What is ISO 21360-1 about?
ISO 21360 is a series on vacuum technology. ISO 21360-1 specifies three methods for measuring the volume flow rate and one method each for measuring the base pressure, the compression ratio, and the critical backing pressure of a vacuum pump.
ISO 21360-1 is a basic standard for measuring the performance data of vacuum pumps. In developing ISO 21360-1 the aim has been to provide a single document containing the measurements of performance data of vacuum pumps and to simplify the future development of specific vacuum pump standards.
Specific vacuum pump standards will contain a suitable selection of measurement methods from ISO 21360-1 to determine the performance data, limiting values and specific operational conditions based on the specific properties of the kind of pump.
Who is ISO 21360-1 for?
ISO 21360-1 on vacuum technology is useful for:
- Vacuum equipment manufacturers
- Design engineers
- Research and development facilities
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use ISO 21360-1?
Vacuum technology deals with technological processes and equipment that use a vaccum to achieve better results than those that run under atmospheric pressure. ISO 21360-1 discusses three methods for measuring the volume flow rate and one method each for measuring the base pressure, the compression ratio, and the critical backing pressure of a vacuum pump.
The first method for measuring the volume flow rate (the throughput method) is the basic concept, in which a steady gas flow is injected into the pump while the inlet pressure is measured. In practice, the measurement of gas throughput may be complicated or inexact.
The second method for measuring the volume flow rate (the orifice method) is used when there is very small throughput at very small inlet pressures (under a high or ultra-high vacuum). It is based on measuring the ratio of pressures in a two-chamber test dome in which the two chambers are separated by a wall with a circular orifice.
The third method for measuring the volume flow rate (the pump-down method) is well suited for automated measurement. It is based on the evacuation of a large vessel. The volume flow rate is calculated from two pressures, before and after a pumping interval, and from the volume of the test dome. Using ISO 21360-1 you can measure the performance data of vacuum pumps and to simplify the future development of specific vacuum pump standards.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS ISO 213601:2020 supersedes BS ISO 213601:2012. BS ISO 213601:2020 includes some technical and editorial changes with respect to BS ISO 213601:2012. These include:
- Note in 3.3 has been deleted
- K0 in 3.7 has been corrected
- 3.9 the definition of the volume has been changed to "is the volume of transported gas"
- Figure 1 has been corrected
- Figure 2 has been corrected
