Air Knife

All there is to Know about Air Knife

Applications

  • Part drying after wash
  • Sheets cleaned in a mill
  • Conveyor cleaning
  • Part or component cooling
  • Web drying or cleaning
  • Environmental separation
  • Pre-paint blowoff
  • Bag opening/filling operations
  • Scrap removal on conversion ops advantages

Advantages

  • Noise Level: 68 dB A
  • Minimal air consumption
  • 40:1 air amplification
  • Uniform airflow from top to bottom
  • Variable force and flow
  • Easy to use - no moving parts
  • Compressed air inlet at each end and bottom
  • Easy to use, compact, and rugged
  • Recessed hardware
  • Stainless steels come in different types. We offer 304, 316, and SS304 stainless steels. These materials are suitable for use at high temperature applications. We also offer PVDF tubing which has better heat transfer properties than polyethylene.
  • Special lengths available
  • Available materials for building an unlimited number of systems

Air Knife Glossary

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Stainless steel shim, shim sets, Air Blade, temperature applications, blow-off, velocity air, actual product, variety of materials, corrosive environments.

Energy usage, level, noise level, food processing, slots, Anodized Aluminum, coating, excess coating, mechanical contact, plenum chamber.

Air plenum, circuit, circuit boards, conveyor belt, belt, lengths, Special Lengths, shape, pressure regulators, air blast, foreign substances, gentle breeze, laminar flow pattern.

Stainless steel screws, Environmental Separation, noise reductions, flat surface, air flow, air exits, wide range, Super Air Knife.

Standard Air Knife, Universal Air Knife Mounting System, Full-Flow Air Knife, Super Air Knife Kits, Supersonic Air Knife.

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Deluxe Super Air Knife Kits, double-sided Super Air Knife, dozen air knives, EXAIR Air Knife, exit air knife stream, industrial air knife, industrial blower-powered air knives, pressure air knives, PVC Super Air Knife, stationary air knife configuration.

Steel Shim, Steel Shim - .002, shims, plastic shims, Shim - .002" thick24"$42.0010130XS-316Stainless, Shim - .002" thick3"$18.0010106SStainless, Shim - .002" thick30"$48.0010136XSStainless, shim thickness, Steel Shim - .002" thick12"$24.0010118S.

Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick12"$28.0010115XS-316Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick15"$30.0010118XS-316Stainless.

Steel Shim - .002" thick18"$28.0010124SStainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick2"$16.0010103XS.

Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick3"$18.0010106XS.

Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick30"$52.0010136XS-316Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick6"$20.0010108S.

Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick6"$20.0010109XS.

Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick8"$22.0010112S.

Stainless, Steel Shim - .002" thick9"$22.0010112XSStainless, Standard Air Blade, Stainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade, air doctor blade.

Aluminum X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade, Full-Flow Air Blade, Full-Flow Air Blade Only36″$1,285.0010042XSStainless X-Stream.

Only18″$390.0010024XAluminum X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade, Only18″$725.0010024XSStainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade, Only24″$465.0010030XAluminum X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade, Only24″$896.0010030XSStainless X-Stream Full-Flow.

Air Blade, Only3″$198.0010006XAluminum X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade, Only9″$550.0010012XSStainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade.

Stainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade Only12"$895.0010015XS-316L316L Stainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade Only15"$990.0010018XS-316L316L Stainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade Only18"$1,110.0010024XS-316L316L Stainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade Only24"$1,360.0010030XS-316L316L Stainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade Only30"$1,680.0010036XS-316L316L .

Stainless X-Stream Full-Flow Air Blade, auto drain model 9000118"$1,230.0011024XS-316L316L, gage model 9000812"$1,080.0012015XS-316L316L SS X-Strm, gage model 9000818"$1,295.0012024XS-316L316L SS X-Strm, gage model 9000924"$1,661.0012030XS-316L316L SS .

