Venting Valve for Pneumatic Conveying System

A company manufacturing dense phase pneumatic conveying systems have been using Pinch Valves as part of their machine builds for more than 30 years.

Bulk materials present unique challenges to all industries involved, in particular,  materials that are so hazardous that any loss of material while it is being transferred is a threat to employees as well as the surrounding environment.

This OEM company manufacture totally enclosed transporter systems, which make material handling so much easier and more efficient. Their dustless conveying technology has benefited thousands of clients facing the hurdles of retrofitting existing plants.

This particular piece of equipment conveys a mixture of building products with versatility complimented by the economical forethought in its simple design. Using dense phase pneumatic conveying requires smaller compressors, lower air consumption, and smaller exhaust fans. Plus the method of moving the material at slower velocities extends the pipe route life. One of the key features of this machinery is the longer lasting pipe lines due to the gentle velocities employed during conveying.

The simple design of the Pinch Valve compliments this machine further, along with it’s low cost and suitability for the process.

Pinch Valve used within this application: VMC40.03X.50G.30LX

VMC model, air operated, aluminium body, stainless steel threaded socket ends, natural rubber sleeve.

How does the venting valve assist?

The bulk materials that pass through the Pinch venting Valve for different processes include sugar, sand, cement and fly ash, at a pressure of up to 5 Bar. The Pinch Valve is normally open, and is used as a venting valve on the top of a blow egg. The number of cycles per day varies per system that they build, and can be anywhere from 2 cycles per day up to 400.

The Pinch venting Valve assists with this application by venting the vessel during filling. The AKO Pinch Valve also directs material promptly with fully automated controls.

Customer Satisfaction

The Mechanical Design Engineer from the original equipment manufacturing company told us:

Further Benefits of the Pinch Valve

The rubber sleeve is the only moving part of a Pinch Valve and is easily replaceable without special tools. Based on the application, sleeves are available in a wide range of elastomers as mentioned above, where other conventional types of valves have only a short life expectancy because of abrasive or corrosive products. For most applications the advantages of pinch valves far outweigh their limitations including limitations of operating temperature (depending on selected sleeve material) and maximum operating pressure (depending on size).