Tag: static measurement

Gen4 Stay Set Ion Air Jet Replaces Blower Ionizer and Speeds up New Production Line!

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

When looking to solve an industrial process problem, EXAIR is the go-to solutions provider. Such was the case in a recent application with a customer in South America. The company manufactures a variety of different caps used for glass bottles in the food & beverage industries. They have an issue with debris from the environment sticking to the insides of the caps.

Their current production speed worked at around 200 caps per minute. Their solution for mitigating static was an ionized blower system. With this solution, they had maxed out the speed at which they could produce the caps while still removing the particles that would adhere to the insides. At higher speeds, residual contamination was left on the caps.

The customer is looking to construct a new line that can operate at speeds of up to 300 caps per minute. To do so, they began seeking out a different solution for their static troubles. The issue with blower-based ionizers is that the turbulent nature of the airflow causes some of the ions to cancel one another out before reaching the target. EXAIR’s Gen4 Static Eliminators utilize a laminar flow of high-velocity air to transport both positive and negative ions to a surface that needs to be treated.

After reviewing some photos of their current setup, I recommended implementing some of EXAIR’s Gen4 Stay Set Ion Air Jets to be positioned over each run of caps. In addition, we recommended angling the flow from the jets in a manner counter to the direction that the caps were traveling. As we recommend for any static, blowoff, cooling, or drying process it’s important to take advantage of counter-flow to maximize the time in contact the part has with the airflow. The longer we can remain in contact with the part or material, the more successful we’ll be at neutralizing the static (or cooling, drying, or any blowoff process).

The Gen4 Ion Air Jet is a compact ionizer that is capable of delivering a concentrated, ionized airflow. This is particularly critical in sensitive applications where a large area of airflow could disturb the process or surrounding materials. The quiet, focused air stream can quickly eliminate the static charge on surfaces. At a pressure of 80 psig the Ion Air Jet is capable of dissipating a 5kV charge in just .18 seconds!

In addition to providing rapid static decay, the Ion Air Jet also helps to minimize compressed air use while maximizing the ionizing airflow. Utilizing a specially designed shim, the Ion Air Jet entrains ambient air at a rate of 5:1. The Ion Air Jet can be adjusted from a “blast” to a “breeze” simply by increasing or decreasing the inlet pressure to the ionizer.

When precise positioning is necessary, as was the case in this application, the addition of the Stay Set Hose and magnetic base allows for simple installation and directing of the ionized airflow. It’s also useful in applications where frequent repositioning may be required due to product or material changeovers.

If you’re looking to improve on a process in your manufacturing facility, give EXAIR a call and see what we can do to get the most out of your compressed air.

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com

Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

Localized Static Elimination with EXAIR’s Gen4 Ion Air Jet

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

EXAIR’s Gen4 Ion Air Jet is a compact ionizer that is capable of delivering a concentrated ionized airflow. This is particularly critical in sensitive applications where a large area of airflow could disturb the process or surrounding materials. The quiet, focused air stream can quickly eliminate the static charge on surfaces. At a pressure of 80 psig, the Ion Air Jet is capable of dissipating a 5kV charge in just 0.18 seconds!

In addition to providing rapid static decay, the Ion Air Jet also helps to minimize compressed air use while maximizing the ionizing airflow. Utilizing a specially designed shim, the Ion Air Jet entrains ambient air at a rate of 5:1. The Ion Air Jet can be adjusted from a “blast” to a “breeze” simply by increasing or decreasing the inlet pressure going to the ionizer.

The Ion Air Jet can be used in both fixed, permanent solutions and those that will require frequent re-positioning. For applications requiring a fixed position of the ionizer, the compact Gen4 Ion Air Jet is an ideal solution. It’s lightweight and easy to install with the 1/8 NPT male inlet. For applications where the positioning of the ionizer may need to be adjusted, look to the flexible Gen4 Stay Set Ion Air Jet. Utilizing a Stay Set Hose, The Gen4 Stay Set Ion Air Jet can be frequently adjusted to focus the air stream on a specific area. The hose will maintain rigidity and will not creep or bend, making it an ideal solution when accommodating different parts. The Gen4 Stay Set Ion Air Jet comes with a strong magnetic base that allows for easy mounting and portability. The 8910 Instant Blowoff Station is another option that includes the Gen4 Stay Set Ion Air Jet, power supply, foot pedal, and compressed air hoses for applications that can benefit from hands-free operation.

