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Shredded Cellulose Material Flow Test

The AirSweep® System is the best pneumatic flow aid for heavy bulk materials that are prone to bridging and arching. For example, shredded cellulose tends to clump and stick together. Once it is compacted or compressed, it can clog the bin discharge and bring your process to a halt.

In this material flow test, you can see how the AirSweep pushes the shredded cellulose down the vessel. It takes less than a minute to completely empty the hopper, despite the density of the material.

AirSweep® is the only pneumatic flow aid that can handle any form of cellulose – whether it’s a fine powder, flakes, or coarse shreds.

Resin Flakes Material Flow Test

Light, dry material like resin flakes can become compressed during the manufacturing process. It clogs up the discharge, and brings production to a halt. Workers have to hammer the vessel to get it flowing, but—as the video shows—hitting the bin is slow, tedious and inefficient.

The AirSweep system uses high-pressure, high-volume air pulses to break the friction and push material back into the flow stream. It saves time, prevents downtime and damage to vessels, and improves productivity. It’s the fastest most cost-efficient way to resolve bin bridging, arching, ratholing and other flow problems.

Watch to see proof of how the AirSweep system works on resin flakes and similar materials.

Plastic Regrind Material Flow Test

Plastic regrind is scrap material that can be reused to manufacture other products. These have gone through other processing methods, such as molding or extrusion, but have either been rejected or trimmed off.

Sources of Plastic Regrind

Rejected parts. Plastic pieces that failed to meet quality control standards (i.e, a leaking bottle lid) can be returned to the grinder and added back into the material feed

Extrusion process. Plastic tails and moils are trimmed, collected, and sent back to the grinder

Plastic Regrind Flow Issues

While plastic regrind is cost-effective, the heat history of processing and grinding may affect its physical, chemical and flow properties. It needs a powerful, reliable material activation system that can prevent bridging, arching and other material blocks.

AirSweep can help promote smooth, on-demand flow of plastic regrind and other bulk solids used for construction and manufacturing materials. Watch the plastic regrind material flow test.

Diatomaceous Earth Material Flow Test

AirSweep is used in all industries around the world. It can handle almost any material, from very fine powders to heavy minerals. This includes diatomaceous earth, which is commercially used in several formats: granules, fine milled powders, and calcined flakes and pellets.

Diatomaceous Earth Applications

There are two kinds of diatomaceous earth: food-grade and filter-grade. Food-grade contains less than 2% silica and is typically used to prevent caking. Filter-grade is toxic when ingested, but has several commercial uses: a mild abrasive, an absorbent for liquids, a filler, a matting and stabilizing agent, and insulator.

AirSweep

Diatomaceous earth is highly absorbent, and is prone to material flow issues like bridging, ratholing, and caking. Watch AirSweep promote continuous, on-demand flow in this material test video.

Raw and Organic Natural Fibre Blends 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. It can be used with any form of natural fibers, including LCF blends or raw LCF.

Watch the material flow test to see AirSweep’s power and efficiency.

Sawdust Material Flow Test

AirSweep® is the best pneumatic flow aid for powders and bulk solids. It releases high-pressure, high-volume air pulses that sweep material back into the flow stream. Unlike hammers, vibrators and air cannons, it does not cause metal fatigue that can damage the vessel. In this material flow test, we demonstrate AirSweep’s effectiveness on sawdust.

The Setup

The sawdust was poured into a hopper, in a plant with humidity levels of 50%. The material already showed signs of clumping together while it was being handled.

The AirSweep System

Four AirSweep VA-06 units, placed 90 degrees apart

The Results

A camera placed inside the hopper revealed how quickly the AirSweep swept the vessel clean. The hopper material was flushed in less than 10 seconds. The dust-tight nozzle design also prevented any material feedback, so none of the sawdust entered the pipes or the valves.

Damp Fish Feed Pellets Material Flow Test

Material flow issues like arching, bridging and ratholing can be caused by a number of factors: moisture and humidity, the size of the particles, the size of the outlet, pressure and chemistry. In this material flow test, we create the conditions that can cause bulk materials like fish pellets to get stuck in a vessel. Can the AirSweep make it flow?

