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LCF Blend Material Flow Test

Natural fibers have a number of industrial and commercial applications. These are made into fabric, construction and insulation materials, and packaging. Special, environmentally-friendly geo-textiles are also used to prevent soil erosion or improve composting.

However, natural fibers have a tendency to clump together and cause arching, bridging and ratholing issues. AirSweep can cut through material blocks to promote smooth, on-demand flow.

Pneumatic Flow Aids: AirSweep vs. Fluidizers

Pneumatic flow aids release bursts of pressured air to dislodge the material blocks. However, even if fluidizers and Airsweep® both use aeration, they have major performance differences. This video tackles:

How they work: Fluidizers use a combination of gentle aeration and vibration, while AirSweep nozzles release powerful bursts of high-pressure air

The materials they can handle: fluidizers are only effective for light powders, while AirSweep can be used with wet, sticky, stringy and bulky materials.

Power and activation radius: It’s like comparing a garden hose and a fire hose. AirSweep has more pressure and volume, and can clear material blocks faster and more efficiently than rubber fluidizing discs. To show the difference, the two pneumatic flow aids are put to test.

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.