EXAIR Deluxe Super Air Knife™ Kit

Applications

• Part drying after wash
• Sheet cleaning in strip mills
• Conveyor cleaning
• Part or component cooling
• Web drying or cleaning
• Environmental separation
• Pre-paint blowoff
• Bag opening/filling operations
• Scrap removal on converting operations

Advantages

Materials:

Aluminum - The aluminum Super Air Knife is suited to a wide variety of environments where corrosion or contamination is not a factor. The aircraft grade aluminum construction with plastic shim is very durable for general purpose applications. Stainless steel screws are used to eliminate corrosion in damp locations. It can withstand temperatures up to 180°F (82°C).

Type 303 Stainless Steel - This is the most common grade of stainless steel. It offers good strength and is best suited to mildly corrosive environments. It can withstand temperatures up to 800°F (427°C).

Type 316 Stainless Steel - Some applications require better corrosion resistance than offered by Type 303 stainless steel. Type 316 stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance, better strength properties and resists pitting. These factors are important to manufacturers of food, pharmaceutical and surgical products that need to minimize contamination by the metal. It can withstand temperatures up to 800°F (427°C).

PVDF (Polyvinylidene Flouridine) - EXAIR’s Super Air Knife is also available from stock in PVDF. PVDF offers superior strength and is resistant to UV light, inorganic chemicals, solvents, ozone, weather, fungi, chlorinated hydrocarbons, highly corrosive acids, weak bases and salts. The PVDF Super Air Knife uses PTFE shims, Type 316 Stainless Steel pipe plugs, and Hastelloy® C-276 alloy screws to withstand harsh environments. The PVDF Super Air Knife is suitable for manufacturing processes that involve electroplating, solar cells, lithium ion batteries, transfer of acids and caustic chemicals, brine, solvent recovery, semiconductors and medical devices. It can withstand temperatures up to 275°F (135°C).

 Models:

The Full-Flow Air Knife provides good performance with a 30:1 air amplification ratio. The Full-Flow Air Knife is the least expensive and is a good choice for tight spaces. Force is less than the other two styles. Air consumption and sound level falls between that of the Super Air Knife and the Standard Air Knife. Compressed air inlet(s) are provided on the rear. Inlets are available on each end at a small additional charge, however they are not recommended for applications where uniform flow across the length is required.

 

Accessories:

Air Knife Plumbing Kits - Super Air Knives that are 24" or longer must be supplied with compressed air at multiple inlets on the knife. The Air Knife Plumbing Kits prevent you from searching for the right fittings or using undersized air supply lines. They provide properly sized compressed air hose or pipe, and fittings to interconnect the bottom or end compressed air inlets for best performance. Plumbing kits for aluminum Super Air Knives include a pressure gauge to monitor pressure at the Super Air Knife, which is an indication of proper air supply. They also include nitrile/PVC hose and brass fittings. Plumbing kits for stainless steel Super Air Knives include cut to length type 316 stainless steel pipe and fittings and will also work on PVDF Super Air Knives.

 

Coupling Bracket Kits - Some applications require a Super Air Knife that is longer than our 108" (2743mm) length. Coupling Bracket Kits that join two Super Air Knives together are available. The kit includes two rigid plates along with the assembly screws. The bottom plate is supplied with a hole to access the bottom compressed air inlets. All models include stainless steel screws.

 

 How the Super Air Knife Works:

Compressed air flows through an inlet (1) into the plenum chamber of the Super Air Knife. The flow is directed to a precise, slotted orifice. As the primary airflow exits the thin slotted nozzle (2), it follows a flat surface that directs the airflow in a perfectly straight line. This creates a uniform sheet of air across the entire length of the Super Air Knife. Velocity loss is minimized and force is maximized as the room air (3) is entrained into the primary airstream at a ratio of 40:1. The result is a well defined sheet of laminar airflow with hard-hitting force and minimal wind shear.