The air slide conveyor provides an elegant and energy-efficient method for transporting dry, fluidizable powders such as cement, fly ash, and alumina over moderate distances. With no moving parts and minimal power consumption, the air slide is one of the most reliable conveying solutions in any cement plant.
An air slide conveyor (also known as an air gravity conveyor or air-activated conveyor) is a pneumatic conveying device that uses low-pressure air to fluidize dry powdered materials, allowing them to flow by gravity down a slight incline. The air slide consists of a rectangular duct divided into two chambers by a porous media (fabric). The upper chamber carries the material, while the lower chamber distributes low-pressure air through the porous media to fluidize the powder.
When material enters the upper chamber, the rising air passes through the porous media and fluidizes the powder, reducing inter-particle friction to near zero. The fluidized material behaves like a liquid and flows down the inclined duct by gravity alone — no mechanical agitation required. This elegant principle means an air slide has no moving parts to wear out, requires minimal maintenance, and consumes only a fraction of the energy needed for mechanical conveyors like screw conveyors or bucket elevators.
Air slides are extensively used in cement plants for conveying raw meal from the raw mill to homogenizing silos, cement powder from the cement mill to storage silos, fly ash from ESP hoppers to silos, and alumina in aluminum smelters. LIMING manufactures air slides in standard widths from 200 mm to 800 mm, with lengths and incline angles customized to your specific material handling requirements.
The air slide operates on the principle of fluidization. The key components and their functions are:
The operating principle is simple but highly effective: as air percolates upwards through the powder layer, it separates individual particles, eliminating direct contact and friction between them. The fluidized powder becomes a pseudo-liquid that readily flows downhill under its own weight.
| Component | Material Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Casing (Upper & Lower) | Carbon steel (Q235), stainless steel (304/316) | Stainless for corrosive or food-grade applications |
| Porous Media | Polyester, cotton, aramid (Nomex) | Polyester standard; aramid for high-temp applications |
| Gaskets | Rubber, PTFE | Ensure airtight seal between chambers |
Engineered for reliability with premium porous media and precision fabrication.
Factory-welded casings with flatness tolerance within 1 mm/m ensure even air distribution across the entire fabric width.
High-permeability polyester fabric with uniform pore size distribution for consistent fluidization over the full conveying length.
Optimized air plenum design minimizes pressure drop, allowing use of smaller, lower-power fans for additional energy savings.
Tailored to your material properties (bulk density, particle size, abrasiveness) and required conveying distance and capacity.
| Width (mm) | Typical Capacity (t/h) | Incline Angle | Air Pressure (mm H2O) | Air Flow (m³/h·m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 | 20-50 | 6-8° | 200-400 | 50-80 |
| 315 | 50-100 | 6-8° | 200-400 | 80-120 |
| 400 | 100-180 | 4-6° | 200-500 | 120-180 |
| 500 | 180-280 | 4-6° | 200-500 | 180-250 |
| 630 | 280-400 | 4-6° | 300-500 | 250-350 |
| 800 | 400-600 | 4-6° | 300-600 | 350-500 |
Note: Actual capacity depends on material bulk density, fluidization behavior, incline angle, and conveying distance. Contact LIMING for a capacity calculation specific to your material.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Conveying Length | Custom (standard sections 2-3 m, joined on site) |
| Casing Material | Carbon steel Q235 (standard), stainless steel 304/316 (optional) |
| Porous Media | Polyester woven fabric, 4-6 mm thickness |
| Porous Media Air Permeability | 0.5-1.5 m³/m²·min at 200 mm H2O |
| Operating Temperature | Standard: ≤ 80°C; Aramid fabric: ≤ 200°C |
| Seal Type | Rubber gasket between casing flanges |
| Accessories | Inlet/outlet spouts, inspection doors, air inlet ports, support brackets |