What causes air leakage in pneumatic conveying systems?
Air leakage commonly occurs when conveying air escapes through the clearances between a rotary airlock’s rotor and housing or returns through empty rotor pockets.
Common causes include:
• Worn rotor tips, housing, seals, or end plates
• Excessive internal clearances
• Incorrect valve size or configuration
• High pressure differential
• Excessive rotor speed
• Improper venting
• Temperature-related clearance changes
• Abrasive material wearing internal components
• Material buildup preventing an effective seal
Why does air leakage matter?
Excessive leakage can reduce conveying pressure, decrease material throughput, increase energy consumption, disrupt material feeding, and place additional demand on the blower.
Although every rotary airlock requires some internal clearance and will allow a limited amount of leakage, excessive leakage may indicate equipment wear, improper valve selection, or operating conditions outside the valve’s intended range.
Reducing air leakage starts with selecting the right rotary airlock valve for the material, pressure differential, temperature, capacity, and application. Routine inspection and maintenance are also essential for identifying worn components before they cause performance problems or unplanned downtime.
Is your rotary airlock valve showing signs of leakage or wear?
Meyer Industrial’s Service & Repair Department provides rotary airlock valve inspection, maintenance, rebuilding, and repair services for Meyer valves and other major brands. The rebuild process can include restoring housings, headplates, rotor tips, shafts, bearings, seals, and packing to the proper operating tolerances. Meyer also offers a free inspection and estimate, documented testing, and a 12-month service warranty.
Learn more:
