Standard Air Knife

Standard Air Knife

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Hard hitting curtain of air for web, sheet and part blowoff .

What Is The Standard Air Knife?
A quiet, energy efficient way to clean, dry or cool parts, webs or conveyors. The Standard Air Knife utilizes the Coanda effect (wall attachment of a high velocity fluid) to create air motion in its surroundings. Using a small amount of compressed air as a power source, the Standard Air Knife pulls in large volumes of surrounding air to produce a high flow, high velocity curtain of air for blowoff .
standard Air knife

Why the Standard Air Knife?

Amplification ratios (entrained air to compressed air) of 30:1 are achieved with the Standard Air Knife, compared to 3:1 for drilled or slotted pipe. Air savings of 40% to 90% are possible when replacing these "homemade" blowoff devices. Pay-back is normally measured in weeks, not months or years. The Standard Air Knife dramatically reduces "wind shear" by gradually introducing the entrained air to the ejected compressed air. Noise level is typically cut in half. The result is a high velocity, high volume sheet of air with reduced noise level and air consumption. Drilled pipe or open jets, by contrast, provide minimal air amplification. They also produce unacceptably high noise levels as the compressed air shears into the still air.

Air Knife application

A Model 2012 12" (305mm) Standard Air Knife opens mustard packets prior to fill.

Applications

• Part drying after wash
• Sheet cleaning in strip mills
• Conveyor cleaning
• Web drying or cleaning
• Part or component cooling
• Environmental separation
• Pre-paint blowoff
• Bag opening/fill operations
• Scrap removal on converting operations

Advantages

• Up to 10 dBA noise reduction
• Reduced air consumption
• 30:1 air amplification
• Aluminum or stainless steel
• Compact, rugged, easy to install
• Stock lengths to 48" (1219mm)
• No moving parts
• Compressed air inlets on each end
• Variable force and flow
air knife application1
(3) Model 2012 12" (305mm) Standard Air Knives
perform the drying cycle in this parts washer.

How The Standard Air Knife Works

Compressed air flows through the inlet (1) into a plenum chamber. It is then throttled through a thin nozzle (2) extending the length of the Standard Air Knife. This primary airstream adheres to the Coanda profile (3), which turns it 90° and directs the flow down the face of the unit. The primary stream immediately begins to entrain surrounding air (4), for an amplification ratio of 30:1 at 6" (152mm) away.
how standard air knife works

Standard Air Knife Performance with .002" (0.05mm) thick shim installed

std ak performance
standard ak airflow pattern

Standard Air Knife Specifications

The Standard Air Knife is available in ten standard lengths of 3", 6", 9", 12", 18", 24", 30", 36", 42" and 48" (76, 152, 229, 305, 457, 610, 762, 914, 1067 and 1219mm). This measurement refers to the airflow length. The overall length is 1" (25mm) longer. Special lengths up to 48" (1219mm) are available. Any number of Standard Air Knives may be installed across a given area.
Compressed Air Inlets: A Standard Air Knife has compressed air inlets on each end. Lengths 24" (610mm) and longer should be supplied with compressed air at each end to maintain uniform airflow.
Filtration: The use of clean air is essential. Kits include an automatic drain filter with a 5 micron filter element that is sized properly for flow.
Materials of Construction: The Standard Air Knife is available in either aluminum or stainless steel construction.
Mounting:  Universal Air Knife Mounting System. The Standard Air Knife can also be supported by the compressed air pipe.
Regulation: A pressure regulator on the compressed air supply provides infinite control of flow, force, and air consumption. Kits include a pressure regulator that is sized properly for flow.
Shim Sets: A Standard Air Knife has a .002" (0.05mm) gap setting. This gap is set with a shim positioned between the cap and body of the Standard Air Knife. Force and flow through the Standard Air Knife may be easily increased by adding shims to open the gap. Standard Air Knife Kits include a shim set (three additional shims). Shim sets for aluminum Standard Air Knives include a .001" (0.03mm) Amber color , .003" (0.08mm) Green color , and .004" (0.10mm) thick Tan color plastic shims. Shim sets for stainless steel Standard Air Knives include (3) .002" (0.05mm) thick stainless steel shims.
Standard Air Knife Only
Deluxe Standard Air Knife Kits
Standard Air Knife Kit
Standard Air Knife Shim Sets
Standard Air Knife Accessories