Leybold sponsor Formula Student Team Delft in their biggest challenge to date, to win Formula Student Germany (FSG) with their latest car, the DUT23. Racing against around 100 other teams from around the world, where their self-build racing cars are judged against several performance tests and must have a viable business plan. It’s a test of endurance, teamwork, and project management which Leybold are excited to support.
To be first over the line Formula Student Team Delft need to design and build the fastest and most consistent car, and one of the biggest challenges is that of weight. The car needs to be as lightweight as possible, so a large portion of the chassis and aerodynamics are made from composites, usually carbon fibre. These parts are cured under a vacuum environment, and vacuum pumps are an essential part of this process. It’s paramount that the vacuum pumps can create and maintain a very low pressure in the vacuum bags. This allows the carbon fibres to compress better, achieves good strength and stiffness, and significantly decreases the possibility of defects in the final product.
“As part of the sponsorship Leybold have kindly donated two SOGEVAC 16B rotary vane pumps to the team.” Says Moritz Rokitta, Chief Chassis Formula Student Team Delft. “We produce most of our carbon parts in-house, so we need our tools and materials, including vacuum pumps, to be reliable and easy to maintain.”
The Leybold SOGEVAC B single-stage oil sealed rotary vane pumps are ideal for this application, offering low cost of ownership will consistent reliable performance. Achieving an ultimate pressure of ≤ 8 x 10-2 mbar, the pumps are equipped with an anti-suck back valve at the inlet flange to prevent oil coming back into the inlet line when the pump is stopped and a gas ballast for pumping condensable vapours.
“Leybold are excited to back Formula Student Team Delft in their race to electric, providing them with the vacuum know-how and technology to help the get on the top step of podium and be the winning team in 2023.” Says Ian Dorman, General Manager Leybold. “Our vacuum technology enables many aspects of car production, from the materials for improved performance and strength to the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries, Leybold is there at every stage.”
FSG23 will take place from 14th to 20th August 2023 in Hockenheim, Germany, and Team Leybold will be waving the flag for Formula Student Team Delft.