EXAIR: Innovating Compressed Air Solutions Since 1983

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

EXAIR was founded in 1983 by Roy Sweeney. He saw to it that EXAIR established itself as a leading manufacturer of compressed air products. We operate with the same passion to this very day. We have built a reputation for exceptional customer service, fast shipping and the best innovative products in the industry. We know you can buy from other companies, but we want and will do anything to show you we are here to support you when you need us. That is why we keep so many items in stock on the shelf, meaning if you are in a rush, we can get you what you need. And with our 30-day money-back guarantee, you try our products out risk-free!

EXAIR has a long list of products that are designed to enhance industrial processes by reducing air consumption, increasing safety, and improving efficiency. Offerings include Super Air Knives for blowoff and cleaning, Vortex Tubes for spot cooling, Cabinet Coolers for electrical enclosures, and air-operated vacuums for material handling. Other products like Air Amplifiers, Static Eliminators, and Atomizing Nozzles cater for diverse applications such as drying, coating, and static elimination. Engineered to meet OSHA, CE, RoHS, and REACH standards, EXAIR’s products are used across industries like food and beverage, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, providing energy-efficient solutions to conveying, cooling, coating, and cleaning challenges.

Our team of Application Engineers provide expert technical support, helping customers select a solution for their specific needs. We offer free tools like the Efficiency Lab to evaluate how fast you can get your money back from replacing an inefficient product and a mobile app for interactive product exploration. Our customer-centric approach, backed by fast delivery (99.8% of orders ship on time) and comprehensive technical support, fosters long-term partnerships, making EXAIR a trusted partner in our customers’ growth.

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer

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BETE Misting Nozzles

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

The BETE MicroWhirl nozzles deliver exceptional fine mist or fog, featuring a robust, pinless design that guarantees drip-free operation. Each nozzle is equipped with a 70-micron polypropylene filter, while a 200-mesh 316 stainless-steel filter is also available as an alternative option. A safety wire hole is also available for added security.

The nozzle functions effectively at a minimum pressure of 100 PSI (7 BAR), offering a range of spray options that include mist at lower pressures and fog at higher pressures. The droplets produced are generally small enough for buoyancy to play a significant role, making them appear to float rather than fall. In reality, these particles descend very slowly when there is no upward airflow present.

In 2002, BETE engineers secured a patent for the MicroWhirl fine misting nozzle, which represents a significant advancement in misting technology. Traditional misting and fogging nozzles typically rely on either impingement or air-atomizing designs to generate small droplets. In contrast, the innovative design of misting nozzles employs a swirl chamber to transform fluid head pressure into kinetic energy. This process allows the discharged fluid to break into droplets through centrifugal force. The MicroWhirl nozzles enhance this concept by utilizing a vortex to produce a fine mist, thereby improving both reliability and performance over conventional methods.

Customers trust the MicroWhirl misting nozzles for the finest hydraulic atomization, especially under critical conditions. They are ideal for cooling, humidification and complete evaporation. If you have questions about the MicroWhirl nozzle, or anything regarding EXAIR and BETE products, please do not hesitate to reach out.

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

Cabinet Coolers: How to Determine Heat Loads

Published on by John BallLeave a comment

As the weather starts warming up, electrical panels will start to feel the “heat”.  Freon-based coolers can be less effective in higher ambient conditions; and opening the electrical panels to have a fan blow inside creates a dangerous hazard.  The circuit industry states that for every 10oC rise above the operational temperature, the life of an electrical component is cut in half.  To reduce premature equipment failures and loss in production, it is important to keep electrical components cool.  The EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems are designed to do just that. 

To find the correct type and size, we need some information about your electrical panel.  EXAIR makes it easy with the Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guide.  This sheet goes over the important details to find heat loads, proper NEMA type, and options for easy installation.  With a filled-out form, we can make sure that the correct model is recommended.  First, we have to start with the surface area of the electrical panel.  From here, we can do some heat load calculations to compare it with the proper cooling capacity. 

To properly reduce the temperature internally, we need to calculate how much heat is being generated.  Heat loads come from four main areas; internal, external, fan, and solar.  From these four, we can add them together to get the total heat load.  So, on the hottest day of the hottest month, the EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System will still keep your electronics cool.  Here are some methods to find the information needed for heat load calculations.

Internal Heat Load:  The internal load is the heat generated from inside the electrical panel.  This heat is produced by the inefficiencies of electrical devices.  There are two main ways that we can figure out the internal heat load.

