HollowStream Spray Nozzles

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

At EXAIR we are known for our intelligent compressed air products. We’ve written many blogs on the benefits of our quiet and efficient compressed air products. We also have a handful of products that don’t use compressed air. Our  HollowStream™ Cone Liquid Nozzles are one such product.

As the name would suggest, the HollowStream™ Cone Liquid Nozzles produce a hollow cone of liquid, creating a ring around the target. This will reduce the liquid usage as compared to the OmniStream™ Cone Liquid Nozzles.  They are available in NPT female threads in 1/8″, 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ sizes with a variety of liquid flow rates.

When fluid is supplied into the body, a swirling action is created within the vortex chamber. This vortex is what creates the cone pattern. Then the precision orifice of the nozzle breaks this surface tension of the liquid, exiting the nozzle with the hollow ring pattern. Compared to our Air Atomizing Spray Nozzles, these nozzles generate more liquid volume and produce a coarser spray pattern. They can achieve flow rates ranging from 0.06 GPM and up to 14.00 GPM.

Diagram illustrating airflow in a vortex tube, showing a spiral airflow pattern directed toward the exit.

They are all made of 303 stainless steel with a vaneless design to help resist clogging, making them a great option for slurries, or liquids containing particulate. They can handle 250 PSIG of liquid pressure and operate at temperatures up to 800°F. And due to the fact that they only require pressurized liquid, and not an additional source of compressed air, they are easy to plumb, and are suited for applications where there may be space constraints.

Some common applications include cooling, cleaning, washing, rinsing and dust suppression. As long as you know the spray pattern you are looking to achieve, or the flow rate you want to maintain, our performance tables in our catalog and website make it easy to make your selection.

A table detailing FullStream Cone Nozzles, including columns for inlet connection, model, capacity, max free passage, flow rate in GPM and LPM at various psi levels, and spray angle measurements.

If you would like to discuss your spray application, and how EXAIR’s products can save you money, then give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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Super Ion Air Knife Overview

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment
A collection of industrial electronic components including a sensor, cables, mounting brackets, a pressure gauge, and a control box.
Gen4 Super Ion Air Knife Kit

Static electricity is a prevalent issue in various manufacturing settings, manifesting in several ways, such as shocking workers, causing materials to adhere, tear, or jam, and interfering with sensitive electronic devices. If you have experienced static problems in your workplace or home, you may have observed that these issues are more pronounced in colder, drier conditions. This phenomenon occurs because lower humidity levels reduce the amount of water vapor in the air, which is essential for dissipating electrical charges. Consequently, with diminished moisture, the potential for higher electrical charges increases.

Our Gen4 Super Ion Air Knives are a central element of this promotion, engineered to effectively remove static electricity from a variety of surfaces, such as plastics, webs, and sheet materials. By employing a laminar airflow, these air knives efficiently eliminate static, dust, and other contaminants from surfaces.

EXAIR Super Ion Air Knife

This cutting-edge technology not only accelerates production rates but also enhances product quality and guarantees exceptional surface cleanliness. The integration of these air knives into your processes can lead to significant improvements in operational efficiency.

The Gen4 Super Ion Air Knife effectively disperses static-eliminating ions over a distance of up to 20 feet, with adjustable airflow that ranges from a powerful blast to a gentle breeze. This device operates without shock and features no moving parts, ensuring reliability and ease of maintenance. It requires only 3.7 SCFM of compressed air per foot at a pressure of 5 PSIG, making it an efficient choice for various applications.

A Super Ion Air Knife used for static control in various applications, featuring a long, flat design with a control panel at the top and a book or printed material positioned in the front.
Available in lengths from 3″ to 108″, the Super Ion Air Knife dissipates even high static charges quickly.

In addition to its functional benefits, the Gen4 Super Ion Air Knife operates at a remarkably low sound level of 50 dBA, which is suitable for most environments. This combination of performance and quiet operation makes it an ideal solution for effectively managing static electricity in diverse settings.

If you have any questions about Gen4 Super Ion Air Knives, or anything regarding EXAIR and our products, please do not hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear from you!

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

Why Engineered Air Nozzles Outperform Open Pipes (And Cut Air Use by Up to 70%)

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

Compressed air is one of the most expensive utilities in any manufacturing facility—yet it’s often treated as “free.” One of the biggest contributors to wasted compressed air is the continued use of open pipes, drilled pipes, or homemade blowoffs for cleaning, drying, and cooling applications.

While these methods may seem simple and inexpensive, they are inefficient, unsafe, noisy, and costly over time. EXAIR Engineered Air Nozzles are designed to solve these exact problems. Often reducing compressed air consumption by up to 70% while improving performance.

Open pipes release compressed air directly to atmosphere with no control, no amplification, and no optimization. This creates several major issues:

Excessive Air Consumption

An open 1/4″ pipe at 80 PSIG can consume 25+ SCFM continuously. Multiply that across shifts, days, and multiple stations, and the cost quickly adds up.

Poor Performance

Open pipes create turbulent airflow that dissipates rapidly, requiring higher pressure and more air to achieve acceptable results.

