Italy Ph +39 035 4256711 Fx +39 035 942638 e-mail info@ombvalves.com

TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Forged Steel Valves: Vacuum service

TB/61- rev.0 WEB

Vacuum Service Definition of Vacuum

Vacuum quality is subdivided into ranges according to the technology required to achieve it or measure it. These ranges do not have universally agreed definitions, but a typical distribution is as follows: pressure (Torr) Atmospheric Pressure Low vacuum Medium vacuum High vacuum Ultra high vacuum Extremely high vacuum Outer Space Perfect vacuum 760 760 to 25 25 to 1103 1103 to 1109 1109 to 11012 <11012 1106 to <31017 0 pressure (Pa) 1.01310+5 110+5 to 310+3 310+3 to 1101 1101 to 1107 1107 to 11010 <11010 1104 to <310-15 0

Atmospheric pressure is variable but standardized at 101.325 kPa (760 Torr) Low vacuum, also called rough vacuum or coarse vacuum, is vacuum that can be achieved or measured with rudimentary equipment such as a vacuum cleaner and a liquid column manometer. Medium vacuum is vacuum that can be achieved with a single pump, but the pressure is too low to measure with a liquid or mechanical manometer. It can be measured with a McLeod gauge, thermal gauge or a capacitive gauge. High vacuum is vacuum where the MFP of residual gases is longer than the size of the chamber or of the object under test. High vacuum usually requires multi-stage pumping and ion gauge measurement. Some texts differentiate between high vacuum and very high vacuum. Ultra high vacuum requires baking the chamber to remove trace gases, and other special procedures. British and German standards define ultra high vacuum as pressures below 106 Pa (108 Torr). Outer space is generally much more empty than any artificial vacuum. It may or may not meet the definition of high vacuum above, depending on what region of space and astronomical bodies are being considered. For example, the MFP of interplanetary space is smaller than the size of the solar system, but larger than small planets and moons. As a result, solar winds exhibit continuum flow on the scale of the solar system, but must be considered as a bombardment of particles with respect to the Earth and Moon. Perfect vacuum is an ideal state of no particles at all. It cannot be achieved in a laboratory, although there may be small volumes which, for a brief moment, happen to have no particles of matter in them. Even if all particles of matter were removed, there would still be photons and gravitons, as well as dark energy, virtual particles, and other aspects of the quantum vacuum.

1 0 REV.
Mod. 002/1

06/05/2013 Revision with def of Vacuum 02/05/2004 First issue DATE DESCRIPTION

SB SB ISSUED

VL DB CHECKED

LG LG APPROVED
Page 1/2

OMB Valves s.p.a. con Socio Unico

Via Europa, 7 24069 Cenate Sotto (BG) - Italy Ph +39 035 4256711 Fx +39 035 942638 e-mail info@ombvalves.com

TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Forged Steel Valves: Vacuum service

TB/61- rev.0 WEB

OMB offer alternatives option for valves in Vacuum Service according to the various requirements received from customers: we have seen specification requiring a simple declaration while other required specific tests protocols. 1- Standard OMB valves can be declared Suitable for Vacuum service provided:

Special packing (Armaseal 312 or similar) is applied Valve requires no production or prototype test Declaration is limited to Low Vacuum at 3000 Pa / Pa 1x 10+3 - 30 mbar - Bar 1x10-2 No test is required Valves will not be supplied dry nor in sealed plastic bags
Extra cost applicable

Armaseal packing- according to the price sheet

2-Special valves with LANTERN RING can be supplied for high Vacuum service:

Valves design with LANTERN RING Limited to Medium Vacuum at 0.1 Pa / Pa 1x 10-1 1x10-3 mbar - Pa 1x 10-1 - Bar 1x10-6. Test is optional Valves will be supplied dry in sealed plastic bags with silica gel Lantern Ring- according to the price sheet Extra cost for test Test up to 10 min Extra cost for drying and plastic bag

Extra cost applicable

3 -BELLOWS SEALS valves are standard for any high Vacuum service:

Valves design with BELLOW SEAL Limited to High Vacuum at 1x10-7 Pa - 1x10-9 mbar - Bar 1x10-12. Test: no hydraulic test but only gas test at high pressure (deviation from std spec)
(Justification: in case of hydraulic test valve drying is difficult as water enters in the bellows spires)

Valves will be supplied dry in sealed plastic bags with silica gel
Extra cost applicable

Bellows Seal - according to the price sheet Extra cost for test Test up to 10 min Extra cost for drying and plastic bag

1 0 REV.
Mod. 002/1

06/05/2013 Revision with def of Vacuum 02/05/2004 First issue DATE DESCRIPTION

SB SB ISSUED

VL DB CHECKED

LG LG APPROVED
Page 2/2