Tag: part cooling

EXAIR’s Super Air Amplifier Amplification Ratio’s, Explained

Published on by EricKuhnash@EXAIR.comLeave a comment

Much like the popular song from decades ago that was about “money for nothing”,  EXAIR can provide you with “air for free”.  What we mean by this is that when you choose to use our Super Air Amplifiers, you will produce a large volume of air while only requiring a small amount of compressed air. This is because Air Amplifiers amplify total output flow up to 25 times by entraining (pulling in) ambient air.

So just how does the EXAIR’s Super Air Amplifier do this?   By utilizing our patented design (Patent # 5402938) that incorporates a special shim to maintain the air slots precisely.  The compressed air is released toward the center of the Super Air Amplifier  which creates a constant, high velocity outlet flow across the entire cross sectional area.  This

SAA How It Works

The amplification occurs by entraining most of the ambient air from the back of the Super Air Amplifier. Another small volume of air is added again as the air exits the Super Air Amplifier further increasing the amplification.

SAA Blog 1Super Air Amplifiers that have outlet diameter’s of 3/4″ (19mm), 1 1/4″ (32mm), 2” (51mm) and 4” (102mm) are supplied with a .003” (0.08mm) shim which is ideal for most applications, however there is the optional .006” (.15mm) and .009” (.23mm) if more air volume and force is needed. The 8” (203mm) Super Air Amplifier comes standard with a .009” (.23mm) shim and for increased performance we offer an optional .015” (.39mm).  The chart below explains how to determine the total output flow and air consumption at different operating pressures for each Super Air Amplifier model.

SAA Blog 2

When you need “air for free” or more accurately stated, to get all you can from every SCFM of compressed air you produce, put the EXAIR Super Air Amplifier to work in your facility!

If you would like to discuss the EXAIR Super Air Amplifier or any of EXAIR’s Intelligent Compressed Air® products, give us a call as we would enjoy hearing from you.

Erik Kuhnash
Application Engineer
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Cooling Parts? Super Air Amplifiers May Be For You

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment
Super Air Amplifier Family

When working with a cooling application, many customers will immediately look to the Vortex Tube and Spot Cooling product lines. While this may be the best solution for some applications, cold air is not always the best method that we have available for cooling. EXAIR’s Super Air Amplifiers are very effective at reducing the temperature of a part without requiring cold air, when the temperature differential between the Super Air Amplifier’s airflow and the temperature of the part is significant. Due to their ability to entrain large amounts of ambient air, we can move a lot of volume of air across the surface of the part and quickly lower the temperature.

I like to compare this to blowing on a hot cup of coffee just as it’s been brewed. The temperature of the air coming from your mouth is around 98.6°F, the same as your body temperature. Coffee can be as hot as 185°F when fresh. Due to the temperature differential between your breath and the hot coffee, we’re able to achieve a reasonable amount of cooling just by simply blowing across the surface. Typically, when the target temperature of the hot part or material needs to be around ambient temperature or higher, a Super Air Amplifier can be a good choice. 

While many applications utilize the outlet flow of the Super Air Amplifier to blow off, clean or cool a part or material, the ability of the Super Air Amplifier to entrain large amounts of ambient air can also be utilized to convey light materials or to draw in dust, smoke, or fumes from the surrounding environment. As the plugs on the exhaust side of the Super Air Amplifiers come in sizes of ¾”, 1-1/4”, 2”, 4”, and 8” the exhaust flow can be ducted with standard size hose.

EXAIR’s Super Air Amplifiers utilize a patented shim design to maintain critical positioning of component parts. This allows a precise amount of compressed air to be released at exact intervals toward the center of the Super Air Amplifier. This creates a constant, high velocity outlet flow across the entire cross-sectional area. Free, ambient air is entrained through the unit, resulting in high amplification ratios. The balanced outlet airflow minimizes wind shear to produce sound levels far lower than other similar air movers.

