Knife Gate Valve Provides Flow Control For Automotive Maker
The Problem
A Northeast Ohio manufacturer producing special automotive chemicals struggled to control the flow of carbon dust leaving their cartridge dust collector’s hopper. This heavy dust is collected in a plastic bag inside a box under the hopper, and they needed to keep the cartridge collector while changing bags.
Knife Gate Valve
The Solution and Measurable Results
This particular company had previously been an Aerodyne customer and seen firsthand the effectiveness of our dust collection products. As a result, they contacted our engineers to help them solve this new operational hiccup. After careful analysis, our team recommended a 12” pneumatic Knife Gate valve with a position switch. This Knife Gate is an ideal solution to the company’s problem because it allows for effective flow control of a variety of materials in different operating conditions at the line of flow and/or the point of discharge.
The facility was able to keep their Knife Gate open during normal operation and close it during bag changes, thereby isolating the collection container from the cartridge collector and abating their concerns about escaping product. Furthermore, the Knife Gate sits tightly on a material handling system that prevents significant loss of positive or negative pressure in the system– an ideal way to control material discharge.
Knife Gate Valves
Knife gate valves are ideal for controlling flow in bulk-material handling systems in the line of flow, or at the point of discharge. Consequently, this valve can be used in a variety of dry material applications. How does it work? Using a linear motion, a blade advances until the passage is closed, or withdraws until the passage is open.
In the closed position, the knife gate valve is designed to seal tightly and minimize the loss of positive or negative pressure of the system. The system must be able to tolerate a loss of pressure when the valve is in the open position.
