Month: November 2024

Fits Like a Glove!!!

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment
If you must use quick connects, the 1/4 turn claw type (left) is the least restrictive. Push-to-connects (center) are likely to starve your product, unless you oversize them (right) like we do in our Efficiency Lab.

To ensure optimal performance of your EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air® product, it is essential to provide a consistent flow of compressed air at the ideal pressure. Factors such as the output pressure of the compressor, the airflow rate, the inner diameter of the piping, the internal smoothness of the pipes, and the type of connectors all play a significant role in determining performance.

In manufacturing applications, it is crucial to evaluate both the air pressure and airflow generated by the air compressor that supplies all tools. An air compressor may deliver sufficient supply pressure for an EXAIR product, yet it might not provide adequate airflow for prolonged use of the product.

A properly engineered compressed air distribution system can enhance efficiency by as much as 30%, resulting in significant annual energy cost savings. Hoses, tubing, and fittings play a crucial role in any compressed air system, similar to the pipes that convey compressed air to its final destination. Typically, these components are utilized between the compressor and the piping or between the piping and the application. Although they constitute a minor portion of the overall system, they often receive insufficient consideration, which can lead to pressure loss at the point of use if not appropriately chosen or maintained. To avoid unnecessary pressure drops and potential production losses, it is essential to take into account several key factors when selecting hoses, tubing, and quick disconnect couplings.

A pressure drop is when there is a reduction in air pressure within an air compressor system. The pressure drop can happen anywhere between the compressor discharge and the actual point of consumption. The pressure drop varies on the type of industry and application of air compressors. The extent of this pressure drop increases with smaller pipe diameters and longer lengths. Additionally, fittings can considerably affect system performance by decreasing the effective flow area.

EXAIR products are designed to improve the overall efficiency of your operations. If you need help and have questions, please contact any of the Application Engineers. There is no risk to trying our products as we have a 30-day Guarantee for all of our US and Canadian customers.

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk

Better Working Conditions Thanks To Back Blow Safety Air Guns

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

Employee appreciation covers a wide range of things that employers do for their employees. From catered lunches to SWAG (stuff we all get) to recognition for milestone anniversaries with the company, I’m sure most of us are familiar with these, and other methods to thank workers for their efforts, time, talent, and loyalty.

I had the pleasure of speaking with the production manager of a company that specialized in parts for commercial vehicles. The assembly workers in a particular department had to periodically clean grease from inside a small opening. The only practical way to do it by hand was to reach their fingers in and wipe it out, a little at a time, until it was clean. They wore gloves to reduce skin exposure to the grease, but they’d tear, meaning they either had to stop and get a new glove, or continue to wipe the grease out with their bare fingers. The latter was less time-consuming, but the environmental, safety, and health manager wasn’t keen on that. They needed a ‘hands off‘ method of removing the grease.

This particular company had a number of EXAIR Safety Air Guns that had proven their worth in reducing compressed air consumption and noise levels, so the production manager called us for a solution. The initial thought, at the plant, was to use one of our Industrial Housekeeping Products, but it sure sounded to me like a textbook application for a Back Blow Safety Air Gun.

EXAIR Back Blow Air Nozzles come in three sizes, for bores from 1/4″ to 16″ in diameter!

And it was. After a brief discussion, the production manager ordered a Model 1306SS-12-CS Heavy Duty Back Blow Safety Air Gun before we got off the phone. It comes with the Model 1006SS Back Blow Air Nozzle installed, which is specified for inside diameters from 7/8″ to 4″. They had it the next day, and reported back that not only did the operators not have to reach their fingers inside the opening anymore, the Back Blow Safety Air Gun did the job in just a couple of seconds. This made everyone happy: the production manager because of the process improvement, the environmental, safety, and health manager because of the elimination of the hazard associated with continuous grease exposure to people’s hands, and the operators because the ‘ick’ factor from one of the less favorite tasks was reduced to an occasional wipe-down of the Back Blow Safety Air Gun’s Chip Shield.

Heavy Duty Back Blow Safety Air Guns come with Chip Shields, and Rigid Extensions from 6″ to 72″ in length.

