4 Facts for Beginners to Know About Air Cannons in the Cement Manufacturing Industry

Air cannons are flow aid devices, which have been used in the cement manufacturing industry for years due to a host of benefits. Air cannons ease the flow of cement by preventing blockages and buildups in preheat cement towers. Furthermore, air blasters are installed in storage bunkers, clinker coolers and material transfer chutes to aid material flow. Here are essential facts for beginners to know about air cannons in the cement manufacturing industry.

How an Air Cannon Operates 

An air cannon consists of two vital parts: a pressure tank (vessel) and a high-flow valve. The equipment works by releasing compressed air from the reservoir through a valve, which pushes the cement with immense force. The valve remains closed by the pressure vessel until a solenoid valve releases the pressure. You can achieve different blast characteristics to suit specific applications by adjusting tank volume, nozzle design, operating pressure and valve design.

Consider Advanced Valve Technology for New Air Cannon Installations 

Conventional air cannons use excessive compressed air that causes inefficiencies in the system while increasing the operational costs. Efficient valves installed on smaller tanks can offer higher blast forces than inefficient valves installed on larger vessels when the supply pressure is held constant. In this regard, cement manufacturing plants can achieve significant compressed air savings. Although air cannons with advanced valve technology are pricier than their conventional counterparts, the cost savings pay off the price difference over the equipment's lifespan.

Optimise Space 

One major challenge that many cement plants face is keeping the material flowing while working in a limited physical space. You can only install so many air blasters in a confined space. A perfect solution to the challenge is to consider a single air cannon system with multiple independent valves. What it means is that the valves are housed in a single pressure tank. With such a configuration, you can save on space while allowing for ease of access to the air cannon for maintenance.

Mega Blast Air Cannons 

Changes in cement manufacturing processes can adversely affect the efficiency of air cannons. For example, the material buildup can overwhelm existing air cannons due to limited blast force. Besides, when air cannons are out of service for hours or days, the material buildup can be more substantial than the air cannon blast. Therefore, you should opt for a mega blast air cannon, which can increase the blast force multiple times compared to a standard air cannon. In this sense, you can remove the toughest buildup stress-free without the need of adding more air cannons.


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