Tag: bulk material handling equipment

So, You Want To Calculate Line Vac Flow… Or Do You?

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

As an EXAIR Application Engineer (and one with almost 14 years under my belt, to boot), I’m well versed in all the standard calculations regarding compressed air, including: converting ACFM or ICFM to SCFM, determining compressed air consumption rates at different inlet pressures, return on investment from using more efficient products, receiver tank sizing, and cost of compressed air generation. I know many formulas, by heart, that relate to certain applications involving our products, like how to calculate the heat load for Cabinet Cooler Systems, the amount of air flow from a Super Air Nozzle, Super Air Knife, Air Amplifier, etc., to cool an object from a starting to a desired temperature (and how long it’ll take to do it), and humidity formulas for Atomizing Spray Nozzle applications.

I’ve loved math all my life, so all that stuff above is one of my favorite parts of this job. There are, however, things we can’t do the math on…and calculating the flow through a Line Vac is one of them. Maybe two. I say “Maybe two” because there are two common questions we get regarding Line Vacs, and neither have answers that can be calculated:

  • How fast can I move [insert description of bulk material here] with a Line Vac?
  • How much air flow is generated by a Line Vac?

There are a LOT of variables that can affect conveyance rate, so the first question is difficult to put a number on, unless it’s something we’ve tested here before, or if a customer has provided reliable data from their Line Vac conveyor setup. For our latest Catalog, #35, we compiled this into a Conveyance Data table. You can access it here (registration required), request your very own print copy, or just contact me, and I’ll email it to you.

Likewise, the second question doesn’t have a mathematical formula to give us an answer either. When we get questions about a Line Vac’s total developed air flow, we’ll say that, very generally speaking, a Line Vac will entrain 2-3 times its compressed air consumption in vacuum flow. That’s based on some informal testing we’ve done in the shop on a few specific Line Vacs. And that’s ALWAYS followed up with some questions of our own:

  • Are you looking for a specific amount of air flow? And,
  • What is the nature of the application?

Oftentimes, we find out that the customer just needs to move air – as opposed to conveying bulk product – and THAT’S a job for our Air Amplifiers. We DO publish formal performance data on those, and if air movement is all that’s needed, the Air Amplifiers are going to do that WAY more efficiently than a Line Vac. They’re capable of entraining air at rates of up to 25:1.

Air Amplifiers use the Coanda Effect to generate high flow with low consumption.

If you have questions about a potential application, or about a specific product, give me a call. I’m here to make sure you get the most out of our products, and that starts right at the beginning, with finding the best one to suit your needs.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Special Line Vacs for Special Applications

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

EXAIR’s Line Vacs are a great option for replacing your ‘bucket and ladder‘ operation. There are many factors that need to be considered when selecting the best option – how far are you looking to convey? What conveyance rate are you looking to achieve? Is your material abrasive? – to name a few.
Using data we have gathered from our controlled in-house testing, we can almost always recommend a stock-option Line Vac that will meet your application’s needs.

There are some instances however, when your needs will be better met with a custom solution. In this blog I wanted to highlight a few custom Line Vacs that we have produced for customers in the past:

This Special Mini Line Vac was designed with barbed fittings (unlike the hose or threaded fittings) for easier installation for a manufacturer of integrated circuit chips. It was used to remove microscopic debris. The small body and high vacuum flow made it a perfect fit for the confined working space.


This 1 ½” Flanged Line Vac was designed using PVDF to provide a superior chemical resistance. In this case, the unit was going to be exposed to a chloride wash which would corrode all versions of steel, including stainless steel. The QF Flanges were also added to provide easy disassembly when the Line Vac was scheduled for cleaning.

This Special Flanged Line Vac was used to convey a measured granulated material into a pouch. The funnel side was loaded with the pre-measured material and pushed into a mesh pouch when the air was activated.


This Special Flanged Refumigation Line Vac was used to retrofit existing machinery to remove acidic vapors resulting from surface etching of a silicon wafer. Where this would typically be a nice fit for a Stainless Steel Air Amplifier, the existing exhaust piping was lengthy with many bends that would have caused back pressure on any Air Amplifiers. In this case, they needed additional force from the Line Vac to overcome this downstream resistance.