Employee appreciation can take a number of forms. Not that there’s anything wrong with pizza, anniversary & holiday parties, achievement recognition, etc., but tangible improvements to everyday operations have to be close to the top of that list. I tell people, all the time, that I’m here to help them get the most out of our products, and their compressed air systems. I felt really good about doing just that with this customer. If you’ve got a situation like this that needs improvement, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Entrainment: How it Works and Why EXAIR Products are Engineered to Use it.

Published on by John BallLeave a comment
EXAIR Super Air Nozzle entrainment

Because of the large amount of energy required to run an air compressor, the pneumatic system is considered the fourth utility in a manufacturing plant.  And saving this commodity and using it as efficiently as you can, should be a priority.  EXAIR has many products that can save energy by using less compressed air.  And the story behind this is entrainment explained by Bernoulli’s equation. 

Bernoulli’s principle explains how a high velocity fluid can generate a low pressure.  (You can read more about Bernoulli’s principle HERE.)  Let’s start by looking at Equation 1.

Equation 1:

P + d * V2/2 = C 

P – pressure

d – density of the fluid

V – velocity

C – a constant

As you can see from Equation 1, when the velocity goes up, the pressure must go down.  When we have a lower pressure, then the surrounding fluid will fill that void.  Since air is a fluid, we can use high velocity to entrain the surrounding ambient air.  The free air will add to the compressed air to give the airstream mass for a hard-hitting force.  This ratio of ambient air to compressed air is called entrainment.  The higher the entrainment, the more efficient the product.  Bernoulli’s Principle can be applied in two ways; as a Coanda and as a Venturi.  EXAIR uses both methods in our products for creating low-pressure effects. 

Compressed air flows through the inlet (1) to the Full Flow (left) or Standard (right) Air Knife, into the internal plenum. It then discharges through a thin gap (2), adhering to the Coanda profile (3) which directs it down the face of the Air Knife. The precision engineered & finished surfaces optimize entrainment of air (4) from the surrounding environment.

The first way is from a Coanda profile.  Coanda, named after Henri Coanda, noticed that a fluid would “hug” a curved surface.  (You can read more about Henri Coanda HERE.)  The high velocity air going around the curved surface will generate a low pressure above it.  You can imagine an airplane wing generating that low pressure to fly.  We use this with our FullFlow and Standard Air Knives, our Air Wipes, and our Air Amplifiers.  With a Coanda profile, we can get an amplification ratio up to 30:1, which means that for every 1 part of compressed air, 30 parts of ambient air is entrained.  We are able to create an efficient blow-off device by using the Coada profile. 

To generate even lower pressure, this can be done by a Venturi.  This phenomenon is named after Giovanni Venturi, who discovered that by increasing the velocity through an orifice, the surrounding fluid will move with it, generating a lower pressure.  (You can read more about Giovanni Venturi HERE.)  Remember the higher the velocity, the lower the pressure from Equation 1 above.  We use the Venturi effect on our Super Air Knives, E-Vacs, Line Vacs, and Super Air Nozzles.  As compared to our FullFlow and Standard Air Knives, the Super Air Knives can generate an amplification ratio of 40:1.  As an engineered product, we were able to increase efficiency even further. 

EXAIR has been manufacturing Intelligent Compressed Air® products since 1983.  We can provide solutions that are efficient, effective, and safe for blow-off systems.  In comparison, the other blow-off devices are like incandescent light bulbs, while EXAIR products are like LED light bulbs.  Entrainment of free ambient air can save you a lot of money when using your compressed air system.  If you would like to discuss solutions to use less compressed air and improve your bottom dollar, an Application Engineer at EXAIR is available to help.   

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb

Video Blog: Starter Guide Series – Air Wipes

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

EXAIR manufactures two types of Air Wipes; the Standard Air Wipe™ and the Super Air Wipe™.  They are designed to blow an airstream in a concentric pattern around the outside of pipes, cables, extruded shapes, hoses and much more. The video below is a starter guide to the Air wipe product line.

If you would like to discuss  any of EXAIR’s safe, quiet & efficient compressed air products, I would enjoy hearing from you…give me a call or shoot me an email!

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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