AKO Pinch Valves: Pneumatic Conveying
In pneumatic conveying, bulk solids are moved through pipelines by compressed air – as dilute phase, strand, plug or dense phase conveying. All variants put considerable mechanical stress on valves, as the conveyed particles are highly abrasive. AKO pinch valves are particularly well suited here because their straight passage without edges or dead spaces avoids turbulence, and the elastomer sleeve withstands wear considerably longer than rigid valve designs.
Typical applications
- Dilute phase conveying at high velocities (>20 m/s)
- Strand conveying (approx. 15–20 m/s)
- Plug conveying (3–10 m/s)
- Dense phase conveying (7–15 m/s)
- Diverting/distribution to several conveying lines
Recommended AKO series
- AKO VF (flange, DN40-300) – robust design for large nominal sizes and high conveying rates of highly abrasive bulk solids
- AKO VMC (multi-connection, DN25-150) – universally applicable thanks to various connection types
- AKO VMP (female thread, DN10-50, POM) – compact and designed for very many switching cycles, suitable for dosing/distribution stations
Case study
A manufacturer of polymer concrete components had to convey several highly abrasive raw material components around the clock with very many switching cycles. AKO equipped the plant with VF valves (DN80/100) with wear-resistant sleeves and safety interlocks against uncontrolled material flow in case of compressed air failure – in reliable use for more than 25 years, with sleeve changes only every 4–6 months.
More information from the manufacturer: AKO Armaturen – industries & applications ↗
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