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Moist Cornstarch Material Flow Test

AirSweep is the best pneumatic flow aid for bulk powders with a high moisture content. It releases high-pressure, high-volume, 360 ° bursts of air that prevent material blocks and guarantee smooth material flow. It is effective even for tough materials like cornstarch, which can become very viscous and prone to bridging and ratholing.

Cornstarch: Applications

Cornstarch is both a final product and a raw material for sauces, gravies, custard, and other liquid-based foods. It can be used as an anti-caking agent, or as an additive that helps lower production costs (ex: cheese and yogurt).

Cornstarch is also used in non-culinary industries to make anything from airbags to adhesives, bioplastics to natural latex products like condoms and medical gloves. Other products may use its absorption capabilities to carry a difficult ingredient.

AirSweep®

Cornstarch’s absorbent property has many industrial applications, but it also makes it more challenging to work with. Moist cornstarch can clump or cling to vessel walls.

Pneumatic flow aids like AirSweep® break through material blocks to prevent bridging, arching and ratholing. The continuous, on-demand flow protects batch uniformity and ensures continuous production.

Watch the AirSweep material flow test to see how quickly the air pulses clear a bin filled with damp cornstarch. The proof is in the flow!

How to Replace AirSweep Parts for Preventative Maintenance

The AirSweep system is built to last, and will probably be running long after you retire. It just needs regular preventative maintenance. Some parts will need to be replaced periodically to ensure smooth, on-demand flow. These regular “tune-ups” do not require plant shutdowns, expensive equipment, or extensive technical training.

This video will show you the basics of routine preventative maintenance for your AirSweep® or any pneumatic flow aid with similar components.

What is preventative maintenance?

Routine preventative maintenance is a fairly simple concept. It just means choosing a service interval to change out certain parts in the flow aid system in order to prevent big problems from occurring. This includes the solenoid valves and the AirSweep nozzles.

Why do you need preventative maintenance?

Flow aid systems operate in very hot, dusty environments. After thousands of cycles in these difficult conditions, parts can wear down – affecting performance and energy efficiency. Eventually, this can lead to equipment failure, downtime, or possible safety hazards.

What tools do you need?

AirSweep is designed for easily installation and maintenance. Since it is mounted outside the vessel, you can quickly access and replace the parts. You don’t even need to disconnect it from the AirSweep or the air supply; just turn off the power and depressurize the system.

As for tools, all you need is a screwdriver, a power drill or a socket wrench, and the AirSweep replacement kit.

Watch the video for step-by-step instructions

Paul the AirSweep guy walks you through the entire process of replacing the solenoid valve.
Contact us if you have any other questions, or concerns about your AirSweep’s performance. We’ll be happy to help!

Standard AirSweep vs. Straight Shooter Models

The AirSweep system can handle almost any type of material and can be fitted into several kinds of storage vessels: silos, hoppers, ribbon blenders and more. The nozzles are positioned to release high-pressure, high volume 360° bursts of air. However, your process may require the air to be focused in one direction. Or, there may be structural limitations like a shared wall in the grain bin that make it difficult to install the standard AirSweep.

That’s when you need the AirSweep straight shooter models. In this video, Paul the AirSweep guy explains:

• The difference between the standard AirSweep® and the Straight Shooter models
• Situations or applications where the Straight Shooter may work better
• How to adjust the position/location and angle of the Straight Shooter to achieve the desired material flow

The video concludes with a material flow test that shows how the AirSweep Straight Shooter can eliminate ratholing, bridging and other material blocks.

What will work better for your vessel, material, process or industry? The AirSweep engineers can customize the system for you, and recommend the right models and set-up.

AirSweep: Dust-Tight Design, Easy Maintenance!

How much time and money do you lose every month because you need to shut down your production to clean your flow aid systems? That’s a common issue with most pneumatic flow aids. The material gets trapped in the material activation device, compromising performance and even causing cross-contamination.

Material Feedback—It’s a Money Issue!

Every time you pause production to clean out your flow aids, you lose time and money. Aside from lowering your output, you have to assign someone to dismantle the equipment, and manually remove any trapped debris.

That’s never a problem with the AirSweep system. It is designed to be completely dust-tight, so material never enters its individual parts. The patented nozzle design closes shut after each pulse, and is locked in place by a heavy-duty compression swing when it’s not in use. You have zero material feedback.

Watch proof of AirSweep’s dust-tight design

We submerge an AirSweep nozzle to see if water will leak through to the nozzle and solenoid valves. Will the AirSweep system stay dry and clean? See the results yourself.

How Air Pressure and Volume Affects Your AirSweep’s Performance

Your AirSweep system clears material blocks with powerful bursts of compressed air. For best results, it’s important to maintain proper pressure and volume.

How does an AirSweep system work?

Each AirSweep nozzle directs a high-pressure, high-volume 360° burst of compressed air or inert gas along the inside walls of process equipment or vessels, breaking friction to lift and sweep stalled material back into the flow stream.

The air receiver, air supply line and solenoid valves deliver the compressed air to the nozzle. The Control Concepts engineers will recommend the right set-up and necessary accessories to reach the recommended PSI.

What happens when you don’t supply enough pressure?

This video demonstrates the difference in the AirSweep performance when you change the pressure. If you are experiencing any problems with your AirSweep, check the pressure and volume. If problems persist, do reach out to us—we’ll be happy to help!

Fix Bin Rash with AirSweep^® Floweze

Poor material flow can stall your production line, and eventually, your company’s profits. Studies show that 80% of storage vessels don’t operate at capacity because they can’t move the material fast enough. Workers resort to hammering the bins, but that “solution” creates a whole new set of problems. You damage the vessel, waste skilled labor, and put yourself at legal risk for any injuries that can happen while they manually clean and declog your vessels. The smarter solution: AirSweep Floweze.

What is AirSweep?

AirSweep is a material activation system that uses high-pressure air to cut through blocks and dislodge materials that cling to vessel walls. Think of it as an air knife. The powerful, strategically placed nozzles direct powerful blasts of air in a sequence that’s customized to your material and process. In seconds, your vessel is completely flushed clean and ready for your next batch. No hammering, no damage or delays, no contamination. Your material (and your production process) flows with ease.

That’s the Floweze magic.

Watch how the AirSweep material activation system blasts through ratholing, bridging, and clogging. It’s amazing how a simple blast of air, delivered at the right place and at the right time, can keep your material flowing and your process on track.

Acetate Flakes Material Flow Test

The AirSweep System guarantees on-demand flow for any kind of material, including flakes, fibers, powders and granules. This includes acetate flakes, which are used in several industries to make anything from designer clothes to cigarette filters.

Acetate Flakes: Applications

Acetate flakes (or cellulose acetate flakes) is a bio-degradable, renewable material made from wood pulp. It is primarily used to make textiles, since it is easy to dye, hypoallergenic, breathable, and can be combined with other kinds of cloth fibers. It is also converted into filter media like cigarette filter tows, personal hygiene products, and surgical products. Some pharmaceuticals use acetate flakes as fillers and stabilizers. Acetate fibers are also processed into high-quality polymers for automobile parts, toys, tools, writing pens, and eyeglass frames. It can be flattened into sheets to make specialty papers and films, and 3D printing materials.

AirSweep:The Proof is in the Flow

As acetate flakes are mixed with other materials, or processed into its final form, it can clog in vessels and slow down production. Pneumatic flow aids like AirSweep break through material blocks in seconds. Our acetate material flow test shows how a vessel becomes completely clean after just a few Airsweep air pulses. Watch our AirSweep Acetate Material Flow Test, or how it works on other fibers and raw materials.