Truelab SHB-III Circulating Water Vacuum Pump

Overview

The Truelab SHB-III Circulating Water Vacuum Pump is an oil-free, water-cooled vacuum source engineered for reliable, low-maintenance operation in academic laboratories, analytical chemistry workstations, and small-scale R&D environments. Unlike mechanical or diaphragm vacuum pumps, the SHB-III employs a water-ring principle: rotating impeller blades trap and compress ambient air within a partially filled water chamber, expelling it through the exhaust port while generating negative pressure at the suction inlet. This design eliminates lubrication requirements, prevents oil contamination of vacuum lines or reaction vessels, and ensures compatibility with moisture-tolerant applications such as rotary evaporation, vacuum filtration, and vacuum drying. With an ultimate vacuum of 0.098 MPa (abs) — equivalent to ~20 mbar — the pump delivers stable performance across continuous duty cycles typical of undergraduate teaching labs and QC testing workflows. Its compact footprint (385 × 280 × 420 mm) and lightweight engineering plastic housing facilitate benchtop integration without compromising structural rigidity.

Key Features

• Dual independent vacuum heads with individual stainless steel (1Cr18) nozzles and calibrated analog vacuum gauges — enabling simultaneous operation of two separate vacuum lines or parallel process control.
• Oil-free water-ring architecture with corrosion-resistant wetted parts: pump body constructed from 1Cr18 stainless steel; reservoir and housing molded from high-impact engineering plastic for chemical resistance and thermal stability.
• Integrated 15-L transparent polypropylene reservoir with level indicator and drain valve — supports extended runtime without manual refilling and simplifies maintenance under GLP-compliant lab practices.
• 150 W induction motor optimized for 220 V / 50 Hz mains supply — delivers consistent 10 L/min suction rate per head with minimal thermal drift during prolonged operation.
• Front-access on/off switch and dual-side operational layout — designed for ergonomic use in confined fume hoods or shared teaching benches where access is limited to one side.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The SHB-III is suitable for non-corrosive, non-explosive, and non-toxic gaseous media at ambient temperature. It is not rated for solvent vapors with high vapor pressure (e.g., acetone, ether), acidic or alkaline gases, or particulate-laden streams without upstream cold traps or scrubbers. While not certified to IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC) or UL/CSA safety standards, its construction adheres to common laboratory equipment expectations under ISO/IEC 17025-accredited environments when used within defined operational boundaries. The absence of hydrocarbon lubricants aligns with ASTM D3231-22 guidelines for vacuum systems handling organic solvents in environmental analysis workflows.

Software & Data Management

The SHB-III operates as a standalone analog device with no embedded firmware, digital interface, or data logging capability. Vacuum level monitoring is performed visually via dual analog gauges calibrated in MPa (abs). For laboratories requiring audit trails or electronic recordkeeping, external pressure transducers (e.g., Validated Honeywell Zephyr HAF series) may be integrated into the vacuum line and connected to LIMS-compatible DAQ systems. No software drivers, SDKs, or cloud connectivity are provided — consistent with ISO 15197:2013 principles for purpose-built, deterministic instrumentation.

Applications

• Routine rotary evaporation of aqueous and moderately volatile organic solutions in synthetic chemistry labs.
• Vacuum-assisted filtration of precipitates using Büchner funnels or sintered glass crucibles.
• Deaeration of solvents prior to HPLC mobile phase preparation or electrochemical cell assembly.
• Supporting vacuum desiccators for hygroscopic sample storage in materials science and pharmaceutical stability studies.
• Undergraduate physics and chemistry teaching demonstrations requiring reproducible sub-atmospheric conditions without complex calibration protocols.

FAQ

Can the SHB-III be used with volatile organic solvents like ethanol or ethyl acetate?
No — solvent vapors may condense in the water reservoir, degrade pump efficiency, and introduce cross-contamination. Use only with water-miscible or low-volatility media, or install a dry ice–acetone cold trap upstream.
Is the vacuum gauge readable in Torr or mbar units?
The analog gauges are factory-calibrated in MPa (absolute); conversion to mbar (1 MPa = 10,000 mbar) or Torr (1 MPa ≈ 7,500 Torr) requires manual calculation.
What is the recommended maintenance interval for the water reservoir?
Drain and rinse the reservoir weekly if operated continuously; replace cooling water daily in high-humidity environments to prevent algal growth or mineral scaling.
Does the pump meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements?
No — as a manually operated analog device without electronic records, audit trails, or user authentication, it falls outside the scope of Part 11 compliance; however, it may serve as ancillary equipment in validated processes when operated per written SOPs.
Can both vacuum heads operate at full capacity simultaneously?
Yes — the dual-head configuration maintains nominal 10 L/min per port under standard atmospheric conditions (25°C, 101.3 kPa), with total system flow governed by downstream impedance, not pump limitation.