Contact Time: How to get the most from your EXAIR products

Published on by John BallLeave a comment
Poor Position vs Good Position

You may have heard us speak about contact time.  I would like to cover what that means in this blog.  Contact time refers to the amount of time that a target part is in the high-velocity airstream produced by an EXAIR blowing product.  The longer the contact time, the more effective the blow-off or cooling effect. Optimizing the mounting position of the EXAIR solution relative to the target makes a huge difference in effectiveness.  When our customers typically purchase EXAIR products, they have a tendency to improperly install them, reducing their performance capabilities.  Let’s look at a Super Air Knife.  In the photo above, you can see the relationship between a perpendicular and a recommended setup angle.  I have some recommendations that can help to increase the contact time and improve the performance. 

Super Air Knife Chamfer
  1. Angle – EXAIR machines a chamfer on the cap of the Super Air Knife as a starting point.  You want to have the chamfer parallel with the target line of movement.  This will create an air flow angle of about 45 degrees relative to the target.  This angle will increase the contact area and contact time, which is very beneficial for removing debris and/or heat.  Depending on the speed and height of the target, this can be altered for further refinement.
  2. Distance – For optimum performance, the Air Knife should be between 3″ (76 mm) to 12″ (305 mm) from the target.  If you are too close, the amplification ratio is sacrificed, and the force is reduced.  If you are too far, the air pattern will start to change, causing the velocity and force to decrease. 
  3. Counter-Flow – The direction of the air flow should be blowing in the direction opposite the target movement.  As an example, if the parts are moving from left to right, you want the Air Knife to blow from right to left.  This will allow the contamination to be blown back away from the cleaned surfaces, and it will increase the impact force to remove contamination, i.e. a head-on collision vs. a rear-end collision.

With these few simple steps, you will begin to maximize the performance and effectiveness of your EXAIR blowing solution.  Some accessories can help with the setup, like Swivel Fittings and Stay Set Hoses for the nozzles and the Universal Mounting Kit for the Air Knives.  You can modify the impact angle to best suit complex parts and systems.  If you need any help to get the most out of our products, you can contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR.  We will be happy to hear from you.     

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

Videos for Everyone!!!

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

EXAIR offers a comprehensive video library that includes everything from brief product introductions to detailed, step-by-step maintenance tutorials. If you are tackling a specific application, it is highly probable that we have a relevant video available. I regularly utilize these videos to clarify or showcase specific features of EXAIR products to customers. They serve as an essential resource in my daily activities, and the most advantageous aspect is that they are freely accessible at any time.

Numerous videos are available under the ‘Resources’ tab on our website, www.EXAIR.com. By selecting a product category from this section, you can access a variety of instructional content. Whether you are looking to learn how to change the shim in a Super Air Knife or enhance the conveyance of a Line Vac, you will find these videos and many others systematically arranged for your convenience.

Our blogs feature video demonstrations that make learning enjoyable and straightforward. If you have a topic you’re curious about, you can simply search our blog. Chances are, you’ll find a video that matches what you’re looking for. These videos break down complex ideas and show you step-by-step processes. They are great for visual learners who understand better when they see things in action. Our goal is to provide helpful resources, ensuring that everyone has access to easy, informative content.

If you would like to discuss our video library, or any of our EXAIR products, please do not hesitate to contact an Application Engineer. We are always happy to help!

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

Finding the Right Intelligent Compressed Air Product

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

I had the pleasure of talking with a customer who had purchased a Model 6063 1-1/2″ Stainless Steel Line Vac the other day. They were building chemical processing machinery, and needed to move vapor into a condenser for reclamation of the fluid. The Line Vac was doing exactly what they needed it to do, and with a supply pressure regulated down to 12psig, at that. Their question was, how do they quantify the flow rate?

Because the Line Vac generates a moderate level of vacuum head with a moderate vacuum flow, they’re ideal for drawing in bulk solid material and conveying it from one place to another. They’ll do the same with airborne dust, vapors, and gases, but…

Because they’re made for conveying bulk solids, our published performance data for the Line Vacs doesn’t address total developed airflow. However, because our Air Amplifiers are made for moving air (and anything that might be suspended in the air or already airborne), we DO publish airflow performance data for them. And it provides a GREAT segue for situations like this, when the only thing that can do a better job than one EXAIR product is another EXAIR product!

…Air Amplifiers, while similar in function to the Line Vacs, generate a high vacuum flow with a low vacuum head. This makes them the better choice for moving air & airborne dust, vapors, gases, etc.

In this case, the machine designer replaced the 1-1/2″ Stainless Steel Line Vac with a Model 6040 3/4″ Stainless Steel Adjustable Air Amplifier. It’s got a 1-1/2″ OD inlet plenum, so it was a ‘drop-in’ replacement for the 1-1/2″ Line Vac, which was plumbed in with a 1-1/2″ ID hose. When they regulated the supply pressure to 25psig, they were able to replicate the vapor carryover to the condenser at the specified rate, and even cut the already low compressed air consumption from 9.3 SCFM @12psig (for the Line Vac) to 3.7 SCFM @25psig (for the Air Amplifier).

As an EXAIR Application Engineer and a Certified Compressed Air Systems Specialist, I’m here to make sure you get the most out of your compressed air system. If that involves using a product other than the EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product that you may have initially selected, I’m not going to be shy about telling you that. But, there’s a good chance that the more ideal solution is going to be another EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product. If you want to talk about compressed air…so do I! Give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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EXAIR’s Super Air Wipe

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

EXAIR’s Super Air Wipe is a quiet and efficient solution for your pipe or cable blowoff. They are specifically engineered for drying, cleaning or cooling a variety of extruded shapes. The 360° uniform airflow produced by the Super Air Wipe will be more effective, while using less compressed air than a comparable solution using an array of nozzles. They are also easy to insert into your process due to the split design, allowing you to clamp the Air Wipe around your material without the need for threading.

The Super Air Wipe comes in two different materials – aluminum and stainless steel, with various stock sizes. Our aluminum models are available in sizes from 3/8″ to 11“, and stainless is available from 1/2″ to 4“. As with all EXAIR’s other stock products, these are available for same-day or next-day shipping, and are covered under our 30-day unconditional guarantee. The aluminum models are rated for temperatures of up to 400°F, while the stainless steel are good up to 800F.

The aluminum Super Air Wipe is available in 11 sizes; the stainless steel Super Air Wipe comes in 5 sizes…all from stock.

We also provide Super Air Wipe Kits to get the most out of your Super Air Wipe. A kit will include the Super Air Wipe itself, a filter, a regulator, and a shim set. The filter will remove bulk liquids and debris from the compressed air to keep performance optimal. The regulator is used to fine-tune the force provided by the Super Air Wipe. This helps to not over-use the amount of compressed air required for the job.

EXAIR’s Starter Guide: Air Wipes

If you need larger adjustments to the force and flow than the regulator can provide, then you can add shims to increase the airflow and force. They are easy to install on the Super Air Wipes to allow for applications to have more cooling, faster drying, and better removal of tough debris. With both the regulator and shim set, you can vary the air velocity from a breeze to blast, so whatever your application requires, the Super Air Wipe will work for you.

If you would like to learn more about our Super Air Wipes, then please give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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