Air cannons are vital in facilitating the flow of materials like cement, grain and coal. Air cannons are installed inside silos, chutes and kilns to ease the flow of the above products, especially in the event of obstructions. Notably, materials might retain moisture, leading to blockage because of stickiness. There are different types of air cannons for various applications. For example, some applications need intermittent bursts of air, while others require air after a few seconds to keep a product moving. Here are some top tips for beginners when choosing air cannons.
Pressure Rating -- The amount of pressure in an air cannon system depends on the weight of the materials being moved. Bulky items such as pebbles, raw coal and stone chips need cannons with higher pressure ratings compared to lighter materials like cereals and grains. It is recommended that you consider an adjustable pressure unit if you need an air cannon for blasting materials of different weight. With such an air cannon, you can configure the pressure level to blast any material without causing any blockage.
Number of Valves -- In an air cannon system, valves aid in the distribution of pressure through air injection. For single-valve air cannons, air can only be used to remove materials from one component or channel. In this case, a single valve is ideal for simple blasting procedures. A sophisticated air cannon system might comprise multiple channels. Therefore, a multi-valve configuration is an efficient and practical option when an air cannon has many points of operation that use compressed air. The advantage with the latter setup is that you can channel compressed air towards components without worrying about pressure reduction. Also, the multi-valve setup can discharge air at several delivery points via hoses and pipes to take care of tight areas.
Consider Material Flow Problem -- The type of material blockage is essential when determining the type of air cannon system to install. For instance, when the material being relayed forms a narrow channel or hole above an outlet and causes blockage, then the phenomenon is referred to as rat-holing. Dealing with the flow problem requires installing an air cannon with a narrow air nozzle but with an enhanced pressure rating. On the other hand, bridging refers to an instance where the discharged material causes an arch or bridge at the discharge point. In case of bridging, buy an air cannon with an extensive air dispersal capability so that the air can reach the width of the bridge.
To learn more, contact a company like ESS Engineering.
Welcome to my blog. My name is Eric. For the past few years, I have been researching how Australian industry operates. It has taken me many hours of self-guided study and interviews with industry insiders to reach a point where I feel comfortable starting this blog. I love the idea of being able to offer advice to others. Although I never got to work in the industrial sector, I have always taken a keen interest in it and I was very proud of the fact my father worked in an industrial unit for his entire life. I hope you like this blog!