A Rotary Airlock Valve,also known as a rotary feeder,star valve,or rotary unloader,is a precision industrial component designed for two core functions:airtight isolation and continuous quantitative discharge/feeding of bulk solid materials.It is widely used in pneumatic conveying systems,dust collection equipment,and material storage systems,acting as a critical barrier to maintain pressure balance and prevent air backflow or dust leakage.

This valve is suitable for handling dry,free-flowing materials such as powders,granules,and small lumps,and is customizable to adapt to harsh working conditions such as high temperature,high pressure,and abrasive materials.

Working Principle

The rotary airlock valve consists of a sealed cylindrical housing,a star-shaped rotor(with 6–12 blades),a drive unit(electric motor+reducer),and high-performance sealing gaskets.Its working process is simple and efficient:

1.Bulk materials from the upper hopper,silo,or dust collector fall into the cavities between the rotor blades by gravity.

2.The drive unit drives the rotor to rotate at a constant speed(fixed or variable speed optional),and the blades carry the trapped materials downward as the rotor rotates.

3.When the material-filled cavities align with the bottom outlet,the materials are discharged smoothly under gravity,achieving continuous and uniform feeding/discharging.

4.The minimal clearance(usually 0.1–0.3mm)between the rotor blades and the housing forms a tight air seal,isolating the pressure difference between the upper(positive or negative pressure)and lower sections of the system,thus preventing air leakage and maintaining stable operation.

Core Features

-Superior Airtightness:Adopts multi-layer sealing structure,effectively isolating positive/negative pressure zones,no air backflow,ensuring system pressure stability.

-Precise Metering:Fixed volume per rotor rotation;feeding/discharging rate can be flexibly adjusted by changing rotor speed,meeting different production demands.

-Durable Construction:Housing and rotor are made of high-quality materials(carbon steel,stainless steel 304/316,wear-resistant alloy),with optional wear-resistant lining for abrasive materials,extending service life.

-Stable&Low Noise:Smooth rotor operation,low vibration,low noise,and low failure rate,reducing daily maintenance workload.

-Wide Adaptability:Standard models withstand temperatures up to 280℃;high-temperature models(up to 450℃+)and high-pressure models(up to 0.6MPa)are available for special working conditions.

-Easy Installation&Maintenance:Compact structure,lightweight,easy to connect with pipelines and equipment;detachable design for convenient cleaning and maintenance.

Application Fields

Rotary airlock valves are widely used in various industries involving bulk material handling,including:

-Environmental Protection:Ash discharge of bag dust collectors,cyclone separators,and industrial dust removal systems.

-Chemical Industry:Feeding and discharging of chemical powders,granular additives,and inert materials.

-Building Materials:Cement,lime,gypsum,and sand conveying in cement plants and construction projects.

-Food&Pharmaceutical:Hygienic feeding of food powders(flour,starch),pharmaceutical raw materials,and additives(meets food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade standards).

-Metallurgy&Mining:Discharging of ore powder,coal powder,and metallurgical slag.

-Grain&Plastics:Grain storage and conveying,feeding of plastic particles,and recycled plastic materials.