• Search
 

 

Compressed Air Operated: Air Knife & Air Knives

Nex Flow™ air knives dramatically reduce compressed air and noise levels as compared to other blow-off products.  They provide a compact and efficient means to dry, clean and cool materials. A air knife operates by entraining the surrounding air along with the compressed air utilizing the “coanda” effect essentially converting energy which would normally be lost as noise and pressure drop into useful flow.  No matter what anyone tells you, all air knives using the coanda effect are essentially the same in performance with negligible differences.  However, how they are made is what is very important to make sure you get value for your money.

 

Standard air knife system air knives system

Standard Air Blade™(Air Knives, Air Knife)

Air Consumption approx. 3.4 SCFM (82 SLPM) per inch (25.4 mm) at 80 psig (5.5 bar) with force and noise levels comparable to standard air knives of all types (approx. 2.7 oz (77 grams) and 83 dBA at 80 psig or 5.5. bar and 6” (152 mm) from the target.
air knife system air knives system

X-STREAM™ Air Blade (Air Knives, Air Knife)

Air Consumption approx. 2.9 SCFM per inch at 80 psig with force and noise levels comparable to standard air knives of all types (approx. 2.7 oz (77 grams) and 83 dBA at 80 psig or 5.5. bar and 6” (152 mm) from the target.

The X-Steam™ Air Blade air knife is normally the best choice due to very low noise levels  and it uses less air than a standard air blade air knife at the same pressure.   However the standard unit is lower in cost and has a slightly higher force at the same pressure. Either version may be mounted end to end for longer lengths of  continuous flow.
Curved air knife system air knives system

X-STREAM™ Curved Air Blade (Air Knives, Air Knife)

The new X-stream™ Curved Air Blade air knife is easy to mount and maintain and reduces both compressed air consumption and noise levels. It’s curved design produces an expanding, powerful blast of air in a fan shape to blow off wide areas and can minimize air use using longer air knives. Developed to address areas with limited space to flow off a large area.

As with regular X-stream™ air blade air knives, the X-stream™ curved air blade produces a “laminar” flow of air along its curved face using the “Coanda” effect which entrains a large volume of air from the surrounding area along with a small amount of compressed air to produce an output flow up to 40 times.

Hardend air knife system air knives system

Hardened X-Stream™ Air Blade™ Air Knife

The Nex Flow™ X-Stream™ Air Blade™ Air Knife, already used extensively for replacing rows of nozzles or jets or drilled pipe to reduce energy is now available with a special hard coated surface over its aluminum body for mildly corrosive environments and to address any abrasive contact to the surface.

 

Nex Flow™  air blade™ air knives are superior to competitive units for the following reasons:

  1. All our air knives/Air Knife are full flow which means they can be put end to end for continuous flow and takes up less space in tight areas.   Even one competitor’s so-called full-flow standard answer to our Nex Flow™ standard air blade air knife is not nearly as efficient as ours by their own published values and is only a small, flimsy version in comparison.
  2. All our air knives/Air Knife come with a stainless steel shim to maintain the gap for the compressed air to exit.  Many companies use plastic shims which may be “squeezed” for uneven flow but more important, no matter how clean you make the compressed air line, the plastic will wear.  Plastic shims are one of the biggest complaints customers have with air knives – Nex Flow™ however use stainless steel shims as a standard in all air knives.
  3. Easy mounting.  Some air knife/Air Knife designs are difficult to mount and require dismantling, often effecting flow and making the job of mounting more difficult.  All Nex Flow™ air knives have convenient mounting holes.
  4. All Nex Flow™ aluminum air knives/Air Knife are anodized while many competitors do virtually nothing to the aluminum for protection.  In fact, if you want any better protection they try to get you to buy more costly stainless steel when simple anodizing is less costy and already “standard” with Nex Flow™.
  5. Flexibility in connections. Except for the very short lengths, both standard and X-stream™ versions have compressed air ports at the ends and the back for flexible choice in air input.

Nex Flow™ Air Products Corp | Williamsville, New York | Richmond Hill, Ontario Nex Flow Air