Molecular Pump Research Articles

Mechanistic Analysis of the Pump Cycle of the KdpFABC P-Type ATPase

The high-affinity potassium uptake system KdpFABC is a unique type Ia P-type ATPase, because it separates the sites of ATP hydrolysis and ion transport on two different subunits. KdpFABC was expressed in Escherichia coli. It was then isolated and purified to homogeneity to obtain a detergent-solubilized enzyme complex that allowed the analysis of ion binding properties. The electrogenicity and binding affinities of the ion pump for K(+) and H(+) were determined in detergent-solubilized complexes by means of the electrochromic styryl dye RH421. Half-saturating K(+) concentrations and pK values for H(+) binding could be obtained in both the unphosphorylated and phosphorylated conformations of KdpFABC. The interaction of both ions with KdpFABC was studied in detail, and the presence of independent binding sites was ascertained. It is proposed that KdpFABC reconstituted in vesicles translocates protons at a low efficiency opposite from the well-established import of K(+) into the bacteria. On the basis of our results, various mechanistic pump cycle models were derived from the general Post-Albers scheme of P-type ATPases and discussed in the framework of the experimental evidence to propose a possible molecular pump cycle for KdpFABC.

A Simple Kinetic Model with Explicit Predictions for Nuclear Transport

Molecular exchange between the cell nucleus and cytoplasm is one of the most fundamental features of eukaryotic cell biology. The nuclear pores act as a conduit of this transport, both for cargo that crosses the pore autonomously as well as that whose translocation requires an intermediary receptor. The major class of such receptors is regulated by the small GTPase Ran, via whose interaction the nucleo-cytoplasmic transport system functions as a selective molecular pump. We propose a simple analytical model for transport that includes both translocation and receptor binding kinetics. The model is suitable for steady-state kinetics such as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Time constants appear as a combination of parameters whose effects on measured kinetics are not separable. Competitive cargo binding to receptors and large cytoplasmic volume buffer the transport properties of any particular cargo. Specific limits to the solutions provide a qualitative insight and interpretation of nuclear transport in the cellular context. Most significantly, we find that under realistic conditions receptor binding, rather than permeability of the nuclear pores, may be rate-limiting for nucleo-cytoplasmic exchange.

Molecular alignment and chirality in gaseous streams and vortices

The discovery of collisional mechanisms, leading to aligned molecules in gaseous streams, opened the way to the research of possible origin of chiral discrimination involving aligned reactants in molecular dynamics. Experimental evidence is being provided that translational-rotational motions (such as those occurring in vortices), in the liquid phase first and in the gas phase more recently, show manifestations of chiral effects, revealing interesting relations with scenarios on the emergence of chiral selectivity. In this account, we also report the results of experiments of enantiomeric enrichment induced on chiral rotamers by rotational-translational motion. Several chiral molecules were expanded in supersonic seeded molecular beams and the vortex motion was generated by two molecular drag pumps with a right- and a left-handed screw motion, respectively. Connections can be established with many processes occurring in the Universe (and thus possibly related to a prebiotic context), like the stellar accretion of low-mass stars like the Sun and the flowing in atmospheres of rotating bodies.

Modeling and experimental verification of a flexible rotor/AMB system

PurposeIn this paper, the aim is to present a modeling strategy for a flexible rotor/active magnetic bearing (AMB) system with non‐collocation. Special attention is paid to the vibration reduction and the stable passage through the first critical speed.Design/methodology/approachThe finite element method based on Euller‐Bernoulli beam theory is applied in the formulation of the rotor model. Since rotor/AMB systems are complex mechatronic systems, reduced order approach is used in the control system design. This study applies the modal decomposition method and the modal truncation method, thus retaining the lower order bending modes. The obtained numerical results are compared with the measured open loop frequency responses and the existing differences are compensated in order to obtain accurate numerical model.FindingsFrequency response of the entire system model (flexible shaft, actuators, power amplifiers and sensors) with amplitudes expressed in rotor lateral displacements can be verified by the measured frequency responses. The deviations in the amplitude and phase diagrams are then successfully corrected using the appropriate model modifications.Practical implicationsThe results of this research find direct applications in flexible rotors supported by AMBs, e.g. high speed spindles, turbo molecular pumps, flywheel energy storage systems, etc. The presented procedure can be especially valuable in the design of model based controllers.Originality/valueAn AMB system model is developed and presented in this paper, in conjunction with a systematic description of an efficient procedure for the elimination of the typical mismatches between the simulation and experiment. Firstly, rotor/AMB test rig is stabilized with an appropriately tuned PID controller and an open loop frequency response is obtained for such a system. This response is then compared to corresponding simulation results for which mismatches are identified and eliminated thus yielding an accurate model of the system.