X-Strm, gage model 9000924″$1,197.0012030XSSS X-Strm, gage model 9000930"$1,981.0012036XS-316L316L SS X-Strm, gage model 9000930″$1,391.0012036XSSS X-Strm, gage model 9000936″$1,586.0012042XSSS X-Strm, gage model 9000942″$1,851.

0012048XSSS X-Strm.

Application Engineer, ideal for applications, application criteria, hot dip applications, majority of manufacturing applications.

Pharmaceutical grade applications, blow-off appliances, blow-off or other drying methods, compressed air blow-off range, effective blow-off performance.

Liquid blow-off, low-pressure blow-off air, air velocity air stream, exit air velocity, impact air velocity, invisible-high velocity air streams, cool product surfaces.

Plant Engineering Product of the Year Awards, stationary product, cleaning systems, friendly cleaning technology, solvent-based cleaning agents, lighter materials, bonding of materials.

Free-standing materials, difficult environments, oil mist environments, oily environments, power of wind, blower motor power demand, electrical power cost savings, lowest blower motor power.

Energy reduction, air efficiency, efficiency improvement, maximum efficiency, level of precision, sound level measurements, base metal, continuous metal heat, exotic metals, food, food grade.

Food topping removal, continuous slots, discharge air slot, precise air discharge slot, filter with auto drain, filter separator.

Anodized Al, Anodized Aluminum X-Stream, Debris removal, method of debris blow, pipes with holes, series of holes, liquid coatings, contact form, contact, bulbous plenum, circuit board industry, conveyor belt gaps, stock lengths, extruded aluminum shapes, numerous shapes.

Materials for Air Knife

Aluminum - The aluminum air knife is suitable for a wide range of environments where rusting or contamination is not an issue. The high-quality aerospace grade aluminium construction with plastic shims is very durable for general purposes. Stainless screws are used to prevent rusting in moist areas. It can tolerate temperatures up to 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).

Type 304 Stainless Steels - This is the second most common grade of stainless steels. It has excellent corrosion resistance and high temperature capability. It can withstand temperatures from 400°F (204°C) to 1,200°F (649°C).

Type 304 stainless steels are commonly used in kitchen appliances because they resist rusting and staining. They also maintain good ductility at high temperature and are easy to weld. Type 316 stainless steels offer superior chemical stability compared to type 304 stainless steels.

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) - air knife is also available from stock, in polyvinylidene fluoride. PVDF offers superior strengths and is resistant to UV lights, inorganic chemicals,solvants, ozones, weather, fungi, chloroform hydrocarbons, highly corrosive acids, weak base and salts. The PVDF air knife uses ptfes hims, type316 stainless steel pipe plugs, and hastelloyc276alloyscrews tow it hhold harsh environments.The air knife is suitable for manufacture processes that involves electroplating, solar cells, lithium ion batteries transfer of acids and caustics chemicals, brine solvent recovery, semiconductors,and medical devices. It can withstand temperature down to 275f (135c).

The Air Knife offers the best performance with a 30:1 air amplification ratio. It is the most efficient. It has a laminar air stream that is uniform, forceful, and quiet. The velocity is the highest of all 3 air knives. Air consumption is the lowest of all 3 air knives. Compressed air inlet ports are provided on both ends and on the bottom. A single Air Knife can be used for shorter distances. Multiple Air Knifes can be mounted "side by side" for longer distances.

The Standard Knife is a great knife for cutting through tough materials such as bone and meat. Its high efficiency allows you to cut through thick material quickly and easily. The knife features a stainless steel blade that can withstand heavy duty usage. A sharpened edge ensures accurate cuts every time. An ergonomic handle design gives you a comfortable grip and helps prevent fatigue during extended periods of work.

The Full-Flower Air Knife offers excellent performance with a 30: 1 air amplifier ratio. The Full-Flower is the least expensive and a good option for tight spaces. Force output is lower than the other two models. Air consumption and sound levels fall between those of the Air Knife & Standard Air Knife. Compressors are supplied on both ends. Inlets are available at an extra cost, however, they are not advised for applications requiring uniform airflow along the length of the knife.

