Rotary airlock valves, or rotary valves, are integral components utilized for bulk material processing in industrial and agricultural handling systems. Prater offers several types of rotary valves for manufacturers to choose from and each varies depending on the application or process. All rotary valves are precision engineered and built to minimize air loss while continuously transferring dry bulk solids. Some rotary valves feed material from a bin or hopper; others feed material through a pressurized pneumatic conveying system, where other designs function to discharge from a dust collector while sealing against air loss.
Prater Rotary Airlock Valves are uniquely designed with larger pockets that, in turn, provide up to 50% more volume than the competition. Often, this means a smaller valve can be utilized or the same size valve can run at a lower RPM, resulting in less air leakage and wear. Also, they are carefully machined for actual operating temperature. In addition, Prater Rotary Airlock Valves have been 3rd party certified to function as a flame isolation barrier in accordance with NFPA 69. These feature rich designs ensure greater safety, longer life, less maintenance, and a higher ROI.
With varying functions come specific designs that allow rotary valve specifications to be tailored to meet a material handling system's application requirements. Below are the different types of application specific rotary valves Prater offers.
Types of Rotary Valves
BAV Rotary Airlock Valves
For material handling applications that require quick cleaning or frequent removal of the rotary valve’s internal components, Prater's BAV Series Rotary Airlock is ideal. The BAV Series is designed with a demountable rotor and rail system for safe, tool-less removal of the end plate and rotor as one piece. These standard BAV features increase production efficiencies by:
- Eliminating the time-consuming step of "gapping" the rotor during reassembly
- Self centering the rotor for quick reassembly
- Protects against operator strain and part damage from handling the components in awkward or compromised locations
- Fast and easy disassembly for inspection, cleaning and maintenance
The BAV's are constructed in stainless steel. 6", 8", 10", and 12" models are available for the drop-through style and 8", 10" and 12" models for the blow-thru. BAV Series Rotary Airlocks are ideal for applications requiring frequent cleaning or changeover.
Quick-Take-Apart (QTA) Series Rotary Airlock
For material handling applications that require quick cleaning or frequent removal of the rotary valve internal components, Prater's Quick-Take-Apart (QTA) Series Rotary Airlock is also designed for safe, tool-less removal of the rotor and end plate as one single piece. Like the BAV series, the QTA is designed to increase production efficiency by eliminating the often time-consuming step of "gapping" the rotor during reassembly, but in a package without the rails when space is limited. The QTA’s are constructed in cast iron or stainless steel. 6” and 8” models are available. The QTA is ideal for those applications that require frequent cleaning and/or changeover.
Dust Collector Series
The Dust Collector Series rotary airlock valves, as the name implies, are ideally suited for use at the material discharge of dust collectors, cyclones, and hoppers. The Dust Collector rotary valves are designed for use in low-temperature minimal pressure differential dust applications. These types of rotary valves are meant to provide a basic air seal and not configurable to feed at a specific rate.
Economical and budget-friendly, the standard heavy-duty design features eight-blade rotors, precision machining, and rugged cast iron housings. The Dust Collector Series rotary airlock valves can easily be configured for most application requirements.
Heavy-Duty PAV Series
Rugged and durable as its name, the Heavy-Duty PAV Series is a versatile rotary valve for displacing many dry, free-flowing powders from large bins into pneumatic systems and is designed to maintain a pressure differential up to +/- 15 PSI. Constructed from either stainless steel or cast iron, Heavy-Duty PAV Series rotary airlock valves are built for high-temperature applications, up to 500°F. For extreme applications to 1,000°F, high- temperature service kits are available. Optional coatings (e.g., chrome, tungsten carbide, etc.) and construction materials are available for the handling of abrasive or corrosive materials. Companies of all sizes and types can look to the Heavy-Duty PAV Series rotary airlock if the material handling needs require transfers of dry, bulk materials.
Abrasion Resistant Rotary Airlock Valves
For highly abrasive or corrosive material handling needs, the Abrasion Resistant Rotary Airlock Valves are for applications one-step beyond the Heavy-Duty PAV Series. The ceramic lined cast iron housing can withstand the most abrasive and corrosive products and applications. It is, simply, the most durable, wear-resistant rotary valve available and offers the solution to other rotary valves that wear out prematurely. Engineered to achieve high performance with less maintenance, the Abrasion Resistant Rotary Airlock Valves are lined, then honed to maintain their precision tolerances. They will outperform any other types of rotary valves on the market.
Blow-Thru Rotary Airlock Valves
As the name suggests, the Blow-Thru Rotary Airlock Valves are specifically designed and manufactured for processes requiring discharge into pneumatic conveying lines. Perfect for free-flowing materials, the innovative, larger vane pocket design handles up to 50% more volume. More volume enables the rotor to operate at lower speeds, which increases efficiency and decreases wear. The Blow-Thru valves are engineered for minimal air leakage, a low pressure drop and less maintenance to ensure a higher return on investment.
Prater's diverse line of rotary valves is engineered and manufactured to meet the most challenging bulk material handling needs. The unique and innovative designs ensure optimal, reliable, low maintenance operation for increased bulk material handling and conveying efficiency. Contact Prater today to discuss which rotary airlock valve is best suited for your application and processing requirements.
