Air Slide Conveyor For Conveying Powdered Materials

What the Air Slide Conveyor Does

Low-pressure air passes through a porous membrane and fluidizes the powder layer above it. The material then behaves like a liquid and flows down a shallow incline under gravity, with no screws, belts or rotating parts in the conveying path. The trough stays fully enclosed, so dust does not escape at transfer points and material loss is limited to normal cleanout.

Because there is no mechanical pushing, particle shape is preserved and power demand stays low compared with drag or screw conveyors of the same capacity. The trade-off is direction: air slides convey downward only, so layout and slope are fixed at the design stage.

Technical Specification Range

Material Fit and Operating Boundaries

Air slides suit dry, free-flowing powders with particle size below roughly 3 mm and moisture below about 1%. Cement, raw meal, fly ash, lime, mineral powder, talc, pigment powder, flour, starch and sugar all fluidize well in our troughs. Sticky, fibrous or damp material will not fluidize evenly and is not a good match.

• Moisture: above 1% the pressure drop rises and flow becomes uneven; drying or a different conveyor type is needed.
• Temperature: standard polyester membrane handles up to 120 °C; higher-temperature options are available for hot material.
• Abrasion: cement and clinker dust wear the membrane, so hardened or ceramic-coated variants are used on high-wear runs.
• Direction: gravity-assisted downward flow only; horizontal or upward runs are outside the working envelope.

Configuration Options We Build

Air supply is handled by a filter-regulator set feeding the distribution chamber, with an emergency air shut-off valve recommended at the inlet. Static grounding is part of the installation scope because fluidized powder generates charge along the membrane.

Where the Air Slide Sits in a Port Transfer Line

In a cement or clinker terminal the air slide normally receives material from a Cement Screw Ship Unloader discharge hopper or a silo outlet and delivers it to a bulk truck loader, a packing line or a ship loader feed point. It also works as a silo-to-silo transfer inside the storage area.

Because the trough is low-profile, it fits under existing silos and inside galleries where a belt or screw conveyor would not clear. For lines that also handle coal, grain or clinker, we coordinate the air slide with the Auxiliary Equipment set so that transfer points, dust collection and controls share one interface.

Installation, Commissioning and Acceptance

1. Trough sections arrive pre-assembled; on site the run is aligned to the design slope and bolted through the flanged joints.
2. The membrane is seated at the bottom of the trough, air chamber closed and the filter-regulator connected to the plant air header.
3. Dust sealing is completed at both ends and at every inspection port before air is admitted.
4. Commissioning checks air pressure at 3–7 kPa, confirms even fluidization along the run and verifies capacity against the design working point.
5. Acceptance covers slope tolerance, leak-tightness, air consumption per square metre and stable discharge at the receiving end.

Maintenance and Serviceability

With no moving parts, routine work is limited to membrane inspection, air filter cleaning and pressure monitoring. The porous membrane typically lasts three to five years depending on material abrasiveness, and annual inspection is the practical baseline. Membranes are replaceable in place, and inspection ports give access without dismantling the full run.

AOTUO supports the air slide as part of a wider transfer system, with spare-part supply and technical guidance for installation, operation and maintenance personnel. Our engineering team covers process, steel structure, machinery, hydraulic, automation and IT disciplines, which is how a chute, its air set and its control interface are delivered as one coordinated package.

Information We Use to Configure Your Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials can an AOTUO air slide convey?

Dry, free-flowing powders below about 3 mm particle size and below 1% moisture: cement, raw meal, fly ash, lime, mineral powder, talc, pigment powder, flour, starch and sugar. Damp or sticky material does not fluidize evenly and is outside the working range.

How is capacity selected?

Capacity depends on slot width, slope, air pressure and material density. Our published figures are calculated on cement at 1.2 t/m³, so for other powders the capacity scales with the density ratio. We confirm the working point from your throughput and material data before fixing the groove size.

Can the air slide run horizontally or uphill?

No. Flow is gravity-assisted on a downward slope of 4° to 12°, typically 6° to 12° for cement. The slope is set during layout design and cannot be reversed in operation.

What air supply is required?

Oil-free, dry compressed air at 3–7 kPa, with a filter-regulator on the inlet and an emergency shut-off valve recommended. Air consumption runs 1.5–2.5 m³/min per square metre of membrane area.

How often is the membrane replaced?

The 6 mm woven breathable belt typically lasts three to five years depending on abrasiveness. Annual inspection of the membrane, air filter and pressure readings keeps the run stable, and membranes are replaceable through the inspection ports.

Can the air slide be integrated with our existing control system?

Yes. We configure the air control set and instrumentation around the required line interface, and AOTUO's automation and IT disciplines support metering control and intelligent control integration with the surrounding transfer system.