Custom Pneumatic Conveyors for Unique Applications

EXAIR’s Air Operated Conveyors, or Line Vacs™, provide an efficient method of converting ordinary pipe, hose, or tubes into powerful in-line conveyors.  To accommodate the wide variety of unique problems, EXAIR has the ability to customize and tailor-make Line Vacs with different specifications.  Certain processes may require customizations like unique sizes, shapes, and materials in order for the product to be a perfect fit for their system.  EXAIR will work in collaboration with our customer to fabricate the best possible Line Vac solution for easy and efficient conveyance.

I worked with a customer to design a special Line Vac.  They needed 3” ANSI 150# flanges on a 3” PVDF Line Vac.  So, we had a special material with special ends to fit their specific needs.  The PVDF with Hastelloy hardware was for chemical resistance, and the flanges would mount into their piping system.  As with many of our Line Vacs, we can turn a normal piping system into a conveyance system for waste, parts, evacuation, or bulk materials.  For this customer, they needed a backup system for a fume hood.  With electrical vacuums and blowers, loss of power or motor failures can cause a momentary lapse in fume removal.  Since the chemical material that was used in the hood was dangerous, they needed a reliable source to extract the fumes.  The Line Vac does not have any moving parts or require electricity.  Line Vacs only use compressed air or gas to make them operate.  For this customer, they attached nitrogen to the special Line Vac to operate when there was a power failure to protect the workers in the area. 

With the EXAIR design, we can alternate connection types.  For example, we can add a threaded end to connect to pipes on one side while having a slip-on end for hose connection.  In situations where the Line Vac requires a specific flange mounting option, EXAIR can accommodate.  EXAIR stocks 316SS Sanitary Flange Line Vacs, but we have done ANSI or DIN flanges as well.  For applications where stock aluminum, 303, or 316 stainless steel won’t work, alternate materials like PVDF, PVC, or PTFE can be utilized.  Even in extreme environments, EXAIR can produce both heavy duty and high-temperature iterations to handle even the toughest materials or conditions.  Other details, like particular hose sizes or pipe threading, can be specified to us.

Stock Line Vac models include standard, heavy duty, light duty, and sanitary flange.  All versions can be customized to meet customers specific needs.  All Line Vacs are CE-compliant and OSHA-safe.  For help solving any specific conveyance problems that you may have, please contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR.  We look forward to your challenge.    

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

Sanitary Flange Air Conveyors in Type 316SS

EXAIR currently offers a multitude of configurations when it comes to the Line Vac – air operated conveyors product line.  One of the easiest to install and best suited for food, pharmaceutical, chemical or other sanitary environments is the Sanitary Flange Line Vac¯.

Model 161200-316 – 316 Stainless Steel Sanitary Flange Line Vac

These are offered in four standard pipe sizes, 1-1/2″, 2″, 2-1/2″ and 3″.  The models are only available from stock in 316 stainless steel.   The sanitary flange is designed to be compatible with ISO 2852.  These can easily be used with a “Tri-Clover” clamp and gaskets of varying materials to fit your needs.  They have no internal moving parts and offer a compact, high throughput, quiet conveyance for parts, gases or ingredients.

EXAIR’s Sanitary Flange Line Vacs are offered from stock in four sizes.

Easily install into existing pipe runs for improved process performance.

With the sanitary flange design installation or removal are simplified in order to remove the unit for cleaning or reversing.  If you would like to discuss just how easy these are to upgrade your existing system or to install into a new system, please contact an Application Engineer.

Brian Farno
Application Engineer
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF

Custom, Flanged Air Amplifier Solves a Fume Evacuation Problem

We blog about this topic quite a bit, and almost every section of our catalog has a page set aside just for special / custom product configurations that have been created by request from many of our customers.

This is the latest and greatest special that I have seen roll through the production area here at EXAIR.   This is a special 4″ 303 Stainless Steel Adjustable Air Amplifier with a 4″ Tri-Clamp flange on the discharge side and a 6″ Tri-Clamp flange on the suction side of the amplifier.

 

This had been an ongoing project with the customer that started with them testing a stock Adjustable Air Amplifier in the application to ensure that the performance would meet their needs.  The application was to boost a low flowing fume exhaust that was causing slow downs in their production line.  Fans and other traditional methods would require maintenance and would wear out.  The stock Adj. Air Amplifiers exceeded their performance needs but did not easily mount into their duct work because they used all standard size tri-clamp fitting in the ducting, so the next step was to see if we could manufacture a Special Adjustable Air Amplifier just for their needs.  The dimensions of the existing Adjustable Air Amplifier came close enough we were able to easily create a Flanged Adjsutable Air Amplifier that would clamp straight into their existing duct work, exceed their performance expectations, help their process, and be ready to ship within a very reasonable lead time.

Like we have said before, if a stock, cataloged, product doesn’t fit your application exactly, contact us and let us find a way to customize and fit the need.

Brian Farno
Application Engineer Manager
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF

 

Need A Flange? We Can Do That!

I recently had a customer call in that was trying to boost an exhaust on a hot operation that he had in his facility.   We discussed what kind of fumes he was trying to evacuate and it appeared at face value that a High Temp Air Amplifier would be the perfect solution for his application.

A Model 121021 1-1/4" High Temp Air Amplifier directs hot air to a rotational mold cavity for uniform wall thickness of the plastic part.
A Model 121021 1-1/4″ High Temp Air Amplifier directs hot air to a rotational mold cavity for uniform wall thickness of the plastic part.

Then the words that strike fear into some manufacturers came out.  The customer asks, do you have any way to put a 4 bolt flange onto the unit so I can mount it straight into my piping system?   My response, “All I need are the dimensions of the flange you need and we will see what is possible.”  After a few further questions and verification, we had a drawing  with dimensions of a Flanged High Temp Air Amplifier.  We sent the drawing to the customer for approval, and once approved, we began to manufacture the custom product and provided it to the customer.  This unit will allow the customer to easily boost the exhaust on his operation and will bolt straight into his piping so there are no worries on his end about exhaust gas escaping.  His 500°F air temperature of the gases are of no concern to this special as it carries with it the high temperature rating of 700°F.  The pictures below show the Special – Flanged High Temp Air Amplifier.

IMG_5290
The air inlet and side view of the Special High Temp Air Amplifier

IMG_5291
Here you can see the low pressure side (intake) of the Special High Temp Air Amplifier.

IMG_5294
The O.D. of the flanges was 6″ with 4 – 3/4″: bolt holes. The Bolt holes were not required to align with the opposing side.

If you think there is no way we can find a product that will fit your compressed air application, or adapt a product to fit then give us a call, you might just be surprised at what we can offer in a quick turn around.

Brian Farno
Application Engineer Manager
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF