www.sterlingfluidsystems.

com
Europe
www.sterlingfluidsystems.com/europe
Sterling Fluid Systems (Austria)
Wien
Telephone: +43 (0)1 680 00 50
Fax: +43 (0)1 680 0521
E-Mail: sales_austria@sterlingsihi.de

Sterling Fluid Systems (Belgium)

Groot-Bijgaarden
Telephone: +32 (0)2 481 7711
Fax: +32 (0)2 481 7737
E-Mail: sales@sterlingfluidsystems.be

Sterling Fluid Systems (Czech Republic)

Olomouc
Telephone: +420 (0) 68 551 6651
Fax: +420 (0) 68 551 6653
E-Mail: sterling@sterling.cz

Sterling Fluid Systems (France)

Trappes
Telephone: +33 (0)1 34 82 39 00
Fax: +33 (0)1 34 82 39 61
E-Mail: sterlingsihi@easynet.fr

Sterling SIHI (Germany)

Itzehoe
Telephone: +49 (0)4821 77101
Fax: +49 (0)4821 771274
E-Mail: sales@sterlingsihi.de

Sterling SAT
Lindenstrasse 170
D-25524 Itzehoe
Telelphone: +49 (0) 4821 77101
Fax: +49 (0) 4821 771501
E-Mail: sat@sterlingsat.com

Sterling Fluid Systems (Greece)

Athens
Telephone: +30 (0) 210 957 07 83
Fax: +30 (0) 210 956 81 21
E-Mail: sales_greece@sterlingsihi.de

Sterling Fluid Systems (Hungary)

Veszprm
Telephone: +36 (0)88 40 66 33
Fax: +36 (0)88 40 66 35
E-Mail: sales_hungary@sterlingsihi.de

Sterling Fluid Systems (Netherlands)

Beverwijk
Telephone: +31 (0)251 263 232
Fax: +31 (0)251 226 309
E-Mail: info@sihi.nl

Sterling Fluid Systems (Polska)

Warzawa
Telephone: +48 (0) 22 849 7097
Fax: +48 (0) 22 849 6726
E-Mail: sterling@sterling.pl

Sterling Fluid Systems (Schweiz)

Schaffhausen
Telephone: +41 (0)52 6440606
Fax: +41 (0)52 6440616
E-Mail: info@sterlingfluid.ch

Sterling Fluid Systems (Spain)

Madrid
Telephone: +34 91 709 1310
Fax: +34 91 715 9700
E-Mail: mibsa@stnet.es

Sterling Fluid Systems (Italy)

Cologno Monzese
Telephone.:+39 (0) 2 253 091
Fax: +39 (0) 2 253 092 59
E-Mail: sterlingitaly@sidro.it
Sterling Fluid Systems (Romania)
Bucuresti
Telephone: +40 (0) 21 610 7188
Fax: +40 (0) 21 210 8287
E-Mail: sales_romania@sterlingsihi.de

VACUUM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Sterling Fluid Systems (UK)

Altrincham/Cheshire
Telephone: +44 (0)161 9286371
Fax: +44 (0)161 9252129
E-Mail: uksales@sterlingfluid.com

Americas
www.sterlingfluidsystems.com/americas
Sterling Fluid Systems (Canada)
Guelph
Telephone: (1) 519 824 4600
Fax: (1) 519 824 7250
E-Mail: mail@sihi.com

Sterling Fluid Systems (USA)

Grand Island
Telephone: (1) 716 773 6450
Fax: (1) 716 773 2330
E-Mail:mail@sihi.com

Asia
www.sterlingfluidsystems.com/asia

17

Sterling Fluid Systems (Asia)

Singapore
Telephone: (65) 6863 0828
Fax: (65) 6863 0868
E-Mail: asia.marketing@sterlingasia.com

SIHI (Australia)
Bayswater
Telephone: (61) 3 9720 1500
Fax: (61) 3 9720 4076
E-Mail: sfsaus@ozemail.com.au

Sterling Fluid Systems (China)

Shanghai
Telephone: (8621) 6336 3488
Fax: (8621) 63268487
E-Mail: info.china@sterlingasia.com

Sterling Fluid Systems (Malaysia)

Selangor Darul Ehsan
Telephone: (60) 3 8070 0198
Fax: (60) 3 8070 0204
E-Mail:sfsmsia@tm.net.my

Sterling Fluid Systems (Philippines)

Muntinlupa City
Telephone: (63) 2 809 4908
Fax: (63) 2 807 2013
E-Mail: philippines@pacific.net.ph

Sterling Fluid Systems (Thailand)

Bangkok
Telephone: (66-2) 319 2567
Fax: (66-2) 319 2573/4
E-Mail:sfsthai@sterlingthai.co.th

STERLING FLUID SYSTEMS GROUP

www.sterlingfluidsystems.com

Vacuum Technology

THE PROVEN VACUUM SOLUTION

CUSTOMER SERVICE

The Sterling Fluid Systems Group specialises in Vacuum Technology,

Centrifugal Pumps, Filling and Testing Systems, Engineered Systems, Valves
and Service Support.

