When we talk about how a vacuum cleaner works, the first thing that comes to mind is that “it sucks.” That is draws air in.
This is true, but the curious thing is how it is achieved.
The operation of a vacuum cleaner step by step
- The motor drives a fan that blows air out. This way, se gcreates a vacuum, which causes outside air to enter through the tube, to fill it.
- The difference in pressure causes the air to go through the tubes towards the body of the vacuum cleaner, to fill the vacuum. In short, the device sucks and drags the dust inside.
- The sucked air passes through the bag, while dirt gets trapped.
- clean air goes through the fan.
- Finally, the air is expelled out.
How a vacuum cleaner works
The considered first portable vacuum cleaner, designed by James Murray Spangler in 1907, was already based on this system.
- Therefore, If we used a conventional vacuum cleaner on the Moon (or, in general, in outer space), it would not work, since, since there was no air to fill that void, it would not suck.
And what about the famous HEPA filters?
Vacuum cleaners also have an inlet filter – or motor filter –, an outlet filter and, in the case of bagless vacuum cleaners, a dust container filter.
This means that, in the middle, The dirt passes through different filters, so that the air that is returned to the outside comes out cleaner..
These filters may or may not be washable, and may be HEPA. HEPA filters trap the smallest particles, but not all of them have the same effectiveness.
There is a scale, from 10 to 14. From 10 to 12 are EPA, high efficiency, and from 13 to 14 are HEPA, very high efficiency.
EPA 10 “only” traps 85% of particles smaller than 0,1 microns in diameter (a micron is one thousandth of a millimeter). For its part, HEPA 14 have an efficiency of 99,995%.
Explanatory video of the operation of a vacuum cleaner
Components of a vacuum cleaner
All the classic vacuum cleaners have:
- A brush or head, through which the dust enters the device.
- A rigid tube, which may include a handle.
- A flexible tube, which carries dirt inside.
- The body, which includes the dust bag or container and the main motor.
Furthermore, depending on the type of vacuum cleaner, there may be another motor, for example, on the rotating brush.
What does the effectiveness of a vacuum cleaner depend on?
The power: The faster you push air out, the faster air from outside will come in to fill the void.
Air inlet size: The smaller the opening, the stronger the suction. Therefore, when we put a narrower nozzle, we notice how it absorbs more.
The design of the tubes and brushes, which can condition air flows.
For proper operation, it is advisable to empty them before completely filling, since a bag or tank that is too full will hinder the air flow, causing the vacuum cleaner to lose effectiveness.
However, progress has also been made in this field. Some manufacturers already offer bags designed to minimize loss of suction power due to filling the bag. They are called S-bags., made of synthetic material; Not only do they prevent loss of suction, but they are also 50% more durable than traditional paper bags.
Some vacuum cleaners have a stock exchange indicator based precisely on the measurement of air flows. They have a sensor that compares the difference in the pressure of the air entering and leaving the bag. When this difference is greater than a certain limit, the pilot light comes on.
Likewise, some devices also have a sensor that measures the difference between air entering and leaving the filter, to indicate when to change it, based on the same system.
The filtered air finally exits outside, now clean, also depending on the effectiveness of the filters you have (whether or not they are HEPA, and to what degree).
Do you want to know more about efficient vacuum cleaners? Do you know the best silent vacuum cleaners on the market? Or maybe you prefer a robot vacuum cleaner? Visit our articles:
What a great article, congratulations on the post!
Hello, Edison Miguel, thank you for visiting our website.
It would be necessary to see, it is normal for vacuum cleaners to have some type of foam or sponge type filter, it would be necessary to see if it is that or some type of acoustic insulation (type of polyurethane foam or similar) in which case, it could be that have the appearance you mention.
All the best
I have an Electrolux vacuum cleaner that didn't suck, I uncovered it and found that there is some kind of melted foam that acts as a sealant and is sticky. I organize it by arranging it against the entry of air and it sucks again. The question is, is this material like rubber or is it a foam that has melted due to heat?
Hello, good information..my question is..is there any way to minimize the air that is blown back?..it is very annoying since all that air begins to blow and throw away all the dust that is in the place and on things. ..and then while I suck up the dust from one side and the back, the same air that comes out of the vacuum cleaner picks up all the dust that is in the place I want to suck..is that all of them? Or are there some that work differently? Or that its air outlet is in another place that makes it more comfortable...maybe at the bottom and not so high up...I don't know if it's a silly thing to ask this...but I don't know if it won't be annoying for others. all the air that comes out from behind... I hope you can answer me, thank you...
My vacuum cleaner has both suction and blow functions.
Hi Oli, thank you for stopping by and for your kind words.
Well, it's a good question... Vacuum cleaners have an air flow, which is absorbed on one side and released on the other. In the middle, there are various filters that allow air to pass through, while retaining most of the microparticles of dust and mites, so the air that comes out on the other side is cleaner.
If it could be somewhere else, it is possible, although we understand that the designers of the various brands put it in the most appropriate place to promote air flow.
It must also be taken into account that due to the restrictions caused by the EU energy label, manufacturers have had to improve the efficiency of the devices, since they now have a lower nominal power (that is, with fewer watts of power). consumption, they achieve the same power), so they have to optimize the design as much as possible to achieve this.
All the best
He gave me very good information, thank you very much for everything.
Thank you, Maicc, for your visit and for your kind words.
A greeting.
My vacuum cleaner doesn't work. I don't have a bag on it because right now I'm without them. Could this be the reason or is it unrelated?
Hello, Marina, thank you for visiting our website. This is probably the case, your vacuum cleaner must have a safety system that ensures that the motor does not work when there is no bag (or when it is incorrectly installed), to prevent it from sucking and the dust from going where it does not have to go.
All the best
Could it be reversed, so that instead of sucking in air it expelled it?
Hi Sheila, thanks for stopping by.
As a power, you could, but in a conventional vacuum cleaner you would have to do some "operations", as explained here http://www.ehowenespanol.com/convertir-aspiradora-inflador-como_51519/ or here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxpSJzqtF0A.
The easiest thing, if you want a vacuum cleaner that blows, is to directly buy one that has that function, in our article https://www.miaspiradora.com/industriales-seco-humedo/mejores-aspiradoras-industriales-analizamos-20-modelos-mas-vendidos/ You can see several models that include the blowing function.
All the best
Thank you, Margarita, we are glad you liked it.
All the best
Good information