The power available for use in your facility plays a significant role in determining the type of industrial vacuum system that will best suit your needs. Unfortunately, this isn't a 'plug and play' (or 'plug and vacuum') situation. If you try to run a vacuum that's too powerful for your facility, you risk overloading the electrical system. But run a vacuum that's too weak, and you won't be able to pick up the product you're attempting to collect. Below, we'll break down the key differences between single-phase and three-phase industrial vacuums, as well as the advantages of electric versus pneumatic systems.
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You don't need to be an electrician or engineer to understand the vital role power plays in vacuum usage!
This is why the topic matters so much:
Ultimately, your facility's available power is a limiting factor when it comes to the performance of an industrial vacuum system. Let's take a look at how you can make sure you're choosing a vacuum that fits your environment while meeting your needs.
Before we dive into the different types of power, let's touch on a few key terms:
Single Phase
Single-phase power is widely available in the U.S. Our country uses 115V single phase, which means that the maximum amp draw is 20 amps. That's about 2.25kW, or 3 HP, coming out of your average household outlet.
The drawback with single-phase power, however, is that it does limit performance. In Europe, outlets use 230V single phase, which doubles what we can do here. But we all have to work with what we have, so be sure to find out the type of power available in your facility before starting to evaluate your options.
Single-phase industrial vacuum systems are ideal for noncontinuous or intermittent use. They're sturdy, yet compact, allowing you to tackle both dust and liquids. If you're planning to keep your system running at all times, however, you'll need a three-phase system.
Three Phase
To get to 230V in the U.S., we switch to three-phase power. Why? Because three-phase power allows us to run less voltage through each wire, dropping heat transfer and accommodating higher loads. If you need a system that can be run continuously or used for heavy-duty tasks, choose a three-phase industrial vacuum system.
At Delfin, we recommend choosing a system that functions at around 8 to 10 HP'anything above that has to go to 460V. For 230V, the cutoff is 30 amps or 7.5kW. If you try to operate a machine that requires more power, your wires will get very hot, and you'll run into some pretty staggering problems'including electrical failures, fires, and even explosions.
With the differences between single-phase and three-phase power in mind, let's turn to the factors that can help us make the decision between the two: airflow and pressure.
CFM vs. Water Lift
Airflow is also described as CFM, or cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of how much air a vacuum motor can actually move. Water lift, on the other hand, measures pressure, or the lifting/suction force of the vacuum system. The term mentions water because it's traditionally calculated by measuring how high (in inches) a vacuum can lift water in a standard column.
These key qualities are determined by:
All of those factors combined will tell us the required airflow and pressure that you'll need in an industrial vacuum system. And those two figures, in turn, allow us to determine how many kilowatts (or how much horsepower) are needed to efficiently achieve that goal.
It's important to note that a higher horsepower doesn't necessarily mean that you're getting more airflow and pressure; CFM and water lift are actually inversely related! You could have a 5-horsepower unit that creates more airflow'or more pressure. This is accomplished by using the same motor with a different blower. One machine is designed to capture light products with speed, while the other will pick up very heavy products.
There's one more option to consider'one that doesn't involve single-phase or three-phase industrial vacuums. Let's talk about compressed air vacuums.
This kind of vacuum system is ideal for use in places where electricity isn't available or can't be used. Instead of using electricity to generate suction, compressed air vacuums use a Venturi system. Essentially, they take positive pressured air and force it from a large chamber into a smaller area. This speeds the air up, because you're pushing the same volume through a smaller space. The air compresses and is chambered off, creating an empty space behind it that needs to be filled'in other words, a powerful vacuum.
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Most industrial facilities have both single and three-phase power available, but that's not enough'you also need to make sure it's accessible in the locations where you intend to use your industrial vacuum system. If the use of electricity isn't possible or advisable in a certain location, you'll want to opt for a system powered by compressed air. Here are the pros and cons of each option.
Electric Vacuums
Electricity is typically widely available in industrial facilities. As a result, electric vacuums are a common choice. Not only are they more energy-efficient than air-powered systems, but they also have a wider range of performance capabilities.
Sounds ideal, doesn't it? However, electric vacuums must also comply with federal electric codes. If you choose a system that isn't appropriate for your facility, your company could face a hefty fine. Electric industrial vacuums also have a high number of moving parts and, accordingly, a limited lifespan.
Air-Powered Vacuums
Pneumatic vacuums have no moving parts and no ignition sources, making them ideal for use in hazardous environments. But there's also a high energy cost for running a compressor, and most pneumatic vacuums also require a certain pressure and volume of air to function properly. But in the right environment, compressed air vacuums provide excellent pressure with significant flow'perfect for picking up heavy products.
When it comes to pneumatic vacuum systems, your first question should always be, is there enough air available for this machine to run? Your next question should center on how efficient this kind of system might be in your facility. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent machines on the market.
Delfin, for example, offers a multiple-jet venturi system that's incredibly energy efficient when compared to similar vacuums.
Now that you understand why it's so important to consider your facility's power, you can move on to the other key considerations that go into the purchase of an industrial vacuum system.
Be sure to ask yourself the following:
Delfin proudly supplies vacuums for any voltage worldwide. We also offer NFPA-compliant and ATEX-certified compressed air systems for use in hazardous environments.
One of the most common questions we get related to our Industrial Housekeeping products is how they compare to a standard electrically powered vacuum. Well, there is a reason we call our systems INDUSTRIAL Housekeeping products. They are designed and built with rough and tumble working conditions in mind! But let me expand on that!
There is a lot of 'wrong' equipment on the market. Let me ask you a simple question. If your facility has a compressed air system, why would you choose to use any equipment that does not optimize the air that you have, increase safety levels, reduce noise, and never break down? I hear story after story of broken down electric vacuums. Some of these, especially in today's world, take weeks or months to get parts to repair. Oh, wait ' to repair? Yeah, because the motors get clogged with the same dirt you are trying to clean out of your facility, the motor clogs and performs poorly or simply burns out all together. Filters fail, belts break ' sometimes we just have to face the fact that we made a bad decision and went with that undependable electric option.
Here are a few important features about our systems:
The Chip Vac vacuums directly into an open drum. This is primarily a dry vacuum. It is designed to pick up chips from fixtures, floors, lathes, saws, mills, and many other industrial equipment. When I say mostly dry, this will pick up wet chips ' but is not the best solution for puddles of liquid (we have other options for this). Designed to run at 80 PSIG. Comes in 5 gallon, 30 gallon, 55 gallon and 110 gallon options.
Whatever your dry vac needs are, one of these options will be perfect for you. Don't forget we have several wet options as well, but that is for another blog. Please give myself, or any of the application engineers a call today to discuss your Industrial Housekeeping needs.
Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer
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