You can always ask for help if you need it.

Universal Air Knife Mount - The EXAIR Model 9060 Universal Air Gun Mount provides safe, precise positioning for your air knife. The mount can be attached to the top or bottom of your air gun, allowing you to position it where needed. Its durable, stainless steel construction allows it to withstand tough conditions.

The mounting system can be used with both EXAIR Static Eliminators and Ions. For the Ion air knife, it can be attached to the front. Bottom mounting is possible for Ions that are 18 inches (457 millimeters) or longer. For Standard Ions, it can be either front or bottom-mounting depending on the size.

The Universal Air Knife mounting system can be articulated into any angle and provides a maximum extension range of 30". A 1/2" drill size is required for mounting. An alternative option is to thread the bolt directly into a 1/4"-20 tap. For any style air knife that is 24" to 54", we recommend (2) Universal Air Knives mounting systems. For knives 55" to 71", we recommend (3). For 72 inches to 95", we recommend (4). For 96" to 104", we recommend (5). For 105" and above, we recommend (6).

Powered plumbing systems! No more searching for the right fitting or running short on supplies. With these powered plumbing systems you can simply connect your existing system to our powerful tools. And if you're not happy with the results, just return them for a full refund. We'll even pay for shipping.

Some application requires a long air knife that is much longer than our 108 inch (2743 mm) length. We offer coupling bracket kits that combine two air knives into one unit. These kits come with two rigid plates along with an assortment of screws. One end of each rigid plastic piece contains holes to connect to the bottom compressed air inlet ports. All models include stainless-steal screws.

An Air Knife Shimmer Set allows for compressed air to escape from an air knife through a small gap in the air knife. By increasing the size of the gap, force and flow may be increased.

Systems

There are five different models of air knives:

  • Air Knife Only
  • Includes air knife and plumbing kit (installed)
  • Air Knife Kit: including a Air Knife, Shim Set, and Pressure Regulator (with Coupler)
  • Includes a Air Knife, plumber's kit (included), shim set (separating) and pressure regulator (coupled).
  • Deluxe air knife kits include a air knife, electric fuel cell, universal mount system, shim kit, and filter separator.

Deluxe Air Knife Kit

  • 3" (76 mm) 110003,110003SS, 1100010203, 1100010203SS, 1100010230, 1100010230SS,
  • 6 inch 110006, 1100006S, 110006SS 316, 110006 PVDF, 110206 SS, 110206 SS 316, 110206 PVDF,
  • All these sizes are available for purchase from Amazon.com.
  • We carry a wide variety of sizes for our 110030 series.
  • There are several different types of stainless steel available for use in the kitchen.
  • There are so many different types of connectors for these cables!
  • There are several different types of stainless steel tubing available for use in medical applications. These include:1. 30” (762 mm) 110030, 110031, 110032, 110033,
  • There are several options for mounting these connectors. You may choose any one of them depending upon your preference.
  • These are the sizes of the parts for our new printer.
  • There are several different types of connectors for these cables. You can order them here.
  • 54 inches (1372 mm), 110054, 110054 SS, 110054 SS 316, 110054 PVDF, 110054 PKI, 110054 SSPKI, 110054 SS 316 PKI, 110054 DX, 1100
  • There are several different types of connectors available for use with the 1100 series cable assemblies.
  • It’s not enough for us to just be good at our jobs; we need to be excellent at them. We don't want to settle for anything less than excellence.
  • There are several different sizes available for each type of pin. You may want to consider purchasing multiple types of pins depending on where they're going to be used.
  • There are several different sizes available for these knives. You can choose from three different lengths: 24 inches (610 mm), 26 inches (660 mm), and 28 inches (710 mm).
  • You should definitely buy one.

