VacTran is a specialized vacuum system modeling software developed by Professional Engineering Computations (PEC), designed to simulate and optimize high-vacuum environments for industrial applications, research labs, and advanced experiments. It addresses real-world challenges in vacuum technology by performing rapid calculations for system performance, including pump-down times, ultimate pressures, throughput, and conductance. VacTran uses mathematical models to predict how components like pumps, valves, leaks, and chambers interact, enabling engineers to evaluate design alternatives without physical prototyping. This tool is particularly valuable in fields such as semiconductor manufacturing, particle physics, aerospace, and materials science, where precise vacuum control is critical to prevent contamination or ensure process reliability.
The software supports a wide range of vacuum technologies, including turbomolecular pumps, cryopumps, diffusion pumps, and roughing systems. It models both steady-state and transient behaviors, incorporating factors like gas loads, orifice conductances, and surface outgassing. VacTran runs on Windows (XP through 11) and features an intuitive interface with graphical outputs for pressure profiles, flow rates, and sensitivity analyses.
Key Features
- System Simulation: Builds virtual vacuum networks with customizable components (e.g., chambers, pipes, pumps) to simulate pump-down curves and steady-state pressures.
- Conductance and Throughput Calculations: Computes molecular flow regimes, including aperture, pipe, and valve conductances, with support for multiple gas species.
- Optimization Tools: Performs “what-if” scenarios for design iterations, such as varying pump speeds or line diameters to minimize time to ultimate vacuum.
- Data Visualization: Generates plots for pressure vs. time, throughput distribution, and compression ratios; exports results to CSV or Excel for further analysis.
- Standards Compliance: Aligns with vacuum engineering practices from sources like AVS (American Vacuum Society) and ISO standards for leak rates and outgassing.
