What is compressed air transport?

Pneumatic conveying is an efficient method for transferring bulk material, where the material is transported in a closed pipeline using compressed air. This pneumatic conveying system is particularly suitable for powdery and granular bulk materials, offering a hygienic and easily automatable solution for industrial processes. The system is also known as pneumatic transport, compressed-air transfer and pressure conveying.

What is pneumatic conveying and how does it work?

Compressed air transport is based on for a closed piping system, where the material is transported by compressed air or other carrier gas to its destination. The system consists of a feeder, a conveyor, a separator and a blower or compressor that provides the pressure needed to move the material.

The operating principle varies depending on the technology used. In dilute-phase conveyance, the material travels at high speed in low concentrations mixed with compressed air. In dense-phase conveyance, larger quantities of material are moved at a lower gas velocity, which reduces material wear and pipeline stress.

The pneumatic conveying system can be implemented as either pressure or vacuum conveying, depending on the process requirements. In pressure conveying, the material is pushed to the destination, while in vacuum conveying it is sucked to its destination.

What are the main advantages of compressed air transport compared to other modes of transport?

The main advantage of pneumatic transport is its flexibility and purity compared to mechanical transport systems. Closed piping prevents material waste, reduces dust and significantly improves occupational safety.

Energy efficiency is another key benefit, especially in properly sized systems. Compressed air conveyors only consume energy during transport, unlike mechanical conveyors which require a constant energy input. The environmental friendliness of the system is underlined by the low maintenance requirements over long periods of use.

Pipelines can be designed to cover long distances, differences in height and confined spaces without complex mechanical structures. This makes the system highly adaptable to different factory and process environments. Automation integration is straightforward, facilitating process management and control.

Which materials and industries are best suited for compressed air transport?

Pneumatic transport is ideal for for powdery and granular bulk materials, such as for cement, minerals, grains, plastic raw materials and chemical industry products. The properties of the material determine the choice of the most suitable transport method.

In the chemical industry, compressed air transport offers a safe solution for sensitive and potentially hazardous materials. The closed system prevents contamination and ensures process cleanliness. For building materials such as cement and limestone powder, the system allows efficient transfer even at high capacities.

In the energy industry, pneumatic material handling is suitable for the transfer of biomass- and coal-based ashes. The system can be equipped with ATEX-compliant components for potentially explosive environments. In the plastics industry, the transport of pellets and powders is particularly efficient with pneumatic systems.

A properly designed pneumatic conveying system improves the energy efficiency and reliability of industrial processes. The choice of conveying technology should always be based on material properties, capacity requirements and the overall process to achieve the optimum result.