Sterling SIHI operates a global service network which attaches

considerable importance to complete service support for all
equipment supplied worldwide. This comprehensive product
support network provides a level of customer care unparalleled

The organisation supplies a broad range of engineered solutions targeted at

process and manufacturing industries, utilities and health care.

within the industry.

With a network of strategically located manufacturing centres and more than 150
service operations around the world, Sterling Fluid Systems is well positioned to
provide an extensive support network at global, regional and local levels.
For more than eighty years Sterling SIHI has maintained its position as a leading
supplier of innovative technologies in liquid ring vacuum pumps, liquid ring
compressors and vacuum boosting equipment such as ejectors and blowers.
For the process industries requiring consistent levels of clean vacuum, Sterling
SIHI has an established range of dry running pumps.

Working in Partnership
Our understanding of your application and process
requirements, enables us to provide the engineered
solution that is right for you.

Product
Development

Engineering

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
The application focused engineering teams of Sterling SIHI are
composed of engineers from various disciplines. Ongoing
strategic development as well as involvement with customers
specific process applications, ensure Sterling SIHI provides
the very latest systems technology.
Sterling SIHI also carries out conceptual design studies on
complex processing systems which include data analysis,
process simulation and site testing.

SYSTEM PACKAGING
The majority of components used in the engineered systems
Application
& Selection

are manufactured in-house, ensuring a high level of quality

control, as well as on time delivery. The manufacturing

Consultancy

centres are all certified to DIN ISO 9001. The selection, design
and construction of each system is undertaken by a dedicated
Design &
Construction
Spares
& Services

specialist team of engineers. This ensures full compliance with

customers specifications and with the relevant international
standards and regulations regarding manufacture, safety and
environmental protection.

Project
Management
Installation &
Commissioning

PARTNERSHIP WITH VISION

Inspection
& Testing

Manufacture
& Assembly

Working in partnership with our customers, we provide

solutions to meet the needs of today and the future.
Our understanding of application and process requirements
also means Sterling SIHI is able to provide cost effective and

More than 2200 employees throughout the Sterling Fluid Systems Group are
committed to research, design, manufacture, and support of products and
systems for industry.

reliable solutions.

Further information on the Sterling SIHI range of vacuum products is available

from your local sales office or www.sterlingfluidsystems.com

Markets

...and typical applications

Chemical

Pharmaceutical

Petrochemical

Food & Beverage

Healthcare

Marine

Power

Mining

Steel

Electronics

and many more.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

INDUSTRIES / MARKETS

Mineral water production plants

Product Transfer

Filling

Degassing

Distillation

The gases contained in natural mineral water are removed by

means of evacuation.

Brick manufacture
To improve the quality of the clay used in brick manufacture,
it is degassed before pressing.

Automobile manufacture

Evaporation

Filtration

Crystallisation

Drying & Freeze Drying

Deodorisation

Sterilisation

Liquid ring compressors are used to aerate the water, for

the oxidation process, and to effect a reverse flow through
the filters.

Packaging / Bottling

Sludge extraction vehicles

Boiling

A liquid ring vacuum pump is used to produce a vacuum in a

collecting tank into which sludge is then pumped.

Bleaching

Evisceration & Rendering

Extrusion / Vacuum Forming

Component Positioning

Gas Compression

Steam Turbine Condenser

Extraction

The cooling, braking and air conditioning systems are

evacuated before being filled with liquid.

Steam turbine condensing

Laboratory Vacuum

Central Vacuum Systems

and many more.

Liquid ring vacuum pumps are used for the start-up and
condensing operations of steam turbine condensers.

Waterworks

Vacuum toilets
Sewage is pumped pneumatically into a collecting tank
under vacuum.

Lowering of the ground water table

Liquid ring vacuum pumps are used to evacuate a tank.
Air and ground water are extracted from filter pipes over
the tank.

Steam and gas sterilisers

Before and after sterilisation, the steriliser chambers are
evacuated with the help of liquid ring vacuum pumps.

Applications
Typical markets and applications for the Sterling SIHI range
of vacuum pumps are set out in the accompanying table and
some are described below:

Plastics processing extrusion

Vacuum mixing equipment

Liquid ring vacuum pumps are used to de-gas and dry the
plastic compound prior to extrusion.

