Premium Freeze Dryer Vacuum Pump

This is the freeze dryer vacuum pump that comes with every Blue Alpine freeze dryer, sold here on its own as a spare or replacement. It’s a double-stage rotary vane pump, and it’s oil-sealed. Not oil-free. Blue Alpine SKU BA-6DVP-01, $672.

Oil-sealed, so plan on oil changes

If you were hoping for an oil-free freeze dryer vacuum pump, this isn’t one. In a rotary vane pump, oil seals the small gaps between the vanes and the housing and keeps the vanes lubricated. That seal is how it pulls a deep vacuum.

The trade-off is upkeep. Moisture and contaminants that reach the oil wear it out over time, and oil that turns milky or cloudy is due for a change. Check it regularly, and follow the owner’s manual for the oil type and how to drain and refill. If you want the theory, Wikipedia’s rotary vane pump article explains the mechanism.

Freeze dryer vacuum pump specs

• Double-stage rotary vane, oil-sealed, dual cylinders
• Flow: 6.0 or 8.0 CFM (see the note below)
• 3/4 HP brushless motor, 115V / 60Hz
• Spark-less, and rated safe for indoor use per Blue Alpine
• Internal anti-backflow valve
• Built-in analog vacuum gauge
• Fitting: 1/2 in hose barb to 1/2 in male NPT
• Size: 13.9 x 5.4 x 12.3 in

6.0 or 8.0 CFM?

Blue Alpine’s spec sheet lists this freeze dryer vacuum pump at 6.0 or 8.0 CFM, and the listing doesn’t tell us which one a given unit is. CFM is free-air displacement, the volume of air the pump moves per minute at normal atmospheric pressure. Higher CFM generally means a quicker pump-down. It says nothing about how deep a vacuum the pump reaches. If the flow figure matters for your setup, call +1 (443) 514-5708 before you order and ask which version we have in stock.

What the two stages and the valve do

A double-stage pump runs two pumping stages in series. The second stage works on what the first has already thinned out, so a two-stage pump reaches a lower final pressure than a single-stage one.

When an oil-sealed pump stops while it’s still under vacuum, oil can get pulled back up the line. This freeze dryer vacuum pump has an internal anti-backflow valve that stops that and seals the system at the end of the cycle. The built-in analog gauge lets you read the vacuum right at the pump, which helps when you’re hunting for a leak.

On the motor: Blue Alpine says brushless increases longevity. Brushed motors throw small sparks at the commutator. A brushless motor doesn’t have one.

Hooking up a freeze dryer vacuum pump

Keep the hose short. Blue Alpine warns that hoses longer than 5 ft tend to cause errors with freeze dryers. Our hose is sold by the foot, with a 13 mm inner diameter (just over 1/2 in), so buy the length you need and no more.

Inside every Blue Alpine chamber there’s a P100 filter, the 3M 2097, protecting the pump from particulates. At $19.98 for two, spare filters cost a lot less than a pump does.

Give the pump a flat, stable spot with some air around it. Unplug it before you touch the oil or the fittings.

Do you need a spare freeze dryer vacuum pump?

If you’re ordering a Medium Select or Large Select, no. One is already in the box. Buy this freeze dryer vacuum pump separately if you want a spare on the shelf, need to replace a worn one, or plan to run it with another brand of freeze dryer. It can be used with other brands with an adapter. We don’t sell adapters, so work out the connection before you order; the pump end is a 1/2 in hose barb to 1/2 in male NPT.

Not sure it’ll suit your machine? Send us the details through the contact page and we’ll tell you what we know. The hose and filter are listed under plumbing and filters.