The general working environment of Hilin miniature gas pump is 0-50℃, and the medium temperature is 0-50℃. The pumped gas is allowed to be rich in water vapor, but not particulate matter. In response to customer needs, we hope that they can be used in low-temperature environments. Our company has launched some air pumps that can be customized to operate in low-temperature environments at -30℃-0℃.

In order to solve customers’ usage problems in low-temperature environments, our company has launched customized low-temperature environment models with built-in electric heaters.

Difficulties of the problem

1. The impact of low temperature environment on electronic components

Electronic components have different operating temperatures. The cost of electronic components differs greatly between civilian standards and industrial and military standards. This is largely because industrial and military products have a wider temperature range than consumer electronics. In micro diaphragm pumps, the electronic devices that are mainly affected by temperature include MCU microcontrollers, motor drive MOS tubes and other devices, as well as common resistors and capacitors, and other electronic components.

2. The impact of low temperature environment on mechanical components such as bearings

The miniature gas pump uses a motor to drive the diaphragm to reciprocate to transmit fluid. There are mechanical parts such as bearings inside. The lubricating oil of the mechanical parts may solidify and crystallize at low temperatures, affecting the movement of the mechanical parts.

3. The influence of low temperature environment on the performance of elastomers

The rubber diaphragm and rubber one-way valve inside the miniature gas pump are important components. Their elastic deformation allows the fluid to be transported. At low temperatures, the rubber structure and performance will undergo certain changes, such as vitrification or crystallization, which will affect the rubber performance and life.

4. The impact of low temperature environment on lifespan

Due to increased mechanical wear, changes in rubber properties and greater operating loads at low temperatures, it is generally detrimental to the life of the product. With the help of devices and materials with higher low temperature reliability, longer service life can be achieved. Stable operation, but the overall product life is still lower than that of products operating at room temperature.

Solutions

1. When using devices that have been verified by low-temperature experiments, such as motors and their drive circuits, low-temperature placement experiments and low-temperature operation tests are required to ensure operation at a certain temperature. The rubber materials used need to be materials with higher low-temperature properties. For example, the low-temperature working temperature of the EPDM ethylene propylene diene rubber used by our company is -40 degrees.

2. Use heating circuits to heat key components

By installing a self-developed heating circuit board in the miniature gas pump cavity, the diaphragm, bearings, and motor front-end bearings are insulated and heated, so that the temperature of the key components of the miniature gas pump is higher than the ambient temperature before starting, thereby reducing the starting load and low temperature. The impact on the energy of the product can very effectively improve the working performance of the micropump at low temperatures, achieving the purpose of reliable start-up and reliable operation at low temperatures.

Operating requirements

The heater can only be powered on when the miniature gas pump is in a low temperature environment (below minus 10°C).

Before starting the miniature gas pump, the heater should be turned on to preheat for at least 20 minutes, and then the miniature gas pump should be powered on.

A miniature gas pump that is not preheated may not work or even be damaged.

When the temperature is lower, the preheating time can be appropriately extended. The lowest ambient temperature where the pump is located should not be lower than minus 40°C.

When the miniature gas pump starts successfully and works normally, the heater can be powered intermittently to reduce power consumption.

When the pump is in a non-low temperature environment (above minus 10°C), it is prohibited to turn on the heater power, otherwise the miniature gas pump may be damaged due to excessive temperature.

How to operate at lower ambient temperatures?

Some customers may use the miniature gas pump at a lower ambient temperature. How to ensure the normal operation of the pump? Generally, we recommend that customers perform additional insulation on the air pump, and try to avoid the low temperature of the gas entering the pump, which will reduce the toughness or damage the air pump diaphragm.

Models introduction

Miniature gas pump D17 series:

Low power consumption, small size (68×29×36mm), high air tightness, and can operate continuously under heavy load;

The relative vacuum degree reaches -36kPa, and the output pressure reaches 45kPa;

The no-load average flow rate can reach 0.6L/min (soap film flow meter test data).

Actual measurement can achieve start-up and stable operation at -20 degrees, but the service life of long-term low-temperature operation will be lower than that of products at standard temperatures.

Miniature gas pump D25 series :

Low power consumption, small size, high air tightness;

Can operate continuously with heavy load and can be powered with wide voltage;

The relative vacuum degree reaches -27kPa, and the output pressure reaches 28kPa;

The no-load average flow rate can reach 2.4L/min (soap film flow meter test data).

Actual measurement can achieve start-up and stable operation at -20 degrees, but the service life of long-term low-temperature operation will be lower than that of products at standard temperatures.

Miniature gas pump D35 series:

Can be used for positive and negative pressure, multiple voltages are available, the brushless motor has a long life and can operate continuously under heavy loads;

Multiple diaphragm material options, multiple gas nozzle connector options, modular and customizable, meeting various flow and positive and negative pressure requirements within 8L, -50kPa vacuum, and 130kPa positive pressure.

Actual measurement can achieve start-up and stable operation at -20 degrees, but the service life of long-term low-temperature operation will be lower than that of products at standard temperatures.

Miniature gas pump D15 series:

It designed for low-energy applications such as battery power supply. It can operate at a voltage of 2-5V and can achieve a high flow rate of 0.6LPM at an ultra-low operating power consumption of [email protected] model equip with a heater which can start and operate stably and reliably in low-temperature environments as low as -20°C