High Noise Levels

Uncontrolled air release produces noise levels that can exceed OSHA limits, creating safety and compliance concerns.

Safety Risks

Open pipes can generate dangerous dead-end pressures and flying debris, posing serious injury risks to operators. Creating real situations where

What Makes EXAIR Engineered Air Nozzles Different?

EXAIR Engineered Air Nozzles are precision-designed to maximize force while minimizing air consumption. Instead of wasting compressed air, they use advanced airflow geometry to do more with less.

Air Amplification

EXAIR nozzles use the Coandă effect to entrain surrounding ambient air. For every unit of compressed air used, multiple units of free air are pulled into the flow—creating higher output force without increased air usage.

Optimized Flow Patterns

Rather than chaotic turbulence, engineered nozzles produce laminar, focused airflow that delivers better cleaning, drying, and cooling results at lower pressure.

Significant Air Savings

It’s common to see 30–70% reductions in air consumption when replacing open pipes with EXAIR air nozzles—often with improved performance.

Eleminate Safety Risks

Air nozzles and jets are designed to operate well above 30 PSIG while creating dead end pressures well below the OSHA limits. Giving you better performance safley.

EXAIR Model 1100 Super Air Nozzle Replaces Open Copper Pipe Blow Off

Replacing open pipes with EXAIR Engineered Air Nozzles is one of the simplest and most cost-effective improvements you can make to a compressed air system.

If you’re serious about:

  • Reducing energy costs
  • Improving safety
  • Lowering noise levels
  • Getting more from your compressed air

…it’s time to stop blowing money into the air.

EXAIR Engineered Air Nozzles prove that better design beats brute force—every time.

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer / Sales Operations Engineer

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Vortex Tubes For Spot Cooling Processes

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

EXAIR’s Vortex Tubes are a great product for many cooling applications. When supplied with a clean and moisture-free source of compressed air, they will generate two streams of airflow, one hot and one cold. They are a low-cost and reliable solution, capable of producing temperatures ranging from -50°F to +260°F. We have flow rates from 2 SCFM to 150 SCFM, producing refrigeration over 10,000btu/hr.

We also have several other product lines that are great for cooling, like our Air Knives or Air Amplifiers. So, why would you choose a Vortex Tube? Our Air Knives and Amplifiers cool primarily by moving large volumes of ambient air. If you have a 400°F part that needs cooling to under 100°F, then hitting it with large amounts of 70°F ambient air is going to rapidly bring the temperature down. This does mean that there is a limit to how low of a temperature you can achieve with these products; our Air Knives and Amplifiers won’t be able to cool below ambient temperatures. Our Vortex Tubes, on the other hand, with temperatures as low as -50°F, can provide much more powerful cooling and targeted cooling.

Now you have determined that a Vortex Tube is right for you, you’ll need to decide between our two different series: 32XX and 34XX. The difference between the two model types comes down to the Cold Fraction, which is determined by where the Control Valve is positioned. When you open the Control Valve (by turning it counterclockwise, as shown by the blue arrow in the photo to the right), it decreases the Cold Fraction, which leads to a reduced flow and a significant drop in temperature in the cold air discharge. Conversely, closing the Control Valve (by turning it clockwise, indicated by the red arrow) boosts the cold air flow, but causes a smaller temperature drop. This ability to adjust is crucial for the Vortex Tube’s flexibility.

 You can set the Cold Fraction as low as 20%, which means that a small portion (20% to be precise) of the supply air is sent to the cold end, resulting in a significant temperature drop. On the flip side, you can crank it up to 80%, meaning that most of the supply air heads to the cold end, but the temperature drop won’t be as drastic. Our 34XX Series Vortex Tubes are designed for cold fractions between 20–50 %, while the 32XX Series caters to 50–80 % Cold Fractions.

So how do you select the right model for you? To determine this, you need to know what temperature and flow will best serve your application. For most situations, the ~20°F produced by an 80% cold fraction is sufficiently cold. At this cold fraction, you will get the most flow (80% of the inlet supplied). Applications like welding or brazing benefit from higher flows. When your starting temperature is hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit, there is little difference in blowing -20°F air vs +20°F. What you need is more volume to strip away the heat as quickly as possible. In this instance, a 32XX series is the way to go.

If you need lower flow, or to achieve freezing temperatures, then the 34XX series would be the best choice. A chocolate maker took advantage of the lower flow rates offered by this type of Vortex Tube as they didn’t want the airflow to disturb the surface of the chocolate as it cooled, affecting the finish. The greater temperature drop allowed for rapid cooling without reducing quality.

Vortex Tubes can produce higher levels of noise than our Knives and Amplifiers, so we would always recommend using hot and cold mufflers with them. This will ensure they stay within OSHA sound standards. And just like with all EXAIR products, it’s a good idea to use a pressure regulator with a gauge right where you’re using it. This is especially crucial for Vortex Tubes if you want to get an accurate temperature.

Whatever your cooling application, our Vortex Tubes will likely be able to help. If you would like to discuss it, please give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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