A vacuum priming system is an industrial quality system designed specifically for the challenges associated with priming pumps when the water source is at a lower elevation (e.g. a non-flooded suction). Although they may look similar to standard industrial vacuum pump systems, critically important differences result in a system either being reliable and low maintenance, or failing prematurely with high maintenance requirements. Priming systems are typically manufactured in simplex or duplex designs using a variety of vacuum technologies, to produce the necessary vacuum. Fully automatic controls ensure continuous priming on every pump in the system, with limited run time. A well-designed priming system allows the use of more reliable, cost-effective pump technologies while ensuring that pumps are always ready to start immediately without troublesome start-up procedures.

Priming systems can be used in any application where a water source needs to be lifted to a higher elevation. Since the introduction of the Q-VAC brand in the early 1990’s, Q-VAC priming systems have been installed in municipal water plants, wastewater treatment plants, commercial ships, naval ships, marine applications, siphon control systems, irrigation systems, aquariums, steel mills, power plants, fountains, landfills, industrial applications, and other pump priming applications.