Page 19 - Industrial Technology February 2020

vacuum line to the cup thereby stopping can be considerable or the number of strokes per Energy Saving Blow Guns
compressed air usage when the correct vacuum hour can lead to 20-30% reduction in air Energy saving blow guns are now being
level is sensed. Should the vacuum pressure consumption. developed to prevent the continuous blowing of
deteriorate (through porous material or worn or air. They utilise the integral reservoir of
damaged vacuum cups), the solenoid switches Further to this, specific energy recovery cylinders compressed air to permit the rapid fire impulse
the compressed air line back on to create further that have the necessary integral porting, can method to displace fragments and flakes of
vacuum and then switch back off when vacuum utilise the air from the power stroke to offset air material.
pressure is re-established. Switching vacuum usage in the return stroke of a cylinder. By doing
ejectors to the modern alternative can reduce so up to 45% reduction of compressed air is Therefore the use of 3-4 sub second repeated air
compressed air usage by up to 90% over their possible compared to a standard cylinder. blasts can clear the equivalent material as a
predecessors. constant stream of compressed air at minimal
Blow Guns consumption.
Energy Saving Cylinders The ubiquitous blow gun can be found in the
Many pneumatic cylinders are provided with line majority of factory compressed air systems, Whilst we have just looked at three simple areas
pressure for both the power stroke and return used for the clearing of swarf, debris and partials of air usage reduction, development in a number
stroke even though the return stroke may not be from working surfaces through to cleaning and of areas is ongoing; from low wattage solenoids
carrying a load or require the necessary force to blow out of cleaning fluids and oils and a on air manifolds through to pressure boosters for
return. Therefore the pressures for each stroke multitude of other tasks. The air consumption of high pressure applications allowing lower factory
blow guns can become a line pressures to be set.
significant element of the
overall factory energy air Development of energy efficient pneumatic
consumption. components like those discussed above are
helping end users to dramatically lower their air
Modern blow guns are usage and therefore energy consumption.
specifically designed to
minimise the use of air during
their operation. The use
of high efficiency
nozzles that entrain
air through the use
can be adjusted to provide compressed air of the Bernoulli effect can reduce air
savings that can be significant based for large consumption by 30% over the
bore, large volume displacements or high conventional gun whilst
frequency operations. For example 5 bar may be have the same
required on the outward (power) stroke and a effective out-
reduced 2 bar pressure for the return stroke may put. Com-
be acceptable. When the volume of the cylinder bined with
is such that the volume saved in compressed air correct fittings,
connectors, and the
selection of coiled tube can
have a significant effect on
air usage.

Air guns can easily be
Series VMG
operated at or near factory
line pressure with little
disregard. A simple on/off There will always be the necessity to
type of blowgun should always be used evaluate the generation and distribution
with a tamper-proof pre-set regulator, set of compressed air to ensure correct
at 2 bar. This is a value which has been long delivery of air is optimum and not wasted, but we
recommended by the American OSHA body but must not forget the components that affect the
does not negate the possibility of compressed air direct use that have their role to play too.
being injected through the skin. MORE INFORMATION: www.smcpneumatics.co.uk
Series ASR-ASQ

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