Patented Super Air Amplifier Shims

Super Air Amplifiers are supplied with a .003” thick shim that is ideal for most applications. Flow and force can be increased by replacing the shim with a thicker .006” or .009” shim. The flow of air is also controlled by adjusting the input pressure supplied to the amplifier. Higher pressures increase both the force and flow, while lower pressures decrease both force and flow. All Super Air Amplifiers are available in kits that come with a shim set as well as a suitably sized pressure regulator and auto-drain filter.

EXAIR has a solution for you if you need to move A LOT of air. Reach out to an Application Engineer today if you have an application that you believe could be served with a low-cost, simple solution!

Tyler Daniel
Application Engineer
E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

Controlling Temperature and Flow on a Vortex Tube

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

A Vortex Tube uses an ordinary supply of compressed air as a power source, creating two streams of air, one hot and one cold – resulting in a low cost, reliable, maintenance free source of cold air for spot cooling solutions.

One of the features of the Vortex Tube is that the temperature of the cold air and the cold air flow rate is changeable. The cold air flow and temperature are easily controlled by adjusting the slotted valve in the hot air outlet.

Vortex Tube Hot Valve Adjustment
Hot Plug Adjustment

Opening the valve (turning it counterclockwise) reduces the cold air flow rate and the lowers the cold air temperature.  Closing the valve (turning it clockwise) increases the cold air flow and raises the cold air temperature.

VT Adjustment Table

As with anything, there is a trade off – to get higher a cold air flow rate, a moderate cold air temperature is achieved, and to get a very cold air temperature, a moderate air flow rate is achieved.

An important term to know and understand is Cold Fraction, which is the percentage of the compressed air used by the Vortex Tube that is discharged through the Cold End.  In most applications, a Cold Fraction of 80% produces a combination of cold flow rate and and cold air temperature that results in the maximum refrigeration or cooling output form a Vortex Tube.

For most industrial applications – such as process cooling, part cooling, and chamber cooling, maximum refrigeration is best and the 32XX series of Vortex Tubes are preferred.  For those applications where ‘cryogenic’ cooling is needed, such as cooling lab samples, or circuit testing, the 34XX series of Vortex Tube is best.

To set a Vortex Tube to a specific temperature, simply insert a thermometer into the cold air exhaust and adjust the hot valve.  Maximum refrigeration, at 80% Cold Fraction, is achieved when the cold air temperature drop is 50°F (28°C) from the incoming compressed air temperature. See the video posted here for measuring and lowering and the cold air temperature.

For those cases when you may be unsure of the required cold air flow rate and cold air temperature to provide the needed cooling in an application, we would recommend an EXAIR Cooling Kit.  The Cooling Kit contains a Vortex Tube, Cold Air Muffler, Air Line Filter, and a set of Generators that will allow for experimentation of the full range of air flows and temperatures possible.

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EXAIR Vortex Tube Cooling Kit

To discuss your application and how a Vortex Tube or any EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product can improve your process, feel free to contact EXAIR, myself, or one of our other Application Engineers. We can help you determine the best solution!

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Video Blog Cooling Comparison: EXAIR’s 2″ Super Air Amplifier vs. Fan

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

Super Air Amplifier

EXAIR‘s line of Adjustable and Super Air Amplifiers are the ideal solution for cooling hot parts. Using a small amount of compressed air, they’re designed to entrain massive amounts of free ambient air from the environment. This free air mixes with the primary air stream, achieving entrainment ratios of up to 25:1!

To demonstrate the dramatic difference between the Super Air Amplifier and a standard fan, I created a side-by-side video of the two. Using the 2″ Model 120022 Super Air Amplifier at just 40 PSIG (9 SCFM air consumption) check out just how effective we were at cooling down a stainless steel block:

When fast cooling of a hot part is necessary, look no further than EXAIR’s Adjustable and Super Air Amplifiers. They’re all in stock and can ship same day to the US & Canada with an order placed by 3:00 ET!

Tyler Daniel
Application Engineer
E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com
Twitter:@EXAIR_TD