Vacuum breakers
Overview
Spirax Sarco vacuum breakers are used to break vacuum conditions in steam systems and associated vessels when steam condenses during shutdown or cooling. They help protect plant equipment from distortion, damage or operational upset caused by the negative pressure that can develop as steam volume collapses. This makes them relevant wherever shutdown behaviour, drainage and vessel integrity are closely linked rather than treated as separate concerns. Vacuum breakers are often selected alongside venting, drainage and other pipeline ancillaries to build a more stable and safer steam installation. Typical use cases include vessels, heat exchangers and other steam spaces where collapse or delayed drainage would create avoidable mechanical stress.
Related vacuum-protection routes
Vacuum breakers are usually selected alongside venting and shutdown behaviour. If the same steam space also needs start-up gas removal or ongoing venting, compare air vents. Where the outlet arrangement also needs quieter atmospheric discharge, continue into blowdown diffusers.
For vessel duties influenced by heat-transfer equipment, this route also connects naturally with steam heat exchangers.
Continue your vessel protection selection
Vacuum protection is usually tied to the wider behaviour of the steam space during shutdown, cooling and condensate collapse.
See the wider vessel protection range
Return to the wider pipeline ancillaries range when vacuum protection is only one part of a broader venting, drainage or vessel protection arrangement.
Coordinate venting with vacuum protection
Use air vents and air eliminators when the duty also depends on removing non-condensable gases during start-up or normal operation rather than only breaking shutdown vacuum.
Support safer atmospheric discharge
Review diffusers when the protection arrangement also includes discharge to atmosphere and the outlet needs better noise and erosion control.