Cold weather is still upon us. With colder temperatures come lower levels of humidity. With lower humidity comes an increase in static problems. Don’t let static hold you down. Whether it’s cleaning glass jars, removing dust from plastic medical components in a clean-room operation, or keeping a laser lens clean to eliminate false readings, EXAIR has the solution to keep you running smoothly.

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer
E-mail: TylerDaniel@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

Press Release: New Varistat Benchtop Ionizer

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

At EXAIR, when something notable happens, our Marketing folks like to make a big splash for our customers with a Press Release. The latest one is all about one of the latest additions to our Static Eliminators Product Line: the Varistat Benchtop Ionizer.

Click above to get ALL the details!

Common topics of Press Releases include the introduction of a new product (like our 1/2 NPT Hollow Cone Liquid Nozzles for Cooling and Washing), the release of new media (like our New Air Atomizing Spray Nozzle Video), expanded certification of existing products (like the Upgraded Certification for our NEMA 4 Cabinet Cooler products), or when someone achieves a major industry-related accreditation (like when I got my Certified Compressed Air Systems Specialist certificate from the Compressed Air & Gas Institute). The Varistat is a similarly big deal, for some unique reasons:

  • It’s our first air blowing product that’s NOT compressed air operated. We do still take pride in being THE industry experts for quiet, safe, and efficient compressed air products, but with a couple of decades worth of expertise in static elimination, the Varistat rounds out our comprehensive line of Static Eliminators.
  • It’s also our first Static Eliminator with the ability to balance the polarity of ionization of the air flow. That means you can get more positive ions (and fewer negative ions), or more negative ions (and fewer positive ions). This is done by pressing the “+” or “-” polarity buttons on the top:
Blue lights to either side indicate the relative concentration of positive or negative ions generated. If none of the blue lights are lit (the green light simply indicates the unit is on), then a high concentration of both positive and negative ions is being generated.

Simple setup, simple operation…what more could you ask for? If you’d like to find out more about the Varistat Benchtop Ionizer – or any of our Static Eliminator Products – give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Intellistat® Ion Air Guns™ and Gen4® Ion Air Guns

Published on by John BallLeave a comment

As EXAIR expands our Static Elimination product line, we now offer two different types of Ion Air Guns; the Intellistat Ion Air Gun and the Gen4 Ion Air Gun.  Both units are designed to blow air to remove static from a distance and to remove any pesky debris.  The ions that are created are both positive and negative to neutralize any type of static on the material surface.  They are shockless and are both ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue.  They are OSHA compliant for both noise levels and dead-end pressure.  In this blog, I will cover the features of each product.

The model 8193 Gen4 Ion Air Guns are designed for rugged areas to remove static and blow-off debris in industrial environments.  They have an armored high-voltage cable to resist abrasions and cuts and a 10-foot (3 meter) length to give plenty of reach.  The air flow is created by an air jet to increase the velocity of the ionized air while reducing compressed air usage.  As more industrial components are being made with plastic materials, static electricity will continue to be a big issue.  Dirt, dust, and plastic flashing will migrate and stick to the surfaces because of the attraction due to static charges.  This additional force makes it very difficult to remove contamination unless you remove the static first.  EXAIR offers different packages to get the most out of our product for your application.  The best areas where the Gen4 Ion Air Guns can be recommended are inside manufacturing plants, automotive plants, packaging areas, shipping departments, injection molding, etc.  Generally, the Gen4 Ion Air Guns will be used in tougher environments where durability is required. 

The model 8500 Intellistat Ion Air Gun, is designed for removing static in more “sensitive” areas, like labs, clean rooms, electronics, medical items, glass, etc.  The patented design uses a low voltage operation for generating positive and negative ions to remove any type of static.  EXAIR has earned an ISO 14644-1 Class 5 clean room rating for the Intellistat Ion Air Gun, making it ideal for clean rooms with delicate processes.  The polycarbonate construction makes the unit very lightweight and ergonomically safe, and the plastic design is preferred for these types of “clean” areas.  A feature that I really like is the red and green LED indicator lights to signify ionized air production.  It gives feedback to the user that the unit is functioning properly.  This system comes complete with the Intellistat Ion Air Gun, 6mm compressed air line, and a 24Vdc power supply.  Some target areas for this product would be for processes that require certain cleanliness standards, such as scientific research labs, solar panel manufacturing, and biotechnology industries to name a few.

EXAIR manufactures a large line of Static Eliminators.  I covered the Ion Air Guns above.  From now until March 31st, 2024, EXAIR will be giving a free AC Sensor, a $76.00 value, as a promotional item with a qualified purchase of any Static Eliminator.  If you would like to discuss your application and potential static issues, you can contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR.  We will be happy to help.

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