Deformations of Working Elements in Oil Free Scroll Vacuum Pumps

The mechanical and thermal causes of deformations of the orbiting and the fixed elements of oil free vacuum pumps are considered. Basic data for deformation calculation are geometric dimensions of the pump and dependence of working chamber volume on the orbiting scroll element rotation angle. Gas temperature and pressure values in each vacuum pump chamber are obtained with the help of a working process mathematical model. Deformation calculation is carried out by the finite element method realized in the software ANSYS. It is shown that deformations caused by pressure‐induced mechanical forces do not have considerable influence on the change of radial clearances between the scrolls. They may not be taken into account for pumping characteristics calculation. Thermal‐induced deformations are much greater, and the change of the clearances due to this cause may be 25 % and even larger.