Chemical and pharmaceutical industry

Vacuum calibration

The Sterling SIHI range of liquid ring and dry running vacuum
pumps are used for distillation, drying, condensing,
absorption, evaporation and filtration. The SIHI range of
vacuum pumps are suitable for use with all types of vacuum
filtration, distillation, evaporation and drying equipment.

Liquid ring vacuum pumps are employed to generate a vacuum

which draws the plastic profile against the walls of the mould.

Vacuum mixing equipment is used in the production of liquid

and paste like products. By continuous deaeration and
degassing, a very high degree of homogeneity of the products
is achieved.

Drying and impregnation of wood

Wood can be dried quickly and without cracking if it is put
under vacuum before being impregnated.

Solvent recovery systems

Automatic bottling plant

To avoid health hazards and environmental pollution, exhaust

flows containing solvents are cleaned. The processes applied
to recover the solvents use liquid ring or dry running vacuum
pumps, or liquid ring compressors.

Bottles and cans are evacuated before filling. This process

creates a low-oxygen atmosphere which prevents the
beverage from oxidising.

Sugar mills
Liquid ring compressors are used for compressing carbon
dioxide; liquid ring vacuum pumps are employed in the
vacuum pan house and for drying purposes.

Milk collecting tank trucks

Milk is drawn out of the tanks in dairy farms and into the
tanker by means of a liquid ring vacuum pump.

Liquid Ring Vacuum

...cool, robust and cost effective

Operating principle of a liquid ring vacuum pump is as follows:
Vacuum pumps

Compressors

Gas ejectors

1.000

100

Because of the eccentric mounting, the liquid ring does not

simultaneously fill all of the cavities between the impeller
blades. Some cavities are momentarily empty whilst some
are completely full.

Liquid ring compressors

Liquid ring vacuum pumps

10.000
Suction volume flow [m 3 / h]

During the compression cycle the liquid ring is heated. To

ensure that the temperature of the service liquid is
maintained below that at which its vapour pressure would
compromise the efficiency of the pump, it is cooled by the
addition of make up liquid (E). The evacuated gas is
discharged from the separator via outlet (F) and service
liquid is discharged through port (G). Alternatively, a heat
exchanger can be incorporated into the recirculated flow of
service liquid in order to maintain a closed system.

An impeller (A) is mounted eccentric to a round pump

body (B) and enclosed between two end-plates. As the
body is partially filled with service liquid before operation,
the impeller rotation creates a liquid ring (C) concentric to
the body by the action of centrifugal force.

100.000

10

1
1

10

100

Suction pressure [hPa]

1.000
10

As the cavities pass the suction port, the volume of liquid

within them reduces, and this in-turn creates a negative
pressure. This acts as the pumps suction, drawing more
gas from the vessel to be evacuated.

100

Compression
over pressure [hPa]

Gas Inlet to
Liquid Ring
Vacuum Pump

As the impeller continues to rotate, these cavities become

filled with the liquid ring, and the entrained gas is
compressed. As rotation continues past the discharge port,
all gas and some service liquid is forced out of the pump.
The liquid ring can be regenerated through the use of a
separator (D).

C
G
A
B
D

O-Ring sealing for casings

Cavitation protection

Universal flanges

Reduced distance between bearings

The compression process is largely isothermal

For over 80 years Sterling SIHI has maintained it's position as

a leading supplier of liquid ring vacuum pumps, liquid ring
compressors and gas ejectors to a wide range of process and
related markets.

The pumps offered can safely handle explosive

gases and toxic or carcinogenic media

Close contact is maintained with customers to ensure that

product development is geared to market place needs. This is
supported by investment in state of the art manufacturing to
promote consistent quality, competitive lead times and ensure
competitive pricing. Full technical support is available for
demanding applications.

Because of their vapour condensing abilities, the suction

performance is increased with saturated vapours

Single or double mechanical seals ensure low leakage

rates. Where no leakage is important magnetic drive
versions are offered

Operates with low noise and low vibration

A high degree of operational safety with minimum
maintenance

The comprehensive Sterling SIHI range of liquid ring vacuum

pumps is available in single and two stage designs, with
suction capacities up to 12000 m3/h and suction pressures in
the range 33 to 1013 mbar. Above atmospheric pressure these
pumps can be used as compressors.

