Air Knife Systems for Drying and Blow Off
High velocity air for line drying and blow off, sized and serviced from 14 Midwest locations.
Will an air knife dry my line better than compressed air?
For continuous drying and blow off, a blower powered air knife almost always beats open compressed air on operating cost. It delivers a large volume of low pressure air as a high velocity sheet that strips water and debris off product, and it runs for a fraction of what compressed air jets cost to feed all day. Tell us your line speed, product, and how much liquid to remove and Brabazon will size the air knives and the blower together.
How an air knife system works
An air knife system turns blower airflow into a controlled cutting sheet of air. The knife itself is a plenum with a long, narrow slot that accelerates incoming air into a thin, uniform curtain across its full length. A dedicated blower supplies the volume of low pressure air the knife needs, and as product passes through the curtain the high velocity sheet shears liquid and loose debris off the surface. Multiple knives are arranged around the product so the air reaches every face, and the angle is set to drive water and debris away from the line rather than back onto it. The whole system is only as good as the pairing between the knives and the blower feeding them, which is why they are sized as one.
Where air knives earn their keep
Air knives shine on any line that must remove liquid or debris continuously. In bottling and canning, they dry the outside of containers after rinsing, filling, or pasteurizing so labels, shrink sleeves, and date codes apply cleanly and cases stay dry. In finishing and converting, they clear standing water, coolant, or particulate ahead of coating, printing, or inspection. Beyond drying, the same blow off approach cools parts, removes cutting fluid, clears chips, and strips dust from webs and sheets. Wherever open compressed air is being used for continuous blow off, an air knife system usually does the job better and far cheaper to run.
Sizing an air knife system
Size the knives to the job first, then match the blower to their combined demand. The line speed, the volume of liquid to remove, and the shape of the product set how much air velocity and volume you need and how many knives to position around the conveyor. Faster lines and heavier water loads call for more air and tighter placement, and the standoff distance and angle of each knife are tuned to sweep liquid off the surface and away from the line. Once the knife layout is set, select the blower to deliver the total flow at the pressure the knives require, with margin for filter losses and duct runs. Getting the knife layout and blower sized together is what separates a line that runs dry from one that still drips.
Service and reliability
Air knife systems are simple and durable because the wear lives in the blower, not the knife. Keep the blower inlet filter clean and the discharge clear, since a starved or fouled blower loses the velocity the knives depend on and lets the line come out wet. Check the knife slots periodically for buildup or damage that would break up the uniform curtain, and confirm the knives stay aimed correctly after cleaning or line changes. The blower follows normal blower maintenance for its type, including bearing service and, on belt driven units, tension and alignment. Our technicians service the blowers and help retune the knife layout when line conditions change.
Air knife lines available through Brabazon
Brabazon supplies air knife systems from Paxton. We size the air knives and the blower together to your line speed, product, and drying demand, then support the system with parts and service.
Air knife system questions, answered first
What is an air knife?
An air knife is a slotted nozzle that turns blower air into a thin, high velocity sheet used to strip liquid or debris off a moving surface. Fed by a dedicated blower, it delivers a continuous curtain of air that dries, cleans, or blows off product as it passes. Air knife systems are the standard way to dry containers before labeling and coding, clear debris before finishing, and cool or clean parts on a line.
Why use a blower air knife instead of compressed air?
A blower air knife uses far less energy than open compressed air jets because it delivers a large volume of low pressure air rather than a small volume of expensive high pressure air. Compressed air blow off is convenient but costly to run continuously and noisy at the nozzle. A dedicated blower feeding a properly designed air knife dries and cleans the same surface for a fraction of the operating cost, which adds up quickly on a line that runs all day.
How are air knives used on bottling and canning lines?
On bottling and canning lines, air knives dry the outside of containers after rinsing, filling, or pasteurizing so labels, date codes, and shrink sleeves apply cleanly. Wet containers cause smeared codes, failed labels, and dripping into cases, so a bank of air knives positioned over and around the conveyor blows the water off before those steps. The same approach dries cans before coding and clears standing water from lids and seams.
How is an air knife system sized?
Size an air knife system to the surface speed, the amount of liquid to remove, and the geometry of the product, then match the blower to the total air knife demand. Faster lines and heavier water loads need more air velocity and volume, and the number and angle of knives follow the shape of what you are drying. Select the blower to supply the combined flow at the pressure the knives require. Send us your line speed and product and we will size the knives and blower together.
Talk to a blower engineer about your line
Send your line speed, product, and drying demand and an engineer will size the air knives and blower, then quote sale, rebuild, or service. We answer 24/7.
Request an air knife system quote
Tell us your line speed, product, and drying demand and a specialist will size and quote the air knives and blower. Or call 800.825.3222, answered 24/7.
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