What to Look for When Buying an Air Cannon

If you own a silo, a bin, or a kiln, you may at some point notice materials being blocked and affecting the flow of other materials. This can be frustrating because you will have to wait longer for your materials to flow completely. Fortunately, there is a way around this. Air cannons are devices that can be attached along the length of your silo or bin to quickly blast the stuck materials and ensure effective flow. However, to get the most advantage out of an air cannon, you must invest in the correct type. Choosing can sometimes be challenging because of the many options available. Here are some tips to help you make the correct choice.

Look at the Type of Blockage

Materials can get stuck in your silo in various ways. Among the common material blockages are ratholing, bridging, and arching. As the materials flow inside your bin or silo, some of them may form a bridge across the width. This happens when the materials clamp together. Any materials above this bridge or barrier will have a hard time flowing past. This type of blockage is bridging. If this is the kind of blockage in your silo or bin, choose an air cannon that will disperse air widely across the width of the barrier.

The location of the stuck materials can also help you determine the type of material blockage. For instance, if you see the materials just above the sloping section of your bin or silo, you could be having an arching blockage. For ratholing, the materials will attach themselves on the sides of your bin or silo to form a vacuum or void storage area that significantly reduces the flow rate of materials. Ratholing and arching blockages can be solved by choosing an air cannon with a high pressure rating and a small air section. This will help break any materials concentrated at a single spot inside your silo or bin.

Consider the Configuration of Your Bin or Silo

Sometimes the configuration of your bin or silo can make it difficult to fit an air cannon. For instance, if there are pipes outside your silo, the tight spaces can make it challenging to fit an air cannon. In such a case, you want to invest in an air cannon that has a multi-valve system. In most cases, the air cannon is installed on the sides of your silo or bin. A series of tubes are then connected to the multiple valves of the cannon at different places. These tubes are then channelled to different openings on your bin or silo to blast the air from the air cannon. However, this can slightly reduce the pressure of the air being blasted. Therefore, choose a high-pressure air cannon.


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