Guide discs
Robust bearings

ATEX
CERTIFIED

Drain plug(s)

Entrained liquid can be pumped with the evacuated gas

Compliant with the major safety requirements covering
use of equipment in hazardous environments e.g. ATEX

Liquid ring vacuum pumps and compressors can

handle almost any gas or vapour

In cases where a liquid ring vacuum pump cannot

achieve the required end-pressure, the working range
can be extended to a lower absolute pressure (down to
4 mbar) by connecting a Sterling SIHI gas ejector to
the pump

No contact between individual rotating parts

The materials of construction can be selected to suit the
operating conditions

Mechanical seals

Integrated cross
over pipe

Dry Running Vacuum Pumps

...simple, dry and reliable

SIHIdry Range Chart

Suction Capacity (m 3 / h)

1000

H1000

900
800

ATEX Category 2 possible

without flame arresters

dry

SIHI

H750

700
600
500

H400

400
300

H250
H160
M160

200
100
0.001

0.01

0.1

10

100

Simple removal of
screws and casing
permits rapid on-site
maintenance

Optimum screw profile

for power saving

1000

Suction Pressure (mbar abs)

The SIHIdry vacuum pump is a vertical twin-screw machine

that is completely dry running and has no mechanical shaft
seals. Moreover, the hermetically sealed unit has been
developed specifically to meet these demands, whilst
maintaining a simple, cost-effective solution.

Non contacting screws

means no wear parts,
extended pump life
and low maintenance
No mechanical shaft
seals means no wear
parts, extended pump
life and low
maintenance

With particle and liquid handling capabilities the self-draining

SIHIdry unit, in its very basic form, offers superior resistance
to both corrosion and heat-accelerated deposition.
Importantly, this basic layout provides the platform for an
extensive range of intelligent modules that can be
incorporated in order to exactly match dynamic process
requirements. Retaining its simple but modular design, the
standard unit can interface with most Distributed Control
Systems (DCSs) and also offers a single-plug digital interface
with a standard Ethernet if plant monitoring and running
history are important.
The SIHIdry was
developed in order to
operate with explosive
media, both internally
and externally.
Consequently, it was the
first vacuum pump to be
accredited with ATEX
100a. Moreover, the
formal risk assessment
indicated that it is
possible to use this
pump as an ATEX
Category 2 machine
without flame arresters
and their associated
problems.

To meet the demands of the process industry, Sterling SIHI

offers completely dry running vacuum pumps.
Dry running vacuum pumps are used increasingly throughout
industry where there is:

Growing demand for uncontaminated vacuum, free from

oil or service liquid

A requirement for low operating pressures

Flexibility required from batch processes

Concern about storage and disposal costs of service

liquids

Pressure to minimise life-cycle costs

The SIHI range of dry running vacuum pumps is available with

ATEX Category 1, T4 internal certification for use with Zone 0
explosive media. Interestingly, ATEX Category 2, for use with
Zone 1 explosive media is possible without the need to fit
flame arresters.

10

No oil or service liquid

means no disposal costs

Extremely quiet with

no gear box

Single plug interface option

permits remote monitoring

Integrated overload
protection to ensure
reliability and availability

ATEX
CERTIFIED

11

Engineered Vacuum Systems

...customised solutions
Sterling SAT integrates individual components in order to
match specific process requirements whilst simplifying system
installation. Conceptual design studies on complex processing
systems including data analysis, process simulation and
site testing are also offered.
Sterling SAT can supply a wide range of vacuum and
compressor packages from standard compact units to complex
purpose built systems with integrated instrumentation and PLC
control panels.
The Ideal Solution for:

Bespoke systems in order to match process requirements

Optimum integration of vacuum pumps, compressors,

and boosters

Solvent and monomer recovery systems

VOC abatement plants

Conformity with external standards, and legislation

eg ATEX, PED

Overall project management

Typical Solutions involve:

Engineered Membrane System

Liquid ring vacuum pumps

Dry vacuum pumps

Mechanical boosters

Gas/Steam ejectors and condensers

Process pipe-work, heat-exchangers and valves

Electrical panels, wiring and instrumentation.

For highly efficient solvent recovery and vent-stream

treatment, Sterling SAT offers dedicated membrane
technology based systems. These can be applied to almost all
solvents and monomers used in process industries.
Sterling SIHI has established Sterling SAT to strengthen
further its ability to meet the vacuum and compressor system
requirements of its customers.

All packaged systems are supplied on a baseframe to provide

easy integration into the customers overall process and facility.

This is a dedicated vacuum engineering company, with

specialist system capability. Its key markets are the chemical,
petrochemical, pharmaceutical and other process industries.
Their understanding of customer applications and process
requirements enables them to provide the very best
engineered solutions.
Sterling SAT engineering centres are located in Germany as
well as at other worldwide locations.
The core components used in the engineered systems are
manufactured in-house, ensuring a high level of quality control,
as well as on time delivery.
The engineering and manufacturing centres are certified to
DIN ISO 9001.
The selection, design and construction of each system is
achieved through a specialist team of engineers. This ensures
tailored solutions to customer requirements and compliant
with the relevant international standards and regulations for
manufacture, safety and environmental protection.

Engineered Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump System

12

13