Vapour Booster Pump Oils

What are vapour booster pumps?

Vapour booster pumps consist of a diffusion pump combined with an ejector-jet in one unit. This allows gases to be rapidly evacuated from a large area which is important in applications such as the vacuum furnaces used in metallurgy.

The oil used inside these pumps must have properties matched specifically to the vapour booster pump in order to achieve the optimum boiler temperature and maximise heater life. The oil must also be robust due to the high temperatures and gasses involved.

Which Apiezon products should be used as vapour booster pump oils?

Apiezon AP201 is the leading brand of vapour booster pump oils and should not be confused with lower quality ‘201’ copies. Manufactured by M&I Materials Ltd, AP201 is superior to other fluids because it delivers faster pump down-times, longer service life, easier maintenance and reduced top ups. It has been widely acknowledged that AP201 is the most reliable and cost effective product on the market.

In order to give the fast pump down-times required on industrial systems, booster pumps must achieve a high pumping speed. Apiezon AP201 has been specially formulated to achieve these speeds. It also has a high critical backing pressure that allows the pump to be switched on sooner, thus minimising pump down-time.

Unlike other lower quality oils, AP201 is specially formulated to be highly resistant to oxidation. This prevents an increase in viscosity and build-up of tarry deposits on the booster pump vanes and jets. Consequently, the life of the oil is extended and the time needed to drain and clean the system during maintenance is reduced.

Further testimony to its exceptional quality is the fact that vapour booster pump manufacturers specify Apiezon AP201 and their warranties can be invalidated by the use of any other fluid.