Take any industry, whether it is a pharmaceutical or
chemical or textile or any other industry, valves are integral part of the
production process. Valves basically control the flow of solids, liquids or
gases. Rotary Valve also known as Rotary Feeder is a very important member of
the valve family. It is used to feed bulk solids material at a uniform rate.
Design of rotary valve is very critical for satisfactory
performance of the entire manufacturing process. The key design factors
include:
·
Location and
application
·
Feeding rate
required
·
Size of the
valve
·
Flange type
(round or square)
·
Material of
construction required
 |
| Rotary Valve / Rotary Feeder |
Construction of
Rotary Valve
A rotary valve typically
consists of valve body, rotary vanes, shaft and drive. It is a type of
mechanism that directs the flow of bulk solids through a circulating rotary
vane. This is in contrast with the linear valve that moves up and down to
control the flow. The drive consist of motor and gearbox arrangement. The Body
and vanes can be of cast iron, cast steel or stainless steel construction. The
rotary vanes come with Teflon tips for abrasion resistance.
Application of
Rotary Valves
Rotary valve has been traditionally used in various applications and
today there has been tremendous change in their efficiency because of its new
design. It is used below the hopper or silo which stores bulk material. Some of
these valves come equipped with the air lock design that lets them to be used
in pressurized conditions
Selection of Rotary Valve
Depending on the application, one can choose the rotary valve. Feeding rate of the bulk solid required, bulk density of the material, flow ability and other critical characteristics of the bulk material are the key factors that determine the type of valve to be used. Knowing what type of valve will be useful and that which offers cost effective solution with best efficiency is crucial as wrong selection can lead to numerous problems.
Depending on the application, one can choose the rotary valve. Feeding rate of the bulk solid required, bulk density of the material, flow ability and other critical characteristics of the bulk material are the key factors that determine the type of valve to be used. Knowing what type of valve will be useful and that which offers cost effective solution with best efficiency is crucial as wrong selection can lead to numerous problems.
