Most industries dealing with bulk material handling rely on silos or bins. However, when material blockages occur in this equipment, it might impact their operational efficiency significantly. In turn, this results in considerable delays you don't want. Investing in the ideal air cannon system can help break down lumps to eliminate this problem. Ideally, industrial air cannons come in diverse shapes, sizes and capabilities. Therefore, it's essential to assess available options carefully.
Please, continue reading this post to learn three critical considerations when investing in industrial air cannons for your silo or bin.
Manual Versus Automatic Air Cannons
Generally, you will find automatic and manual air cannons on the market. Automatic air cannons discharge air streams automatically according to predefined intervals. Due to this feature, they tend to be more expensive than manual types. On the other hand, manual air cannons demand manual operation and tend to be cheaper alternatives.
However, price shouldn't be your primary concern when considering the best air cannon to purchase. It's recommendable, therefore, to factor in other critical aspects, including the materials you'll be handling. For example, grains will likely stick together because they are syrup-based. Because of this, they require stronger and constant air blasts to eliminate potential blockages. As such, automatic air cannons make the ideal choice.
Weight and Capacity of the Materials
Typically, air cannons produce pressurised air, commonly measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). If dealing with heavier materials like sand or gravel, opt for high-PSI air cannons. Conversely, you might require low-PSI air cannons when handling lighter materials, including cereals and flour.
However, it'll be wise to invest in industrial air cannons with adjustable pressure levels to get the most out of these devices. Ideally, air cannons with adjustable pressure levels guarantee that your material handling equipment seamlessly adapts to the ever-changing production requirements.
The Valve System Suitability
Besides automatic and manual systems, air cannons can also have a single or multi-valve operation. Often, the suitability of a valve system relies heavily on the size of your material handling equipment. For example, small-sized silos or bins might work well with a single-valve system. Conversely, large-sized equipment might require the efficiency of a multi-valve system.
Generally, multi-valve systems facilitate the efficient blasting of air streams in multiple directions. That, in turn, helps prevent materials from sticking to the inner equipment walls to eliminate clogging. Additionally, they ensure at least one stream of air is present at any given time, helping keep production moving even when servicing other valves.
