The most typical application has 2 to 4 units. However, there are many applications where only one will do, and others where you will need 10 because it’s a very large cone and the material tends to bridge very high.

To find out the best set-up, fill in the Application Data Sheet (ADS) and email it to us, and within 24 hours we will give a free customized recommendation that includes the number of units, the equipment we recommend, and a drawing of the arrangement.

AirSweep has been installed in many unique applications. Some clients use it to  remove any residual material that sticks to the vessel or duct surface, to ensure it’s clean, or to help ensure uniformity of blended products. Other uses include in mixers and blenders, to clean and ensure blend uniformity, and also in pneumatic convey lines, especially in elbows and bends, where material may tend to hang up. The AirSweep straight shooters push a straight column of air, and can be used to reach and activate areas where a standard AirSweep can’t be installed, such as on an interior partition.

The Straight Shooter can also be used to influence and enhance material movement in a certain direction, such as in a trough. We’ve developed angled mounting to help direct the Straight Shooter pulse.

Though it taps the same level of air pressure as fluidizers, air vibrators, and other similar equipment—generally 60 to 100 psi / 4 to 7 bar—the AirSweep system does not run continuously. It starts and stops with the discharge cycle, and runs in a sequence with one pulse at a time. So overall, it uses less compressed air than a flow aid that runs continuously.

We can calculate how much you can save compared to other flow aids with the AirSweep ROI calculator.

The AirSweep can pass any inert medium that can be pressurized. We encourage customers to avoid pushing damp air into hygroscopic material. It won’t damage the AirSweep itself, but it can gum up the material inside the vessel. That is why we recommend treating the air before it goes into the system to avoid introducing more moisture into the product.

Unlike air cannons and other flow aids, AirSweep only emits a light hissing sound from the pulse valve exhaust. It sounds like a pulse jet on a bag house. Since the units are in a vessel or a cone full of material, the actual sound emitted from the AirSweep is quite muffled, so the main source of noise is from the pulse valve exhaust.

No. Only the nozzle tip has direct contact with the vessel. The AirSweep USDA-accepted model also isolates the spring and threaded components. The air only comes in contact with the polished surfaces in the inside, thus meeting the highest hygienic standards.

Yes. Over the last 23 years, we have had several clients easily and successfully install the units on concrete vessel walls.

The AirSweep is just connected via a standard pipe nipple to the diaphragm valve. To extend the AirSweep inside the wall, you just need to use a short piece of standard pipe, and we have special mounting that can hold it in place.

No. AirSweep is certified to be non-sparking. The air provides a cushion as it seals, so it does not create a spark and generates minimal friction and heat.

The AirSweep is ATEX-certified and safe to use in flammable and hazardous environments. It can be used in Zone 20 applications, and has been installed in grain dust collectors, and vessels carrying coal, resins and other volatile materials.

Some of our clients have even used AirSweep with nitrogen to purge oxygen from a vessel.

AirSweep recommends preventative maintenance of the internal parts after 1,000,000 cycles or pulses. That can mean a few months or many years, since the AirSweep can be set to a slow or fast pulsing sequence depending on the type of material and vessel. You can track pulses with a PLC.

The body of the AirSweep can last for years, and is covered by a 7-year warranty. We have clients who have used the same AirSweep unit for more than a decade.

The warranty is in effect as long as you follow the maintenance requirement of rebuilding the AirSweep every one million cycles. System components that periodically need replacement parts are the solenoid/diaphragm valve and the particulate filter.

We have rebuild kits that contain all of the internal parts for these serviceable components in one kit. Use this guide to find the right one for your AirSweep model, or watch the video on preventative maintenance.