Air Knife Performance

  • From the above table, we see that pressure supply air consumption decreases by 0.0012 lb/hr for every 1 degree F increase in temperature.
  • PSIG BAR SCFMSLPMFPMdBAOUNCEGRAMS

A 12" (305mm), 0.002" (0,05mm) thick shims were used to test the air knife.

  • How the Air Knife Works

Compressed gas enters the intake manifold (1). From there, it travels through the engine block (2) and then out the exhaust port (3). While traveling through the engine block, the compressed gas heats up and expands. When the gas reaches the combustion chambers, it ignites and burns. This produces energy that turns the crankshaft (4) and drives the wheels (5). Once the car is moving, the driver can open the throttle to increase power.

Dimension & Airflow Pattern

Air Knife Standards and Certifications

air knives comply with OSHA’s safety requirements, the EU General Product Safe­ty Directive (2001/95 / EC), and meet the noisemaking limitations specified by the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Sound levels are measured at three feet from the blade.

We support the Dodd-Frank Wall St. Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) and are committed to complying with its requirements to prevent the sale of goods made from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To comply with the law, we use the CMRT 3-02 form to document our supply chains and commitments to avoid the mining of these metals in the DRC.

Award - Air Knives - Best knife ever!

Long AirKnives were finalists for the 2014 Plant Engineering Product Of The Year Awards. They won the Compressed Air category award.

Long stainless steel air knives were finalists for the 2016 Plant Engineering Product Of The Year Awards. They won the Material Handling Systems category!

Stainless Steel Plumbing Kit won the 2017 Design Award for Best New Product in the Fastening, Jointing, and Assembly category. It was one of two products from us to win an award at the annual design event.

Efficiency Lab

Does your company currently utilize an air compressor system similar to us? If so, we would love to offer you our services to analyze your current setup and provide recommendations based on proven technology. To get started, please send us your compressed air usage data along with any information about your current system. Once we receive your submission, we'll contact you within 24 hours to schedule a convenient appointment.

Compare These Blowoffs

With so many different options for blowing water out of bottles, there’s no one right answer. But it has the best option for your needs.

We wanted to make sure that our choice of blowoff device would provide low energy consumption. To do so, we needed to determine what kind of compressor could produce 4.1 bar of compressed air at 18,000 rpm. A quick internet search revealed that the lowest power rating for such a unit is 10 hp. So, we decided to go ahead and purchase one of these units. In order to measure the sound produced by the blowers, we placed them inside a room without any walls. After measuring the sound levels, we found that they were very quiet.

Drilled Pipe

This is a simple experiment to show how much work goes into making an air cannon. We used two pieces of PVC piping, one with 25 1/16" (65mm) diameter drillings spaced 1/2" (12mm) apart. The second piece had no drillings. We then attached them together end to end using duct tape. Next, we filled the tube with air from a compressor and measured the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the pipe. The results were surprising. The pipe without any drillings showed a pressure differential of only about 0.5 psi. However, the pipe with the drillings showed a pressure difference of nearly 4 psi! That means that the drillings caused the air in the pipe to move faster than the air outside the pipe. So why did the drillings cause such a large increase in velocity? Because they reduced turbulence in the flow. Turbulence causes friction, which slows down the flow. By reducing the turbulence, the drillings allowed the air to flow through the pipe more smoothly.

Flat Air Nozzles

As shown below, these cheap nozzles were the best performers. They are available in metal, ceramic, and glass from several manufacturers. The cylindrical nozzles provide good entrainments but suffer from many of the same drawbacks as the flat nozzles. Operating costs and sound levels are also high. Some manufacturers offer nozzles where the openings can be blocked - an occupational safety hazard. Velocity is consistent and predictable.

Blower Air Knife

In addition to being cheap, quiet and easy to install, the Blowers offer superior performance. They can be used to clean larger areas quickly and efficiently. Their powerful suction power removes dust and debris without damaging walls or ceilings. And they're much quieter than any other blowers on the market today.