How do rotary valves work

All of the valves will look the same but the application makes a big difference in how the proper size and options are selected to provide the best valve for various industries and applications. I hope this was helpful, be on the lookout for more helpful tips about rotary valves and pneumatic conveyance systems.

Have you downloaded the Smoot Sizing App yet? Use the app to help determine the correct valve for your application directly from your phone or tablet. Related Post. ATEX certified rotary valve is utilized in industries that handle combustible clouds of dust such as those found in flour production, chemical processing etc.

Throughout the industrial sector, the use of a rotary valve is undeniable. Since its inception, its use in industries has progressively grown. Its utilization can range from food and pharmaceutical to agricultural and milling industries — nearly every industry out there makes use of it to its full capacity. The valve is designed according to the bulk materials it is meant to handle. Different types of bulk materials demand different valve designs.

Coated surfaces that are non-stick or polished stainless-steel surfaces are commonly used for products having corrosive, sticky, and cohesive characteristics. Rotary airlocks or valves are used to control the flow of bulk solids from silos, hopper or cyclones. Rotary valves provide continuous, reliable bulk solid flow like wheat, grain, cement, pellets. Wide range of rotary valve models and configurations are available for different process conditions and physical properties of transferred bulk solids.

According to process silo, cyclone, jet filter, conveyor, pneumatic conveying system etc. Control product flow rate as required Maintain a gas pressure differential between the inlet and outlet Act as an explosion barrier, flame barrier and process isolator. Rotary valves are placed under silos, hoppers or other container systems.

It is used to control bulk solid discharge from these units and feed devices like screw feeders, conveyors and mixers. Rotary valves can also be placed under a cyclone. It applies a pressure seal between the storage and conveying systems so it uniformly flows from the outlet. Dust collection systems also utilises rotary valves to unload dust. It is used to transition material from one pressurised point, such as a dust collector, to another unpressurized point, such as a drum or bin.

The valve seals a pressurized system against loss of air and pressure. This makes it to control the flow of material from hoppers, bins, or silos into processing or conveying systems. Rotary valves control the rotor speed of airlock, which allows volumetric measurement to be possible for both powdered and granule type bulk materials.

Rotary valves are also used to feed pneumatic conveying lines from hopper, silo, cyclone, and big bag discharge stations. This aids in preventing air leakage from the conveying line while maintaining constant feeding of powders or granules. Rotary valves also aid conveyors feeding from silos, hoppers and screw feeders by sending bulk materials into airlocks before it gets moved into another device.

Visit our dedicated page for rotary valves to learn more about it. A venturi system is considered as one of the most accurate flow-sensing element, if and only if, it is accurately calibrated. Thus it is important to choose a pneumatic conveying company who has long years of experience in this field. There are also plow like designs and one-off arrangements all meant to provide the best valve functionality to specific uses. Rotor design is highly specific to the application at hand, and come in many, many types.

There are closed-end rotors, open-end rotors, metering rotors, staggered pocket rotors, reduced volume rotors, helical rotors, adjustable rotors, flex tip rotors, radius pocket rotors, and many more one-off types that each fit unique material and needs.

There are typically no less than 8 rotor pockets and therefore 8 vanes in a rotor, but increasing the rotor amount will increase sealing capacity at the cost of filling efficiency. Replaceable vanes are also popular, as rotors tend to wear with time, but are generally not used in large rotary valves.

Most rotary valves are powered via a synchronous electric motor connected to a reduction gearbox and chain setup, allowing for precise speed control and regulation. Additional speed monitoring equipment and variable speed controls can be added to these drives, making the rotary valve useful as rotary automation valves.

There are also hydraulic motors that can power larger rotary valves, but they do not use a gearbox and are reserved for more specific uses. Since these devices are dependent on the application, there is a lot to specify when choosing the right valve for the job. This section will detail some important specifications to understand when considering a rotary valve but know that this list is not fully comprehensive.

Always consult your designers and suppliers about specifications, as they will have the most relevant information and resources. Understand what you are using the rotary valve for, and what it must accomplish; this means calculating the desired throughput rate, defining material characteristics density, flow coefficients , estimating efficiency, and other important metrics. These values are dependent on all aspects of the valve, so be prepared to alter these specifications as needed.