Cell Wheel - Rotary Valve - Air Lock
The equipment known as cell wheel, air lock, rotary valve, star feeder, star valve or ecclus ensures the transmission of powder and granular products between processes in industrial facilities.
It has a very common usage area in industrial facilities. As a basic function, it provides feeding, unloading, controlled transfer or dosing of granular and powder raw materials from one system to another. In pneumatic - air conveying systems, it cuts off reverse air currents during the transfer of raw materials from the feeding bunkers to the pipeline.
Rotary valves vary depending on the type of material to be transferred, grain size, temperature, abrasiveness, chemical properties, pressure difference between discharge and feeding points, etc.
Cell Wheel - Rotary Valve - Air Lock General Structure
Rotary valve - air lock; generally consists of a cast body with a different geometric structure, a rotor rotating inside the body and side covers that axially support the rotor. The rotation of the rotor is done by an electric or hydraulic motor reducer.
The rotational motion is transferred to the motor-reducer rotor shaft directly, via a coupling or a chain gear mechanism.
Side covers connected to the main body provide bearing for the rotor. There are bearing (bearing etc.) and sealing (felt or soft packing) equipment on the side covers. The bearings located on the side covers are removed from the body and protected by dust felt in order not to be affected by the working conditions.
Cell Wheel Working Principle
The powder or granular material in bulk flows into the space between the wings on the rotor shaft with its own weight. The rotor driven by the reducer rotates and the material filled between the wings is discharged from the upper filling port to the lower outlet port with the movement of the rotor. The discharge point varies according to the systems in which the cell wheel is operated. The cell wheel transfers the material to the pipeline in pneumatic conveying systems. In mechanical conveying systems, it is transferred to helical, chain or belt conveyors, elevators, big bags or weighing units.
