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AirSweep System Components

The AirSweep® Material Activation System eliminates bridging, ratholing and material build-up. It creates on-demand material flow for almost all materials, and can be retrofit to any vessel, including:

• Silos
• Bins
• Hoppers
• Chutes, pipes and conveying lines
• Blenders and mixers
• Live bottoms
• Cyclones and spray dryers

A typical AirSweep material activation system consists of strategically-located AirSweeps, high-flow solenoid valves, electronic sequence controller and air receiver. This video explains how AirSweep works, the typical components in each system, and how it is installed on the vessel. However, the system will be further customized according to your material, vessel and process.

AirSweep: The Role of Pressure and Volume

Why do you need to get large pipes, headers and air receivers when you use an AirSweep material activation system? What’s wrong with the pipes you already have?

In this video, Paul the AirSweep Guy answers these very common questions. He uses a simple fire hose analogy to explain the role of pressure and volume in the AirSweep system, and then demonstrates its effect on a heavy material. For the purposes of this demo, he used river gravel with a bulk density of 100 lbs/cubic feet, but it applies to any bulk solid that won’t respond to gentle aeration or vibration. (That’s also one of the biggest differences between AirSweep and fluidizers.)

Watch the video to see how large compressed air volume, delivered in little bursts, gives the AirSweep system the power to get the toughest materials flowing, fast.

AirSweep Straight Shooter USDA 135 Activation Radius

The AirSweep Straight Shooters release a focused column of air in front of the nozzle. It can be used to clean troughs and vessels, activate larger material, or promote flow in an inaccessible area. Units can be easily mounted to blast in any direction, using standard pipe elbows or fittings.

The Straight Shooters are available in all standard AirSweep sizes and can be made from either stainless steel or carbon steel. There are also USDA-accepted models for sanitary applications.

This video shows the material activation radius of the AirSweep Straight Shooter USDA 135 model.

AirSweep vs Vibrators: Performance, Costs and ROI

Material blocks: should you shake it, or sweep it? Compare the pros and cons of industrial vibrators with pneumatic flow aids like AirSweep. In this video, you will see how:

• How they work
• The real long term cost and return on investment
• Performance on wet, sticky and stringy products – and their impact on productivity
• Damage to machine, and its impact on maintenance costs
• Effect on work environments

Read about how AirSweep solved material flow issues that couldn’t be solved by vibrators or other flow aids, such as food industries where vibrations compact damp or sticky material, concrete and other construction materials, and more.

No Tools Needed: AirSweep Tri-Clover Clamp

The AirSweep® nozzle with Tri-Clover clamp mounting system is designed for quick installation and removal without any tools. It is ideal for applications that need easy installation and removal. This includes situations like:

• Portable vessels
• Frequent change-outs
• Frequent cleaning or sanitizing

The video discusses the parts of the Tri-clover clamp mounting system, and how to install and dismount it.

AirSweep Installation Tutorial: Attaching the MF-51 Mounting Flange

The VA-51 AirSweep can help provide on-demand material flow in large bins, silos, hoppers, chutes, mixers, and other vessels and equipment. It is installed outside the vessel wall, for easy cleaning and maintenance.

This video demonstrates how to attach the part no. MF-51 mounting flange to the vessel wall.

Basic Steps

1. Position flange on the wall surface. Mark the hole for AirSweep and the bolt circle layout.

2. Drill or cut the hole.

3. Fasten flange to wall by bolting.

4. Apply the anti-seize compound to the front-threaded section of the AirSweep. Thread the AirSweep into position, so that the front of the AirSweep body is aligned with the inside wall of vessel. This will properly position piston head within the vessel.

5. After the AirSweep is correctly positioned, tighten the lock nut against the flange to keep the AirSweep in position.

Watch the tutorial

Learn more about the tools, step-by-step instructions, and answers to the most common questions about installation.

Peanut Oil Stock Material Flow Test

Many ingredients used in the food industry have a high oil or moisture content. This can lead to caking, arching, bridging and ratholing. It can also cling to vessel walls, which could lead to spoilage and cross-contamination. AirSweep can resolve these issues quickly and efficiently—as seen in this peanut oil material flow test.

The Setup

Peanuts oil stock was poured into a bin with a 4” diameter discharge. Humidity levels in the plant were 53%.

The AirSweep System

Four AirSweep VA-06 units, placed 90 degrees apart

Challenge

The peanut oil stock was mixed with water, and then packed with a wooden block. Tests showed very sluggish material flow. The bin discharge was completely clogged, and hammering only released a few clumps.

The AirSweep system was switched on. The powerful air nozzles swept the peanut oil back into the flow stream, and in less than 20 seconds, the vessel was completely cleared of material.

Corn Bran Fibre & Corn Germ Meal Material Flow Test

Food manufacturing plants often deal with powders and bulk materials that have a high tendency of packing, bridging, arching and ratholing. What kind of flow aid can break material blocks and promote first-in/first-out flow, to prevent delays and food spoiling issues?

AirSweep pneumatic flow aids are especially effective for material blocks for problematic flow issues in the food industry—as proven in this Material Flow test for Corn Bran Fiber and Defatted Corn Germ Meal.

Corn Bran / Corn Meal: Applications

Corn bran and defatted corn germ meal are used in many baked goods, processed meats, dairy products, and condiments. It is added as a flour substitute or fat mimetic, or to increase the product’s fiber content. It is often mixed with other flours and milk proteins.

AirSweep USDA-accepted Flow Aids

The AirSweep USDA models are engineered to meet the strict safety and sanitation standards that food plants must follow. The powerful bursts of air break through material blocks and ensure continuous on-demand flow. The nozzles shut close after each pulse to prevent material feedback and contamination.

AirSweep is safe…. and powerful. See it for yourself with the Corn Bran and Corn Meal material flow test. You can also read how AirSweep helped an agribusiness company used the AirSweep to improve their bulk bag filling system.

Recycled Material Flow Test

During the manufacturing process, scrap material that has either been rejected or trimmed off can be collected and sent back to the grinder. Reusing recycled material is good for the environment and the bottom line – but it does pose a material flow challenge.

Any recycled material has a heat history that affects its physical, chemical and flow properties. Bridging, arching, ratholing are common. However, many flow aids are unable to activate this bulk material. Fluidizers do not have the pressure or volume. Vibrators can cause it to settle and compact. Air cannons are too expensive to operate round-the-clock, and the recoil can cause long-term damage to the vessel.

AirSweep can help provide smooth, first-in/first out on-demand flow of all bulk solids, including recycled material. Watch proof of the flow in this video.

Liquid Cheese Blend Material Flow Test

Put down the hammer—we have a better way to get rid of build-up of whey and other cheese products from your bins, silos and other vessels.

AirSweep® uses high pressure, high-volume, 360° bursts of compressed air to slice through material blocks and sweep it back into the flow stream. Each unit activates up to 2.44 m diameters of material.

Watch our video of AirSweep® cutting through a thick liquid cheese blend.

You can also read about how AirSweep helped a cheese company resolve bridging, even when the cheese was treated with lecithin.