Flat Super Air Nozzle: Build Your Own System

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

One of the most common applications we help with here at EXAIR is where some form of blowoff is needed. Whether it is removing coolant, ejecting a part, or blowing away scrap and debris, we have a product that will help.

EXAIR Blowoff Systems are a combination of EXAIR air Nozzles, Mag Bases and Stay Set Hoses. The Mag Bases are available in single or dual outlets, the Stay Set Hoses come in lengths from 6″ to 36″, and we have a large selection of nozzles. The flexibility of this product comes in handy when an application requires multiple points for blow-off or requires different force values of each nozzle. Customizing allows you to fit the nozzles directly to the needs of your application.

When selecting the right solution for you, there are several things to take into consideration:

How much force do you need?
If you need a large amount of force, then you should consider our 2″ Flat Super Air Nozzle, or possibly our 2″ High Power Super Flat Air Nozzle. These can provide up to 2.2lbs of force.

Sometimes, you DO need the high force of the HP1125 2″ High Power Flat Super Air Nozzle

What area do you need to hit with the airflow?
For application where you are stripping, or sweeping with the airflow, you want to have a low angle, and direct the airflow against the motion of travel. This allows for greater time in contact with the part. If you are trying to eject a part, then having the airflow straight on may be better. Our Stay Set Hoses will allow you to point your nozzles in whatever direction you need, while the hose’s memory will hold it in position, without creeping or bending. Our Swivel Fittings can also be used to position our nozzles. They provide a firm, vibration-resistant mounting.

Are you replacing a pre-existing blow off?
If you are replacing an existing blowoff operation, then you may only need to install the nozzles, or Swivel Fittings. If there is no existing plumbing, then a Mag Base is an easy to set up solution that will attach to any magnetic surface.

Model 9042 Single Outlet Mag Base (left), 9043 Dual Outlet Mag Base (center) and 9029 Swivel Mag Base (right), and some typical uses.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for an efficient, quiet, and safe method of blowing compressed air, EXAIR has you covered with a wide variety of Intelligent Compressed Air Products to choose from. If you have questions about them, or how to mount them for optimal performance, give me a call.

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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Amplification Ratio: Super Air Knives

Published on by John BallLeave a comment
Super Air Knife

Earlier, I wrote a blog about how entrainment works with EXAIR products by using two phenomena, Coanda Profile and the Venturi Effect.  You can find it here, “Entrainment: how it works and why EXAIR products use it.”  In this blog, I will cover the Super Air Knife specifically and how it uses the Venturi Effect to entrain the surrounding air. 

This Venturi Effect 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.  The higher the velocity, the lower the pressure.  When you have a low pressure, the surrounding air will fill that void and move into the airstream.  The amount of ambient air that gets “pulled” into the airstream is the entrainment, and this amount as compared to the inlet flow is the Amplification Ratio. 

So, what does this mean?  The definition of a ratio is the relationship between two amounts showing the number of times one value is contained within the other.  For the Super Air Knife, it is a value that shows the amount of ambient air that is drawn in along with the primary, compressed air flow.  With an amplification ratio of 40:1, that means that there are 40 parts of ambient air for every 1 part of compressed air, which helps make them the most efficient compressed air operated Air Knives available on the market.  By adding mass, the Super Air Knife will give a hard-hitting force to do more “work”. 

Most people think that compressed air is free, but it is most certainly not.  Because of the amount of electricity required to produce compressed air, it is considered to be a fourth utility for manufacturing plants.  To save on utility costs, it is important to use compressed air as efficiently as possible.  So, the higher the amplification ratio, the more efficient the compressed air product.  Manufacturing plants that use open fittings, copper tubes, and drilled pipes for blowing are not efficient.  These types of products generally have a very low amplification ratio, somewhere between 2:1 to 5:1.  When EXAIR began manufacturing in 1983, we knew that there was a better way of saving compressed air by increasing the amplification ratios of our various air moving products.

I like to explain things in everyday terms.  For this analogy, we can use the amplification ratio as represented by gas mileage.  Like your car, you want to get the most distance from a gallon of gas.  With your compressed air system, you want to get the most utilization for the compressed air being expended.  With an EXAIR Super Air Knife, it has a 40:1 amplification ratio; or, in other words, you can get 40 MPG.  But, if you use drilled pipes, copper tubes, etc. for blowing, then you are only getting 2 to 5 MPG, so to say.  If you want to get the most “mileage” for the money you spend on creating compressed air, you want to check the “fuel efficiency” of your blow-off components.

EXAIR manufactures many blow-off items with high amplification ratios to save compressed air. EXAIR can help “tune up” your blow-off systems to make them efficient and safe by contacting an Application Engineer.  We will be happy to help you.  

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

Mini Cooler Overview

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

The basic vortex tube has been utilized in numerous industrial cooling applications over the years. Some of these applications have gained such popularity that they have led to the creation of specialized “applied products” tailored to meet specific needs. These products encompass the Adjustable Spot Cooler, Mini Cooler, Cold Gun, and Cabinet Coolers, all of which are available in our catalog and on our website.

The Mini Cooler utilizes a vortex tube to transform a limited quantity of compressed air into two low-pressure streams that flow in opposite directions, one within the other. This interaction allows the two air streams to exchange heat, resulting in the generation of cold air at one end of the tube and hot air at the other. A flexible hose channels the cold airstream towards the surface intended for cooling.

Heat produced by processes like machining, welding, soldering, brazing, electrical losses, and the functioning of rotating or reciprocating machinery poses considerable challenges that extend beyond simple comfort. Efficient heat removal from these activities is crucial for uninterrupted operation, as significant amounts of heat often require dissipation. For example, power plants generating electricity employ large pumps to circulate thousands of gallons of water each minute through extensive heat exchangers, which condense steam from turbines, enabling reheating and sustaining turbine functionality.

The Mini Cooler operates on the Vortex Tube principle to produce cold air from compressed air without any moving components, providing immediate cooling on demand. This method relies on a physical phenomenon rather than direct heat transfer, allowing the Mini Cooler to deliver cold air at specified flow rates and temperatures as soon as compressed air is supplied. It can be activated or deactivated as frequently as required, and its design eliminates the risk of wear from moving parts or failure of electrical components. With a compressed air requirement of just 8 SCFM at 100 psig, even relatively small compressors, some as low as 3HP, can sustain continuous operation of the Mini Cooler.

If you would like to discuss the Mini Cooler, 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