{"id":67079,"date":"2023-01-03T10:41:33","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T10:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aircontrolindustries.com\/?page_id=67079"},"modified":"2024-03-20T07:59:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T07:59:17","slug":"air-knife-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.aircontrolindustries.com\/us\/air-knife-systems\/air-knife-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Knife Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

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AIR KNIFE SYSTEMS<\/h1>\n

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Improve quality. Boost output. Cut costs.<\/h2>\n

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\u2022 Improve product and packaging quality and consistency
\u2022 Increase production line speeds \u2013 boost output
\u2022 Cut energy costs, improve ROI
\u2022 Lower your carbon footprint, protect the environment<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|0px||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” width_tablet=”95%” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”1650px” custom_margin=”|||80px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|10px||10px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|10px||10px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”|0px||0px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|15px||15px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|15px||15px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||65px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” sticky_position=”top” sticky_offset_top=”100px” sticky_limit_bottom=”row” sticky_position_tablet=”none” sticky_position_phone=”none” sticky_position_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” admin_label=”Mobile sub title” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#333333″ text_font_size=”32px” text_line_height=”43px” header_line_height=”43px” header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_margin=”||||false|true” custom_margin_tablet=”||||false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|12px||12px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

AN IN-DEPTH GUIDE TO AIR KNIVES AND AIR KNIFE TECHNOLOGY<\/span><\/h2>\n

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CONTENTS<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. What Is An Air Knife?<\/p>\n

2. Types of Air Knives<\/p>\n

3. Key Considerations<\/p>\n

4. Specifying The Right Air Knife<\/p>\n

5. Are You Wasting Money On Expensive Compressed Air?<\/p>\n

6. Why You Need A Specialist Air Knife Partner<\/p>\n

7. Why Expert Technical Advice On Air Knives Is Essential<\/p>\n

8. Laminar Airflow and Air Entrainment<\/p>\n

9. How Entrainment Makes ACI Air Knives More Efficient<\/p>\n

10. Nozzles and Reciprocators<\/p>\n

11. Downloads<\/p>\n

12. Bring us your challenges!<\/p>\n

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AN IN-DEPTH GUIDE TO AIR KNIVES AND AIR KNIFE TECHNOLOGY<\/span><\/h2>\n

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1. WHAT IS AN AIR KNIFE?<\/span><\/h2>\n

An air knife is a device that delivers a controlled \u2018blade\u2019 of air \u2013 blowing moisture, debris or excess coatings off products as they move along a production line conveyor belt.<\/p>\n

Air knives initially appear very simple. They comprise just a plenum (blade), some tubing, a blower and a housing. But expert technical advice is essential if you are to specify the right air knife system for your application \u2013 ensuring optimum performance and lower energy bills.<\/p>\n

Simply ordering an air knife off-the-shelf \u2013 without having it configured to your precise requirements is a false economy. It will almost certainly underperform and waste energy. But a correctly specified and properly installed air knife system will pay for itself in months.<\/p>\n

It is vitally important to ensure that your air knife system delivers the correct:<\/b>
\u2022 laminar airflow \u2013 a smooth \u2018blade\u2019 of air with no turbulence
\u2022. air entrainment \u2013 \u2018free\u2019 air that is drawn into the blown airstream as part of the process
\u2022 air balance \u2013 with no high or low spots.<\/p>\n

You will discover much more about laminar airflow, air entrainment and air balance further down this page \u2013 along with the key considerations you must take into account when specifying an air knife system.<\/p>\n

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Want to find out more? Read our blog<\/a><\/p>\n

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2. TYPES OF AIR KNIVES<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n


STRAIGHT AIR KNIVES<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Air<\/p>\n

Each air knife system we manufacture and supply to customers typically comprises a centrifugal air blower, ducting and air delivery method.<\/p>\n

Straight air knife blades are based on three standard profile heights\/widths:<\/b>
\u2022 50 mm with 2\u201d\/50.8 mm inlet(s) \u2013 up to 3,500mm long
\u2022 76 mm with 3\u201d\/76.2 mm inlet (s) \u2013 up to 3,000mm long
\u2022 100 mm with 4\u201d\/101.6 mm inlet(s) \u2013 up to 4,000mm long.<\/p>\n

Custom air knives are also available based around the following heights\/widths: <\/b>
\u2022 150 mm (6\u201d\/152.4 mm inlet)
\u2022 250 mm (10\u00a0\u201d\/254 mm inlet)
\u2022 300 mm (12\u00a0\u201d\/304.8 mm inlet).<\/p>\n

Air knives are available in aluminium and stainless steel (304, 316). Anodised aluminium air knives are best suited to industrial applications. They are robust, light and more cost-effective than stainless steel. Download the full list of specifications and options for aluminium air knives.<\/p>\n

Straight air knives are recommended only for production lines that are <1 metre wide. For lines >1 metre, we recommend chevron air knives.<\/p>\n

View our full range of air knives: stainless steel, aluminium, shaped (chevron, ring, square)<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n


Chevron Air Knives<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chevron air knives are a highly effective method of drying because they cut through surface moisture like a snowplough \u2013 halving the distance that the water droplets need to travel. This speeds up drying, saves energy and enables faster line speeds.<\/p>\n

Find out more here about ACI air knife system components.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n


Ring\/Circular Air Knives<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Air<\/p>\n

Ring air knives encircle the product, providing a balanced 360-degree airflow for applications involving cables, tubing or lines.<\/p>\n

Getting the right airflow \u2013 with no inefficient low spots or energy-wasting high spots \u2013 depends on specifying the correct ring diameter, hole diameter, number of inlets, the size of the air discharge slot and the air pressure entering the ring.<\/p>\n

Ring air knives are available in two forms:
\u2022 a solid ring
\u2022 two-part hinged ring that opens to allow easy placement or removal of a long product such as a cable.<\/p>\n

Specify ring air knives in stainless steel. Two grades are available as standard: 304 or 316L (for food and beverage production, bottle\/can drying and the dairy industry).<\/p>\n

Sizes range from 50 mm to 700 mm hole diameter. Square air knives are also available. The number of air inlets required for your air knife will depend on its hole diameter and the size of the air discharge slot required for your specific application.<\/p>\n

Case Study: How an ACI ring air knife helped Global Marine Group to dry cables during subsea deployment<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


JetPlates: Twice As Powerful As Normal Air Knives<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Stainless steel air knives are aimed at harsh and corrosive environments. They are a must for the food and beverage industry, where cleanliness and hygiene are paramount. Download the full list of specifications and options for stainless steel air knives.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n