Heavy-Duty Rotary Valve Airlock Built for the Hard Stuff
PMM Rotary Valve Airlocks are engineered for demanding bulk material handling applications where abrasion, continuous operation, temperature, pressure differential, and difficult materials can cause conventional rotary valves to wear prematurely and lose performance.
Unlike conventional cast-iron rotary valves, PMM Rotary Valve Airlocks are manufactured using abrasion-resistant steel in the primary wear areas and incorporate a proprietary modular design that allows critical wear components to be repositioned, serviced, or replaced without replacing the entire valve.
Every PMM Rotary Valve Airlock is engineered for the specific material and application. Material characteristics, required throughput, temperature, pressure conditions, equipment above and below the valve, installation requirements, and operating environment are evaluated before the valve is sized and configured.
Abrasion-resistant by design. Engineered for long service life. Built to be rebuilt.
Rotary Valve Airlock: Engineering at a Glance
| Engineering Specification | PMM Rotary Valve Airlock |
|---|---|
| Construction | Abrasion-resistant steel |
| Standard Rotor | 8-vane, closed-end |
| Standard Ambient Clearance | .005″ per side |
| High-Temperature Capability | Engineered for applications exceeding 800°F; higher-temperature configurations available based on application |
| Available Sizes | PMV-8 through PMV-28 |
| Largest Standard Opening | 28″ × 28″ |
| Largest Nominal Capacity | 8.78 CFR |
| Typical Rotor Speed | Approximately 11–22 RPM; application dependent |
| Bearing Design | Heavy-duty outboard tapered roller bearings |
| Design | Modular and rebuildable |
| NFPA | Upgradeable/configurable for applicable requirements |
Contact PMM now to upgrade your material handling system with the industry’s toughest rotary valve airlock!
Key Features:
PROVEN ACROSS DEMANDING APPLICATIONS
The applications shown below represent only a small sampling of PMM’s nearly 50 years of industry experience moving fine powders, aggregates, granules, dust and many other bulk materials. These examples are provided to demonstrate the breadth of experience PMM Rotary Valve Airlocks have across a wide range of industries, materials and operating conditions and should not be interpreted as limitations of PMM’s capabilities.
Don’t see your material or application listed?
PMM Rotary Valve Airlocks are engineered around the specific material and operating conditions of each application. Submit your application data or contact PMM to discuss your material handling requirements.
APPLICATION ENGINEERING & SIZING
Proper Rotary Valve Airlock sizing starts with understanding the material and the bulk material handling process, not simply selecting a valve based on the required throughput.
PMM uses an Application Data Form to evaluate the material being conveyed, including bulk density, moisture content, maximum particle size, abrasiveness, temperature, material form and other relevant characteristics. PMM also evaluates the required flow rate, duty cycle, operating environment, equipment above and below the rotary valve, pressure conditions, installation requirements and whether the valve will operate under a full head of material.
This information allows PMM to determine the appropriate valve size, rotor configuration, expected pocket fill, rotor speed, internal clearances, sealing arrangement and other application-specific requirements necessary to achieve the specified material throughput.
PMM does not size a Rotary Valve Airlock from tons per hour alone. The valve is engineered around the material, the process conditions and the required throughput of the entire bulk material handling system.
ENGINEERED FOR DEMANDING OPERATING CONDITIONS
PMM Rotary Valve Airlocks are engineered around the actual operating conditions of the application. Material temperature, pressure differential, abrasion, material characteristics and the surrounding process equipment all influence how the valve is configured.
ENGINEERED TO BE REBUILT
PMM Rotary Valve Airlocks are engineered for long service life and designed to be rebuilt when critical wear components eventually require replacement. PMM’s proprietary modular design allows barrel sides, wear plates, rotor assemblies, bearings, packing and seals to be individually serviced or replaced rather than requiring replacement of the complete Rotary Valve Airlock.
Barrel sides can also be repositioned to redistribute localized wear, helping extend their serviceable life before replacement is required. When more extensive service is necessary, PMM offers Factory Rebuild services that provide a complete factory evaluation and rebuild option to restore the Rotary Valve Airlock to like-new operating condition.
Rotary Valve Engineering Resources
Rotary Valve Airlock performance depends on more than valve size and material throughput. Explore PMM’s engineering resources to better understand the factors that affect rotary valve selection, sizing, airlock performance, wear, reliability and service life.
