Leybold SCROLLVAC Scroll Pumps

Scroll pumps give clean, oil-free vacuum with more pumping speed and a lower ultimate pressure than diaphragm pumps. They are the standard dry backing pump for turbomolecular pumps in labs, analytical instruments and leak detectors. At Provac Sales, we supply Leybold SCROLLVAC pumps new and rebuilt, along with tip seal kits, and we service them in house.

Leybold Scroll Pump Models We Carry

SCROLLVAC plus

• SCROLLVAC 3 plus, the smallest model for compact systems
• SCROLLVAC 7 plus, about 6.1 m³/h (3.6 CFM)
• SCROLLVAC 10 plus, about 10.6 m³/h (6.2 CFM)
• SCROLLVAC 15 plus, about 14.5 m³/h (8.5 CFM)
• SCROLLVAC 18 plus, about 20 m³/h (11.8 CFM)

Ultimate pressure ranges from about 3 x 10⁻² mbar down to about 9 x 10⁻³ mbar (7 x 10⁻³ Torr), depending on model. Single-phase and three-phase versions are available, and C versions are made for aggressive applications.

SCROLLVAC SC D Series, Rebuilt

• Leybold SC 15D, rebuilt
• Leybold SC 30D, rebuilt

Some listings show a price and others are quote-based. Each product page lists pumping speed, ultimate pressure, voltage and connections.

How a Scroll Pump Works

A scroll pump has two spiral-shaped scrolls. One is fixed and the other orbits around it without rotating. Gas is trapped in crescent-shaped pockets between the spirals at the outer edge. As the orbiting scroll moves, the pockets travel toward the center and get smaller, compressing the gas until it leaves through the exhaust at the center. Polymer tip seals on the edge of each scroll seal against the opposite scroll. The bearings are sealed, so no oil reaches the pumping chamber.

Scroll vs Diaphragm vs Oil-Sealed Vane

• Compared with a DIVAC diaphragm pump, a SCROLLVAC gives far more pumping speed and a lower ultimate pressure, so it backs larger turbo pumps and pumps down chambers faster.
• Compared with a TRIVAC rotary vane pump, a SCROLLVAC is completely oil-free, with no oil changes, oil mist or backstreaming, but the vane pump reaches a lower ultimate pressure and costs less.

Choose a scroll pump when you need clean, dry vacuum at a few m³/h to about 20 m³/h.

Key Features

• Oil-free pumping chamber with sealed bearings
• Low ultimate pressure for a dry pump, down to the 10⁻³ mbar range
• Quiet operation for lab and office environments
• Gas ballast on many models for handling water vapor
• C versions for aggressive gases
• Single-phase and three-phase motors

Applications

• Backing turbomolecular pumps
• Helium leak detectors, including the PHOENIX Magno Dry
• Mass spectrometers, electron microscopes and surface analysis
• Load locks and sample preparation
• Freeze drying and vacuum drying in clean applications
• Research, physics and semiconductor labs

How to Choose the Right SCROLLVAC

Before ordering, confirm:

• Pumping speed needed for your chamber or turbo pump
• Ultimate and foreline pressure required
• Water vapor and process gases, including any corrosive gases that call for a C version
• Supply voltage and phase
• Noise and space limits

Maintenance Tips

• Replace tip seals when ultimate pressure rises, usually every 1 to 3 years depending on duty
• Use gas ballast when pumping water vapor, and run the pump for a while with the inlet closed after wet processes
• Keep the cooling fan and air paths clear
• Fit an inlet filter if the process produces particles, since debris wears tip seals
• Avoid pumping heavy solvent loads without a trap

We stock tip seal kits for common SCROLLVAC models.

Signs Your Scroll Pump Needs Service

• Higher ultimate pressure or slower pumpdown
• Your turbo pump struggles to reach full speed
• Black dust at the exhaust, which comes from worn tip seals
• Grinding, squealing or new noise, which can mean worn bearings
• The motor runs hot or the pump stalls on start

New vs Rebuilt Scroll Pumps

New SCROLLVAC plus pumps suit new systems and applications that need full warranty coverage. Rebuilt SC 15D and SC 30D pumps are a cost-effective way to replace a failed pump of the same model. Rebuilt pumps get new tip seals and bearings as needed and are tested before shipping.

Noise and Placement

SCROLLVAC pumps are quiet enough for most labs, but placing them on a vibration pad, away from walls that reflect sound, and venting the exhaust outside the room makes them quieter still. Leave space around the pump for cooling air, and keep the backing line short and wide so the pump delivers its full speed at the turbo foreline.

Scroll Pump Accessories

Useful accessories include tip seal kits, inlet filters, exhaust silencers, KF centering rings and clamps, flexible bellows hoses, and cold traps for wet processes. Order a spare tip seal kit with a new pump so you can service it without waiting for parts. If the pump will back a turbo, fit a vent or isolation valve so the turbo can be vented safely when the scroll pump is stopped.

Running Scroll Pumps on Wet Processes

Water vapor is the most common reason scroll pumps lose performance. When moisture condenses inside the pump, it shortens tip seal life and can corrode internal parts. Open the gas ballast while pumping vapor, keep the pump warm, and after the process let it run for a while with the inlet closed so moisture is purged. For heavy vapor loads, add a cold trap ahead of the pump.

Scroll Pumps for Leak Detectors and Turbo Systems

Many dry helium leak detectors and turbo pumping stations use a scroll pump for backing. In a leak detector, a clean scroll pump keeps the helium background low. In a turbo system, it keeps the foreline oil-free so the high vacuum side stays free of hydrocarbons. When replacing a scroll pump in either system, match the pumping speed and ultimate pressure of the original so pumpdown and sensitivity do not change.

Leybold Scroll Pumps Repair

Provac Sales repairs and rebuilds Leybold SCROLLVAC and SC D scroll pumps, including tip seal and bearing replacement. Submit an RMA request and complete the contamination data sheet before shipping. See our pump repair page for more information.

Related Leybold Collections

• Leybold diaphragm pumps, DIVAC dry backing pumps
• Leybold dry pumps, ECODRY plus, LEYVAC and DRYVAC
• Leybold turbo pumps, TURBOVAC pumps backed by SCROLLVAC
• Leybold helium leak detectors
• All Leybold vacuum pumps
• All scroll pumps from every brand we carry

Leybold Scroll Pumps FAQ

1. What is the ultimate pressure of a Leybold SCROLLVAC plus?

SCROLLVAC plus pumps reach about 3 x 10⁻² mbar down to about 9 x 10⁻³ mbar, depending on the model.

2. Which SCROLLVAC should I use to back a turbo pump?

Small turbo pumps such as the TURBOVAC 90 i usually work well with a SCROLLVAC 7 or 10 plus. Larger turbo pumps and higher gas loads call for a SCROLLVAC 15 or 18 plus.

3. How often do scroll pump tip seals need replacing?

Tip seals usually last 1 to 3 years, depending on duty, particles and water vapor. Replace them when ultimate pressure rises or black dust appears at the exhaust.

4. Is a Leybold scroll pump completely oil-free?

Yes. The bearings are sealed, so no oil reaches the pumping chamber. There are no oil changes and no oil mist or backstreaming.

5. What is a SCROLLVAC C version?

C versions are made for aggressive applications, with materials and features suited to corrosive gases and vapors.

Request a Quote on Leybold SCROLLVAC Scroll Pumps

Send us your chamber volume or turbo pump model, required pressure, process gases and supply voltage. We will recommend the right SCROLLVAC model, confirm new or rebuilt availability, or quote tip seal kits or a repair. Contact us or call 831-462-8900.