Design on UHV System with TSP

A UHV(ultra-high vacuum) system, which used as deposition equipment with the assistance of high and low vacuum measuring instruments and other accessories, was designed in this paper. A CMP (composite molecular pump) in parallel with TSP (titanium sublimation pump) as the main pump and a rotary-vane pump as the backing pump were designed in this system. After a CMP with displacement 2300l/s was chosen as the one of the main pumps, the total flow conductance between the outlet of vacuum chamber and the CMP was 1344l/s. The rough pump-down time was approximate 5 min by using a rotary-vane pump with pumping speeds 15l/s. In order to ensure the normal operation of the main pumps, a water chilling unit was designed in the system, which can achieve limiting vacuum of 5×10-6Pa in the vacuum chamber of 0.2 m3.

Active transport of the Ca2+-pump: introduction of the temperature difference as a driving force

We analyse a kinetic cycle of the Ca(2+)-ATPase molecular pump using mesoscopic non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The pump is known to generate heat, and by analysing the operation on the mesoscopic level, we are able to introduce a temperature difference and the corresponding heat flux in the description. Integration over the internal coordinates then results in non-linear flux-force relations describing the operation of the pump on the macroscopic level. Specifically, we obtain an expression for the heat flux associated with the active transport and the coupling of heat effects to the transport of ions and the rate of the ATP-hydrolysis.

Study of Optimization and Design for Disk-Type Molecular Pump Based on DSMC Method

Study of Optimization and Design for Disk-Type Molecular Pump Based on DSMC Method

A design method of a mode control and an unbalance vibration control for five-axes active magnetic bearing systems

Mass unbalance of magnetically levitated rotors causes deteriorations of dynamic and static characteristics. To avoid this problem, it is necessary that mode matrices (i.e., a mode selection/distribution matrices) are adjusted appropriately. This is because these matrices are set based on the rotor’s centre of gravity and magnetic force coefficients of electromagnets. It takes long time to adjust the parameters of the mode matrices by trial and error. To design these parameters efficiently, we propose an adjustment method based on experimental analysis. Experimental results of step response show effectiveness of the proposed method. On the other hand, the eccentricity of the rotor causes unbalanced vibration, which is a common problem in rotating machinery. To suppress the vibration, automatic balancing system (ABS) and peak-of-gain control (PGC) are utilised. By using the ABS (the PGC), the bearing stiffness at rotational frequency is decreased (increased). In previous works, implementation methods for these have not been presented fully. Thus, in this paper, we considered the implementation of the ABS and the PGC. Moreover, practical advantages of the PGC/ABS are demonstrated by rotational tests of a turbo molecular pump.

Течение газа в спиральном канале молекулярного вакуумного насоса

Течение газа в спиральном канале молекулярного вакуумного насоса

On-Chip Alternating Current Electrophoresis in Supported Lipid Bilayer Membranes

By forming lipid bilayers within SU8 patterns, between interdigitated electrodes, we have demonstrated that it is possible to manipulate charged membrane components using low applied voltages over relatively short time scales. Two distinct patterns were studied: a nested "fish trap" which served as a molecular trap, and a diffusion aided Brownian ratchet which operated as a molecular pump. By reducing the size of the structures we have demonstrated that large applied fields (>200 V/cm) can be achieved on-chip, using low applied potentials (<13 V). By using ac fields applied orthogonal to the direction of desired motion, the molecular pumps provide a voltage independent method for moving charged components within lipid membranes over large distances. The reduced scale of the trap structures compared to those previously used in our laboratory has led to over a 10-fold decrease in the operational time require for charge build-up, from 16 h down to 1.5 h. The observed benefits of scaling means that these systems should be suitable for the on-chip separation and manipulation of charged species within supported lipid membranes.

Development of a high vacuum sample preparation system for helium mass spectrometer

A high vacuum sample preparation system for the 3He/4He ratio mass spectrometer (Helix SFT) has been developed to remove all the gaseous constituents excluding helium from the field gases. The sample preparation system comprises of turbo molecular pump, ion pump, zirconium getter, pipettes and vacuum gauges with controller. All these are fitted with cylindrical SS chamber using all metal valves. The field samples are initially treated with activated charcoal trap immersed in liquid nitrogen to cutoff major impurities and moisture present in the sample gas. A sample of 5 ml is collected out of this stage at a pressure of 10−2 mbar. This sample is subsequently purified at a reduced pressure of 10−7 mbar before it is injected into the ion source of the mass spectrometer. The sample pressure was maintained below 10−7 mbar with turbo molecular vacuum pumps and ion pumps. The sample gas passes through several getter elements and a cold finger with the help of manual high vacuum valves before it is fed to the mass spectrometer. Thus the high vacuum sample preparation system introduces completely clean, dry and refined helium sample to the mass spectrometer for best possible analysis of isotopic ratio of helium.