The Setup

We used fish pellets that are 10 to 13 millimeters long and 7 millimeters in diameter. These were poured into a bin with a 4” diameter discharge. Humidity levels in the plant were 52%.

The AirSweep System

Four AirSweep VA-06 units, placed 90 degrees apart

Challenge # 1

Two gallons of water were added to the pellets. The AirSweep system cleared the bin in seconds.

Challenge # 2

Two additional gallons of water were poured on the moist pellets. The material was then pounded with a wooden block to simulate common issues like packing and caking. Then, the vessel outlet was narrowed to 4 inches – increasing the difficulty of achieving continuous material flow.

Despite these challenges, the AirSweep swept the vessel completely clean with just a few powerful pulses.

Watch the material flow test to see proof of AirSweep’s power and efficiency.

Organic Natural Fiber Blends Material Flow Test

Natural fibers are a cost-effective, abundant and often environmentally-friendly material with various industrial and commercial applications. However, they have a tendency to clump together and cause arching, bridging and ratholing issues. AirSweep can help guarantee smooth, on-demand flow of natural fibers.

Natural fibers: Applications

Natural fibers can either be derived from plants (like cotton, jute, flax, bamboo, hemp or abaca) or manufactured from cellulose fibers (like viscose rayon or cellulose acetate).

They are used to make fabric, processed into construction materials like partition panels or roof tiles, or used in furniture and car interiors. Geo-textiles are also used to prevent soil erosion and improve composites. Other applications include insulation materials, packaging, and environmentally-friendly products.

AirSweep

This material flow test shows natural fibers that have become clumped and compacted. Hammering frees barely any material, but in a few seconds, AirSweep flushes the vessel completely clean.

Cellulose Flakes Material Flow Test

Keep materials flowing, and your process going, with the AirSweep® System! It is the best pneumatic flow aid for any kind of material, including flakes, fibers, powders and granules. This includes cellulose flakes, which is used in many industries.

Cellulose Flakes: Applications

Cellulose is used to make paper and card stock, and textiles like cotton, linen and rayon.

Cellulose is also widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. Powdered cellulose can prevent caking, and is found in spice mixes, flavored drinks and grated cheese.

However, cellulose can exhibit other useful properties when mixed with water. It becomes a gel, which can thicken and stabilizes products like cheese, yogurt, ice cream and sauces. It is frequently found in health food or diet food, because it adds bulk and fiber content without affecting flavor or adding calories. Cellulose derivatives like MCC are used in medicine tablets.

Cellulose can also be processed into filter material, electrical insulation paper used in transformers and cables, and even an eco-friendly, water/fire-resistant alternative to plastic.

AirSweep:The Proof is in the Flow

AirSweep is the only pneumatic flow aid that can handle any form of cellulose—whether it’s a fine powder, or a moist gel. Watch our AirSweep® Cellulose Material Flow Test, or how it works on similar materials like resin flakes and wax flakes.

Bentonite Material Flow Test

The AirSweep® System guarantees on-demand flow for any kind of material. The powerful air pulses are able to cut through tough materials that have a high moisture content. One good example is bentonite.

Bentonite: Applications

Bentonite is a special clay made from volcanic ash. It’s highly absorbent and is used in many industries as a binding, thickening, or purifying agent.

• Metal production. Bentonite helps prepare molding sand for the production of iron and steel, or are used as a binding agent for production of iron ore pellets
• Construction. Bentonite is used as a lubricant in diaphragm walls, and in the production of Portland cement and mortars. It is also added as a sealing material.
• Food processing. It is used to remove impurities from edible oils like soya, palm and canola. It is also used as a clarification agent for beer, mineral water, sugar, and honey.
• Agriculture. Bentonite is often used as a pelletizing agent in animal feed production, or a porous carrier for herbicides and pesticides.
• Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Bentonite clay is a popular ingredient for detox masks and cleansers, or added as a filler to create pastes in creams, lotions, and face creams.
• Household. Bentonite draws out impurities in solvents used to make laundry detergents, soaps, and fabric softeners.

AirSweep®

Bentonite is prone to bridging, arching and clumping, especially in moist or humid conditions. Pneumatic flow aids like AirSweep break through material blocks in seconds. Our Bentonite material flow test shows how a vessel becomes completely clean after just a few Airsweep air pulses.