Volume 2

F: Rotary Airlock Feeder (Valve)

F1: Description and Characteristics

There are many types and uses for the rotary air lock feeder in our plants.
Rotary feeders are in pneumatic conveying systems, dust control
equipment and also volumetric feeders to maintain an even flow of material
through processing systems.

The basic use of the airlock feeder is an airlock transition point, sealing
pressurized systems against loss of air or gas while maintaining a flow of
material between components with different pressure. They are also used
as a feeder for metering material at precise flow rates from bins or hoppers
into conveying or processing systems.

Figure F1

Keeping in mind that there are different manufactures and brand names, we
will point out the main components of a standard rotary airlock feeder, along
with the different end plates, rotors and casings that can be used.

Interchangeable parts

F-1
 Volume 2

End plates
1. Flange bearing and lip seals.
2. Packing gland, separate stuffing box and cartridge bearing.
3. Packing gland, integral stuffing box and cartridge bearing.

Rotors
4. Type I open end.
5. Type II closed end with adjustable tips.
6. Type I closed end.

Casing
7. Without inspection panel.
8. With inspection panel.
9. Side inlet.
Figure F2

F-2
 Volume 2

F2: Drive Units - Rotary Airlock Feeders

The drive units on the rotary feeders also vary depending on the application.
Most of our rotary feeders are set to run at a constant speed, however there
are variable speed set ups as well. Most of the drive units are set up with
drive sprockets and are chain driven by a motor and reducer.

Note: Standard units operate clockwise as viewed from the drive side.

Zero speed switches can be installed on the rotor shaft to warn the operator
of equipment failure.

F3: Trouble Shooting - Rotary Feeders

Condition: Kicked out

1. Check to see that all necessary equipment in front of the rotary is

running.
2. If equipment in front is okay, check to see if the rotary feeder will rotate
manually.
3. If it does move freely try to reset and restart. If it will not restart call
Electrical Maintenance.
4. If it will not move freely, check drive
components and of the rotary itself
Figure F3
for wedged material. If it cannot be
Air escapes
taken care of by shift operator's call into bin
causing
Mechanical Maintenance. material to
hang up.
F4: Other Tips

a) Recognize that as the rotary feeder Rotation

transfers material from above to below
one side will be full of material; the other Material is
discharged on
side will contain gases that are either low one side and
or high pressure. In the latter case, the air fills the
return side.
gases, once reaching the space above,
will suddenly expand. This could cause
material flow problems. (See Fig. F3) In such cases some plants employ 2

F-3
 Volume 2

rotary feeders in series but vent

Figure F4 the intermediate chute to relieve
the pressure, (Fig. F4). In this
Material case a double ratary valves are
Pressurized air from
below is siphoned off used if a very high differential
to a dust collector.
Top rotary valve pressure must be sealed.
should have little or
no differential
pressure across it. Rotation
Some use special rotary
valves that have vents built into
that side of the casing, (Fig. F5).
These are more suitable for low
differential pressures, but are
generally non-reversible.

This arrangement is
Rotation
Others have built a baffle
normally used when
there is an extremely plate inside the bin closest to the
high differential upswing side of the rotary valve,
pressure across the
airlock. (Fig. F6). In this case the baffle
plate provides an escape route
for this gas.

b) In some applications rotary feeders habitually jam due a chunk wedging itself
between the vane and casing or shoe. Provided that the unit can rotate in
either direction one plant used a switch to detect high motor amps at which
point the valve is stopped then immediately reverses in direction. In this way
the rotary feeder became self unjamming with undetectable effects on the
process.

F-4
 Volume 2

Figure F5 Figure F6

Baffle
Air bled Air
off to Baffle
dust Material
collector Material

Rotation Rotation

(non-reversible)

c) Shaft sealing is a typical problem for this type of equipment. Recognize that
the abrasiveness for most types of dust tears at the seal and will eventually
leak. In critical installations some plants use special grease seals which
constantly pushes gritty dust away from the seal. Other units are designed
with special labyrinth seals next to the packing gland which is constantly
purged will high pressure air. In both cases units are of special designs.
Typically the bearings are mounted well away from the casing itself. (See
Figure F7.)

F-5
 Volume 2

Figure F7: Rotary Airlock Designed for Abrasive Material

Casing
Rotor

Packing Gland Labyrinth Inboard

and Stuffing Box Seal Bearing

Outboard
Bearing
Hi Pressure AIr
or Grease

F-6