PUMP START UP CONTROL

Abstract

A rotary vane vacuum pump (1) and method for evacuating a vacuum chamber (2) are disclosed. The rotary vane vacuum pump comprises: an inlet (3) for connection to the vacuum chamber (2) and an outlet (4) for exhausting fluid pumped by the vacuum pump; a rotor (6) and a motor (13) for driving the rotor. The pump has a venting channel (7) for venting one of the pumping chambers within the vacuum pump. The venting channel (7) has a flow control device for controlling flow through the venting channel. The flow control device is configured to allow flow through the venting channel at start up of the pump and to impede flow through the venting channel in response to at least one of: a predetermined time elapsing, a speed of rotation of the rotor reaching a predetermined threshold value, a motor current reaching a predetermined value and an output from a sensor, the output from the sensor being indicative of operation of the vacuum pump.

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