Step A: The simplest way is by hanging a piece of metal like a washer inside the panel for about 15 minutes.  We can get an average temperature inside.  In the sizing guide, you can mark the temperature next to “Internal temperature now”.  To calculate the heat load, we will also need the external temperature at the same time as you measured the piece of metal.  This temperature difference can determine the internal heat load per surface area of the panel.  See the chart below.

Step B:  if you know the electrical components inside that generate heat, a list can be made with volt/amp ratings, or watts.  This is very useful for new panels.  The major devices would be VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), power supplies, UPS, transformers, thyristors, etc.  We can calculate the inefficiency of the electrical components which will give us the internal heat load. 

External Heat Load:  To keep the electronics cool on the hottest day, we will need to know the highest external temperature that the panel will see.  This can include the temperature that is near an oven.  This can be marked in the Max External Air Temperature Possible.  We can compare this to the Max Internal Air Temperature Desired.  Most electrical components are designed to operate at 95oF (35oC).   With the same chart as above, you can use the temperature difference to determine the external heat load per surface area of the panel.

Panel Fans:  To control the environment inside the electrical panels, we need to block all openings and vents.  And this will include removing panel fans.  The Cabinet Cooler System will blow dry cold air to push out the hot humid air from the electrical panel back through the Cabinet Cooler.  Since we are removing a “poor” cooling device like the panel fan, we still need to add this to the heat that is being removed.  You can either give the diameter of the fan or the flow of the fan. 

Solar Heat Load:  The solar heat is only needed if the panel is located outside without cover and exposed to sunlight.  For this type of heat load, we will need to know the color of the electrical panel.  Lighter colors will not absorb as much heat as darker colors.

EXAIR makes it easy to help correctly size the Cabinet Cooler.  We have the Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guide which you can submit to the Application Engineers to review.  And we have released the Cabinet Cooler System Calculator.  It will give you a quick recommendation to order online.  For our U.S. and Canadian customers, you will receive an AC Sensor for free, a $76.00 value, as a promotional item from now until the end of August 2025 with qualified purchases.  How can you not give them a try?  If you have any questions about Cabinet Coolers, the Sizing Guide or Calculator, you can contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR.  We will be happy to help you to keep your machines operating.

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

Siphon Fed Nozzles for Spraying Without a Pressurized Liquid Source

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

At EXAIR we are primarily known for our compressed air products. However, we do have an extensive line of liquid spray nozzles.  These liquid nozzles fall into two main categories – Air Atomizing and Liquid Only Nozzles. We can further divide the Air Atomizing Nozzles into three more categories: Siphon Fed, External Mix, and Internal Mix. The Siphon Fed Nozzles are going to be the focus of this blog.

It is very common in spraying applications for the liquid to be pressurized. When that isn’t possible, our Siphon-fed nozzles are a great option. This type of nozzle pulls the liquid into the nozzle by creating a vacuum. This vacuum is created thanks to the special design of the air cap. As air flows through the air cap, it creates low pressure on the liquid side due to a venturi effect. These Atomizing Nozzles are capable of drawing liquid from a suction height of 36″ (91 cm) or can be fed by gravity from heights of 18″ (46 cm) or more.

Siphon Fed model

Manufactured out of 303-type stainless steel for durability and corrosion resistance, the Siphon Fed Nozzle comes in three different body sizes: 1/8 NPT, 1/4 NPT, and 1/2 NPT. This will allow for a wide range of possible application flow rates. The maximum liquid flow rate for each body size is managed by the air and liquid cap. These caps can be swapped out easily for each body size, allowing you to change the spray patterns, manage the fluid delivery rate, and minimize downtime when cleaning is needed. You can easily tweak the amount of liquid applied by adjusting the siphon height / or gravity feed height, inlet pressure, and the liquid adjusting valve stem. This way, you can fine-tune the exact fluid amount needed for your process, helping to avoid any waste.

EXAIR Siphon Fed Nozzles work with non-pressurized liquids, either siphoned (left) or gravity fed (right.)

If you would like to reduce waste even further, we also have our No-Drip option. EXAIR’s patented design helps prevent the liquid from leaking out of the Atomizing Nozzles when the compressed air supply is shut off; hence the name No-Drip! When the compressed air is switched off, a valve within the body seals off the liquid side. This is especially useful for sensitive applications, where the No-Drip feature will stop drips that might spoil the finish of your product when not activated.

If you’re looking for a solution to your liquid spray application, but want to avoid liquid pumps or pressure pots, the Siphon Fed Atomizing Nozzle may be right for you. If you would like to discuss your liquid spraying application, I’d be happy to discuss the application with you and make a reasonable recommendation backed up by our 30-Day guarantee.

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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