This Special Threaded 1″ Aluminum Line Vac was used to remove fumes from a welding application, and needed to be threaded into a flame retardant filter bag. The custom threads allowed them to screw the filter bag directly onto the line vac with the added insurance of a threaded connection to prevent sparks from escaping the bag.

As you can see, we have many examples of non-stock Line Vacs (as well as special items from other product lines). If you have an application you would like to discuss, feel free to give me a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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Sanitary Flange Line Vac for Food and Pharmaceutical Conveying Applications

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

I recently wrote a blog about a great Sanitary Flange Line Vac application, Application Spotlight! – Conveying Products Through a Metal Detector. This was a great way to show the flexibility of the sanitary line vac operation in a very important metal detection operation for a pharmaceutical operation.

EXAIR’s Sanitary Flange Line Vac is the ideal solution for customers looking to convey bulk materials in food & pharmaceutical applications (among others). Operating in the same manner as EXAIR’s smooth and NPT threaded Line Vacs, the Sanitary Flange Line Vac is available in (4) common flange sizes: 1-1/2”, 2”, 2-1/2”, and 3”.  All of EXAIR’s Sanitary Flange Line Vacs are constructed of Type 316 Stainless Steel for superior corrosion resistance.

There are different styles of flanges in industry. The Sanitary Flange Line Vac has been designed according to the flange standard outlined in ISO 2852. This standard was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 5, Ferrous metal pipes and metallic fittings, Sub-Committee SC 1, Steel tubes. This is the second edition that replaces the first edition (ISO 2852:1974). The standard specifies the dimensions, tolerances, surface roughness, materials, assembling, and the hygienic requirements for the flange. These styles of flange are intended to be used with stainless steel tubes, specified in ISO 2037. ISO 2852 is considered an international standard, defining the connections used for non-permanent food-grade piping systems used within the pharmaceutical, food processing, dairy and agricultural industries.

In these industries, it’s required for the components to be cleaned thoroughly and sanitized. Using this type of connector, components within the piping system can be easily removed, sanitized, and then reassembled. A lipped flange with a grooved indentation is on each end of the pipe and Line Vac. A sealing gasket is then placed in between each section of pipe. A raised groove on either end allows it to seat into the mating end of each flange. A clamp is then placed on the outside, forcing the sections together and compressing the gasket, creating an airtight seal.

If your processes currently utilize sanitary flange piping, EXAIR’s Sanitary Flange Line Vac is the ideal solution to help you convey bulk materials from one point to another quickly, safely, and efficiently. If you have interest to test one out in your process, EXAIR offers an Unconditional 30-Day Guarantee on all stock items. They’re on the shelf now, available to ship on the same day, with an order by 2:00 Eastern Time!

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Accessories to Supplement Your Line Vac

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

An essential rule you should follow when with accessories is that less is more. That remains true when it comes to Line Vac applications. Strategically placed accessories can help in the efficiency and productivity of your application.

Let’s start with the basics. The Line Vac Kits will offer three different accessories that can enhance the overall performance when using EXAIR‘s Line Vac System. Mounting brackets, filter separators, and pressure regulators are tools to enhance the quality and production of your application. Mounting brackets can be for stationary applications that require two hands, or a set placement of the Line Vac. Filter separators are a great way to ensure your Line Vac is provided with clean, moisture-free air, resulting in optimum performance. Lastly, the pressure regulator is a great way to regulate your pressure to increase or decrease your flow, or to make sure your Line Vac is provided with smooth and consistent compressed air supply.

EXAIR also stocks various I.D. sizes of conveyance hose. These PVC hoses are offered in lengths up to 50′, and are ideal for conveying applications. The flexible hose has a smooth internal bore that eliminates material build up. The reinforced walls of these hoses are clear, which helps in monitoring what you convey. These hoses are rated for -4 to 150F temperatures.

The Line Vac Drum Cover is another accessory that can assist in your application running as smoothly as possible. The fine mesh non-woven Drum Cover is built to fit over the top of 55 or 30 gallon drums. The breathable material allows the air from the Line Vac air operated conveyor to circulate, whether you are moving material into, or out of the drum. This cover also offers containment for your conveyed material, making sure no material is lost in your application.

Adding accessories to your Line Vac application is a proven way to increase efficiency and reliability. If you have questions about the Line Vac accessories offered by EXAIR, or any of EXAIR’s products, please reach out to any of our Application Engineers for assistance. A little extra help can make a world of difference.

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