Liquid ring vacuum pumps and compressors operate with a continuous high velocity circulation of liquid within a cylindrical casing. A large part of the power loss in liquid ring compressors can be attributed to the frictional drag of the fluid against the stationary wall. Experiments are described with a vacuum pump design in which the casing is supported on fluid film bearings and can spin freely. Testing of the device has indicated a marked increase in efficiency of the unit. Comparisons of the actual liquid ring vacuum pump performance with and without a rotating casing are made. The actual results are compared to predicted results obtained from a computer model for liquid ring performance analysis. The basis for this model has been previously reported in (1). The model has been adjusted to account for the effect of the rotating casing wall.
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