What Are Rotary Valves?
A typical Rotary Valve, which is compact, is designed to discharge, continuously, solid materials under gravity. Rotary Valve is preferred to push forth, continuously, powdered material. However, it is designed to discharge a range of solid and semi-solid materials. It is a smart device, which can dose the flow of a product as per requirement. A Rotary valve is also able to maintain a gas differential, which allows it to function efficiently. Another feature of the Rotary valve is that it can isolate zones with different pressures.
All Rotary Valves perform particular functions, which include 1) dosing of material, from silo/chamber to conveying line. 2) It can be an airlock amid screw conveyor and a conveying-line. 3) It can also act as an airlock amid Mixer and a conveying-line. 4) It ensures a smooth flow of material from the hopper to a mill.
Another feature of Rotary Valve is that the process can be controlled to various extents. For instance, the discharge from the hopper can be regulated, which increases control over the process. These features of Rotary Valve are added with the intention of having better control over various stages of operation
The device has a range of applications, which increases its utility in different industries. For instance, it can be used for pneumatic conveying, dust control and flow control applications. It must be acknowledged that a typical Rotary Valves can perform all these tasks above; however, little modification or slight customization is required. Because of these characteristics, Rotary Valve is used in different industries, such as Chemical, Mineral, etc.
Types of Rotary Valves
There are two basic types of Rotary Valves, which are type H and type L. Both designs have a lot in common, such as oversized impeller shafts, outboard bearings, and machined stuffing boxes. From the details, regarding the common features, it is apparent that basic types differ only in detail.
L-Type: The L-type Rotary Valve has a close-ended impeller, and it also has tips that can be adjusted. It is the standard feature of the design. L-type is appropriate for such application, where the pressure level is below 30 KPa and the material, being used, is free-flowing.
H-Type: In contrast, H-type has an open-ended impeller. If in the system, the pressure is below 100 KPa, this Rotary Valve is appropriate. Also, it is ideal for the Pneumatic Conveying systems and also for heavier duty applications. Other characteristics are added to the numbers of seals that used and also by the types of rotaries.
What Are They Made Out Of?
A typical type, of Rotary Valve is made of carbon steel; however, the engine of the Rotary valve could be made of different types of materials. For instance, a powerful graphite engine is used in such rotary valve systems, which are meant to do heavy lifting. Therefore, it can be said that different kinds of Rotary Valves or Feeders use different kinds of material, which use is primarily influenced by nature of operations, i.e., type of material to be managed, the volume of material to be managed and industry type. It must be recognized that these compact devices that also act as airlocks are designed to withstand the sternness of time and extended operations.
How Are They Made?
In any Rotary Valve, Rotary and Shafts are of the most importance. Also, it has a silo or chamber, from which dose is pushed to the conveying line. The rotary of the system is made by wielding a high-quality steel, chosen as per requirement, to the shaft. A rotary valve has 8 vanes. When these plates are being welded, it is made sure that that enough room between the end plate and the tip of the rotor. It is done by leaving space plain, which is the opposite of the shaft, at the time of wielding.
How Do You Select the Right Rotary Valve for the Application?
- First Consideration: Rotary Feeders or valves are selected by keeping in consideration the industry and material to be managed. Certain types of Rotary Valves, such as H-type, are preferred for those operations, where the pressure is below 100 KPa and system is based on Pneumatic Conveying.
- Second Consideration: Those Rotary Feeders are preferred, which have utility and can be used in various kinds of operations, in which different types of materials are used. However, the fact is that such high utility Rotary Motors are few, and those, which can be employed in various industries, have a durability
- Third Consideration: Should be able to perform difficult tasks and must be economical. The demand for a product is directly influenced by its price; therefore, the price is a genuine factor. A high-quality product at an affordable price is highly preferred.
What Do You Look for in a Rotary Valve?
- Feature 1: It can be employed in various industries and must be able to manage various kinds of materials. It allows the organization to make the best use of the device and benefit from it to the most extent.
- Feature 2: the Powerful engine is another feature which is highly desired. A powerful engine that can be managed through external controls allows systems to control operations more efficiently. Graphite or carbon-steel engine is preferred.
- Feature 3: A compact rotary valve that can perform operations semi-autonomously has enormous benefits, and its applications are enormous.
- Feature 4: It must be able to perform operations for longer periods, in high-pressure environments.
- Feature 5: The longer periods of operations should not affect the efficiency of the device and it must continue to perform efficiently under extreme pressure/environment.
- Feature 6: Its operations could be controlled or regulated through external systems. For instance, the speed of dose and the time to push material to the end.
Summary / Closing Material
Rotary Valve is a compact device, which is employed to discharge solid and semi-solid materials. In addition to that, it can act as an airlock too. It is typically made up of carbon-steel, and it can be employed in a range of industries as it can manage various kinds of materials. The basic variants of Rotary Valve are L-type and H-type, which differ in detail. Different kinds of Rotary Feeders are chosen by taking into consideration the nature of operations and type of material to be handled.