Preliminary Design of the Vacuum System for FAIR Super FRS Quadrupole Magnet Cryostat

The Super-Conducting Fragment Separator (Super FRS) of the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) at GSI Darmstadt is a large-acceptance superonducting fragment separator. The separator consists of large dipole, quadrupole and hexapole superconducting magnets. The long quadrupole magnet cryostat houses the helium chamber, which has the magnet iron and NbTi superconducting coil. The magnet weighs about 30 tons. The helium chamber is enclosed in vacuum inside the magnet cryostat. Multilayer Insulation (MLI) will be wrapped around the thermal shield to reduce radiation loss. Polyster of MLI comprises the major component responsible for outgassing. In order to reduce outgassing, pumping at elevated temperatures has to be carried out. In view of the large size and weight of the magnet, a seal off approach might not be operationally feasible. Continuous pumping of the cryostat has also been examined. Pump has been kept at a distance from the magnet considering the effect of stray magnetic fields. Oil free turbo molecular pump and scroll pump combination will be used to pump down the cryostat. The ultimate heat load of the cryostat will be highly dependent on the pressure attained. Radiation and conduction plays an important role in the heat transfer at low temperatures. This paper presents the vacuum design of the long quadrupole magnet cryostat and estimates the heat load of the cryostat.

Design and construction of a target chamber and associated equipments for the BARC Charged Particle Detector Array

A 60 cm diameter spherical high-vacuum target-chamber with side-opening hemispherical-lids, two ancillary-chambers, beam-line-tubes, tees and other high-vacuum components, and chamber-lid handling systems have been designed, constructed and installed for the Charged Particle Detector Array in BARC-TIFR Pelletron-LINAC Facility, Mumbai. This array of several tens of Si-CsI detector modules and other ancillary-detectors will be used for investigations in fusion-fission dynamics, nuclear structure at elevated temperatures and angular momenta, exotic nuclear clusters and related fields. This paper describes the unique features of the system that aid different coincidence experiments, the chamber fabrication experience and the pump-down characteristics with a turbo molecular pump. Unlike many other target chambers in use, this chamber allows multiple overall geometrical configurations to be set to reach experimental goals. For instance, by replacing a hemispherical-lid from one side with a flat-lid, the overall configuration becomes hemispherical. This way, high geometrical efficiency can be provided to an ancillary gamma detector array by allowing it to move close to target from the flat-lid side, although with some sacrifice of geometrical efficiency for charged particles. In experiments where a further improvement of geometrical efficiency for a gamma array is desired, a third compact-cylinder configuration can also be arrived at. Thinned portion of the lids of the chamber also allow neutron coincidence measurements with charged particles and gamma rays.

Three stage vacuum system for ultralow temperature installation

We use a three stage vacuum system for developing a dilution fridge at VECC, Kolkata. We aim at achieving a cooling power of 20μW at 100mK for various experiments especially in the field of condensed matter and nuclear physics. The system is essentially composed of four segments-bath cryostat, vacuum system, dilution insert and 3He circulation circuit. Requirement of vacuum system at different stages are different. The vacuum system for cryostat and for internal vacuum chamber located within the helium bath is a common turbo molecular pump backed by scroll pump as to maintain a vacuum ∼10−6mbar. For bringing down the temperature of the helium evaporator, we use a high throughput Roots pump backed by a dry pump. The pumping system for 3He distillation chamber (still) requires a high pumping speed, so a turbo drag pump backed by a scroll pump has been installed. As the fridge use precious 3He gas for operation, the entire system has been made to be absolutely leak proof with respect to the 3He gas.

Study of Hydrogen Pumping through Condensed Argon in Cryogenic pump

In ultra high vacuum (UHV) range, hydrogen is a dominant residual gas in vacuum chamber. Hydrogen, being light gas, pumping of hydrogen in this vacuum range is limited with widely used UHV pumps, viz. turbo molecular pump and cryogenic pump. Pre condensed argon layers in cryogenic pump create porous structure on the surface of the pump, which traps hydrogen gas at a temperature less than 20° K. Additional argon gas injection in the cryogenic pump, at lowest temperature, generates multiple layers of condensed argon as a porous frost with 10 to 100 A° diameters pores, which increase the pumping capacity of hydrogen gas. This pumping mechanism of hydrogen is more effective, to pump more hydrogen gas in UHV range applicable in accelerator, space simulation etc. and where hydrogen is used as fuel gas like tokamak. For this experiment, the cryogenic pump with a closed loop refrigerator using helium gas is used to produce the minimum cryogenic temperature as ~ 14° K. In this paper, effect of cryosorption of hydrogen is presented with different levels of argon gas and hydrogen gas in cryogenic pump chamber.

