Pneumatic Conveyors

About Pneumatic Conveyors and Pneumatic Conveyor Manufacturers Including: Air Conveyors, Pneumatic Conveying, Pneumatic Conveying Systems, & Vacuum Conveyors.

Pneumatic conveyors, also called air conveyors, use air to transport materials from one location to another. Pneumatic conveyor systems do this by generating air pressure levels measuring either above or below the atmospheric pressure to move the materials through pipes or tubes in the conveyor system to the required destination. As a general rule, pneumatic conveyors are highly reliable and easy to maintain, which makes them an attractive choice when considering various conveying methods. Single pneumatic conveyors can handle a variety of materials, so there is little need to have many conveyors specializing in only one product.
 
There are many different types of air conveyers, which are manufactured to handle the various needs of the many industries that are served by them. Some of the more basic types are the dilute phase and dense phase conveyors, which differ by pressure and rate of speed. Dense phase conveyors are run by compression, and are used for conveying mainly heavier materials. Because of this, these convey at a slower rate than dilute phase conveyors, which convey by creating a vacuum. This method is much quicker and is used to convey smaller, lighter materials. Other types of air conveyors are named for their specific duties, such as the bulk handling conveyor, the abrasive materials conveyor and the food handling conveyor. In addition to the wide range of standard configurations, pneumatic conveyor manufacturers may also offer custom conveyor designs to fulfill customer requests so everyone’s needs are covered.

Pneumatic and air conveyors are a cost-effective, reliable and quick method for transporting many different materials. Some of these materials include powders, grains, soils, sands, pills, pellets, tablets, rocks, metals, carbon black, coal, gravel, chemicals, textiles, food, plastics, powders, wood chips, toxic waste and asbestos. Besides the large variety of materials pneumatic conveyors are able to handle, they also have the benefit of low product leakage. This remains particularly important in industrial applications involving the conveyance of hazardous materials where a leak can be dangerous as well as a threat to the operation. Other benefits of pneumatic conveyors include sanitary operation and a wide range of models to suit the varying needs of different industries and products.

Many industries, including the food and beverage processing, plastic, pharmaceutical, marine, machining and milling, powder coating, textile, aviation, clay and ceramics, glass, mining, paper and pulp, automotive, steel mills and chemical industries benefit from pneumatic conveyor systems. When considering the use of a pneumatic conveyor system, certain factors must be taken into account. First consider what material needs to be conveyed and specifications such as size, shape, weight and volume. Another thing to consider is the production environment in which the conveyor system needs to be utilized. There is a pneumatic conveying system for almost any need.

Pneumatic Conveyor	Dense Phase Transporter
Pneumatic Conveyors and Air Conveyors Image provided by Flexicon	Pneumatic Conveyors and Air Conveyors Image provided by Nol-Tec Systems, Inc.

Pneumatic Conveyors and Air Conveyors Image provided by Vac-U-Max	Pneumatic Conveyors and Air Conveyors Image provided by Whirl-Air-Flow Corp.

Types of Pneumatic Conveyors Including: Air Conveyors, Vacuum Conveyors, Pneumatic Conveying Systems, and Pneumatic Conveying.

• Abrasive materials conveyors move coarse rough materials at a slow pace. Abrasive materials conveyors often use compressed air to move the material through the system efficiently.
  
• Air conveyors use pneumatic power to transport materials.
  
• Bulk handling conveyors handle a variety of materials for a wide and ever-increasing range of industries. These conveyors fill bags with bulk materials and transport them.
  
• Dense phase conveyors are useful in transporting abrasive, friable or heavy materials, such as sands, soils, minerals and rocks. Dense phase conveyors use an air compressor to generate high pressure levels to move materials slowly through the system.
  
• Dilute phase conveyors move non-abrasive, light materials like powders and grains. Dilute phase conveyors use low pressure air levels during the quick transportation of materials through the system.
  
• Enclosed conveyers are conveyor systems that are completely covered. Enclosed conveyors protect against product contamination, and are particularly useful in applications involving the conveyance of sensitive products, such as for the pharmaceutical, chemical and medical industries.
  
• Food handling conveyors are used in the food processing industry to convey a variety of food products, including beans, nuts, powders and formulas. Because food handling conveyors transfer products that will eventually be ingested, cleaning is very important to avoid product contamination
  
• Mobile conveyors are rolled to and positioned at a desired discharge point. Material can be drawn from a container, a feedbin or a pickup adapter under a bin or process vessel.
  
• Pneumatic conveying uses forced gas to transport solid goods.
  
• Pneumatic conveying systems consist of all of the components used in air-powered conveyors.
  
• Vacuum conveyors are generated by compressed air-driven vacuum pumps that can be controlled automatically. When the material container is full, the vacuum pump is stopped and the bottom valve opens so the material can be discharged

Common Terms Related to Pneumatic Conveyors, Air Conveyors, Vacuum Conveyors, Pneumatic Conveying Systems, and Pneumatic Conveying.

Air Compressor - The piece of equipment that creates pressurized air above atmospheric level in a dense phase pneumatic conveyor system ( http://www.iqsdirectory.com/air-compressors).
 
Air Receiver - A tank that holds compressed air obtained from the system's air compressor in a dense phase pneumatic conveyor system.
 
Atmospheric Pressure - The amount of force the atmosphere exerts upon the earth's surface. Air in a pneumatic conveyor with pressure greater than 14.7 psi is considered compressed, and pressure below 14.7 psi is considered a vacuum.
 
Bin Vent Filter - In a pneumatic conveyor, the mechanism that removes or filters dust from system components, such as silos.
 
Casters - Wheels that make the pneumatic conveyors portable.
 
Diverter Valve - A mechanism that changes/diverts material flow in pneumatic conveyors to a different direction.
 
End Receiver - The mechanism that transfers the conveyed material from the tubing to the receiving bin.
 
Footprint - The total space that pneumatic conveyors occupy on the production floor.
 
Horsepower (HP) - A measure of the time rate of doing work.
 
Piping - The tubes through which the conveyed material travels to reach the intended destination. Pneumatic conveyors piping is arranged in a network that travels through the facility, avoiding obstacles.
 
Pneumatic Piping System - The entire system of pneumatic conduits used to transfer air or other gases between various operating components of the pneumatic system such as pumps, valves and actuators of the pneumatic conveyors.
 
Pressure - Force per unit of area.
 
Psi (Pounds per Square Inch) - A unit that measures the amount of pressure applied to an object.
 
Receiving Bin - Pneumatic conveyors component that obtains or receives conveyed material.
 
Relief Valve - A mechanism attached to different pneumatic conveyors components that alleviates built up pressure created by the system.
 
Rotary Valve - A mechanism responsible for releasing pneumatic conveyors materials under gravitational pressure.
 
Silo - A large container in which material is stored prior to conveyance.
 
Tubing Bend - Sections of tubes containing various degrees of curvature to facilitate the efficient maneuvering of pneumatic conveyors pipes, through which conveyed materials are transported.
 
Transporter - A container in pneumatic conveyors that stores material to be conveyed at a certain rate. Dense phase pneumatic conveyors transporters often accept compressed air into the container to move or transport the material under pressure.