Vacuum System of the Large Cyclotrons at VECC

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) has two large cyclotrons, K-130 cyclotron and K-500 cyclotron. The first beam in the room temperature K-130 cyclotron (RTC) was accelerated in June 1977. The cyclotron accelerated and delivered alpha and proton beams consistently to the cyclotron users for several years. Heavy ion beams were available in this cyclotron from 1997 to 2007. Presently, the cyclotron is working as a primary source for RIB production. The cyclotron has an acceleration chamber volume of about 28 m3. The total length of beam line is about 65 m. Vacuum of the order of 1 x 10−6 mbar is presently maintained in the cyclotron and beam line using diffusion pumps. It is one of the largest vacuum systems operating in India. It is consistently being operated 24 x 7 round the year giving beam to the cyclotron users. A K-500 superconducting cyclotron (SCC) with K=520 has been constructed at Kolkata. SCC will be used to accelerate beams to 80 MeV/A for light heavy ions and about 10 MeV/A for medium mass heavy ions. Three turbo molecular pumps are connected to the acceleration chamber. Three cryopanels placed inside the lower dees in the valley gap of the superconducting magnet are available in the accelerating chamber for achieving high vacuum. The acceleration chamber having a volume of about 1.0 m3 was operated using turbomolecular pumps, liquid nitrogen cooled panels and liquid helium cooled cryopanels at different stages during beam commissioning. Differential pumping is provided across the RF liner to avoid distortion. The first beam line of about 21 m has been installed in the cyclotron. The outer vacuum chamber of the cyclotron magnet cryostat has active pumping. The vacuum system of the superconducting cyclotron is also operating reliably round the clock throughout the year. The paper describes the details of the vacuum systems of the large cyclotrons at VEC Centre Kolkata India, its commissioning and operating experience.

Spinning rotor gauge based vacuum gauge calibration system at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR)

The Steady-state Superconducting Tokamak (SST-1) is an indigenously built medium sized fusion device at IPR designed for plasma duration of 1000 seconds. It consists of two large vacuum chambers – Vacuum Vessel (16 m3) and Cryostat (39 m3) which will be pumped to UHV and HV pressures respectively using a set of turbo molecular pumps, Cryo-pumps and Roots pumps. The total as well as the partial pressure measurement in these chambers will be carried out using a set of Pirani gauges, Bayard Alpert type gauges, Capacitance manometers and Residual Gas Analyzers (RGA). A reliable and accurate pressure measurement is essential for successful operation of SST-1 machine. For this purpose a gauge calibration system is set up in SST-1 Vacuum laboratory based on Spinning Rotor Gauge which can measure absolute pressure in the range 1.0 mbar to 1.0 × 10−7 mbar. This system is designed to calibrate up to five gauges simultaneously for different gases in different operating pressure ranges of the gauges. This paper discusses the experimental set-up and the procedure adopted for the calibration of such vacuum gauges.

Design, fabrication, and performance testing of a vacuum chamber for pulse compressor of a 150 TW Ti:sapphire laser

A vacuum chamber, to house the optical pulse compressor of a 150 TW Ti:sapphire laser system, has been designed, fabricated, and tested. As the intensity of the laser pulse becomes very high after pulse compression, there is phase distortion of the laser beam in air. Hence, the beam (after pulse compression) has to be transported in vacuum to avoid this distortion, which affects the laser beam focusability. A breadboard with optical gratings and reflective optics for compression of the optical pulse has to be kept inside the chamber. The chamber is made of SS 316L material in cuboidal shape with inside dimensions 1370×1030×650 mm3, with rectangular and circular demountable ports for entry and exit of the laser beam, evacuation, system cables, and ports to access optics mounted inside the chamber. The front and back sides of the chamber are kept demountable in order to insert the breadboard with optical components mounted on it. Leak tightness of 9×10−9 mbar-lit/sec in all the joints and ultimate vacuum of 6.5×10−6 mbar was achieved in the chamber using a turbo molecular pumping system. The paper describe details of the design/ features of the chamber, important procedure involved in machining, fabrication, processing and final testing.

Design on High Vacuum System with Molecular Pump

This paper aimed at finishing a two-stage oil-free high-vacuum system using a molecular pump as the main pump and a rotary vane pump as the backing pump. Before the pump’s inlet, there is a molecular sieve. With the assistance of the high and low vacuum measuring instruments and other accessories, the system can achieve limiting vacuum of 5×10-5Pa in the vacuum chamber whose volume is 0.085m3 and provide the high vacuum needed for vacuum coating equipments whose magnitude is 100mm.

The European Young Chemist Award 2012

The European Young Chemist Award 2012