What Is an Air Slide Conveyor? Complete Beginner’s Guide

(EN)A Simple, Clear Guide to Understanding How Air Slide Conveyors Work
(ID)Panduan Mudah dan Jelas untuk Memahami Cara Kerja Air Slide Conveyor

Introduction

When handling fine powder materials such as cement, fly ash, clinker dust, and lime powder, an Air Slide Conveyor (Air Gravity Conveyor) is one of the simplest and most efficient conveying technologies in the bulk material handling industry.

This guide explains how an air slide works, its structure, applications, advantages, and how to select the right air slide for your plant.

What Is an Air Slide Conveyor?

An Air Slide Conveyor is a gravity-based conveying system that uses a flow of low-pressure air through a permeable fabric to move powdered materials horizontally or slightly downward.

When air passes through the fabric, the powder becomes fluidized—behaving almost like a liquid—and flows smoothly along the conveyor channel.

📌 Air Slide = No moving parts + low energy + continuous flow.

LVRUI Air Slide Conveyor system for cement and fly ash handling

How Does an Air Slide Conveyor Work?

An air slide system consists of:

  • A steel trough (upper and lower chambers)
  • Air slide fabric (permeable membrane)
  • Low-pressure blower
  • Inlet/outlet chutes
  • Inspection covers

Working Principle:

  1. Air enters the lower chamber from a blower
  2. Air flows upward through the air slide fabric
  3. Powder above the fabric becomes fluidized
  4. Gravity moves the fluidized material along the slope (5–12°)

📘 Learn more about fluidization from external reference:
Wikipedia – Fluidization Process


Key Components of an Air Slide System

Air Slide Fabric (polyester, aramid, P84)
Blower / Roots fan
Steel trough
Inspection doors
High-temperature insulation (optional)
Dust control connections

(Internal Link) For flow control products, you may also check:
🔗 Flow Control Gate Valvehttps://lvrui-conveyor.com/pneumatic-flow-control-gate/


Advantages of Air Slide Conveyors

1. No moving parts

Minimal maintenance and extremely reliable.

2. Low energy consumption

Only the blower consumes power.

3. Dust-free operation

Perfect for cement & fly ash.

4. Long conveying distances

Up to 40m per section, expandable.

5. Safe for high-temperature materials

Fabric options withstand up to 200°C.


Common Applications of Air Slide Conveyors

Aplikasi yang Umum Dipakai

✔ Cement plants
✔ Fly ash handling systems
✔ Silo discharge and feeding
✔ Bulk powder storage terminals
✔ Chemical & mineral industries

🔗 Air Slide Fabrichttps://lvrui-conveyor.com/air-slide-fabric/


How to Select the Right Air Slide Conveyor

Cara Memilih Air Slide Conveyor yang Tepat

When designing or selecting an air slide system, consider:

1. Material type & particle size

Cement, fly ash, clinker dust require different fabric permeability.

2. Temperature of material

High-temp materials need heat-resistant fabric.

3. Length & slope

Standard slope ranges from 5°–12°.

4. Blower capacity

Correct airflow ensures stable fluidization.

5. Fabric type

Polyester → economical
Aramid → high temp
P84 → premium, longest lifespan


Air Slide Conveyor vs Screw Conveyor

FeatureAir SlideScrew Conveyor
Moving Parts❌ None✔ Yes
MaintenanceLowHigh
Dust ControlExcellentMedium
Energy ConsumptionVery lowMedium–High
Best ForPowderMixed materials

Conclusion:
If your system handles powders, air slide is always more efficient.


FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What materials can be conveyed?
Cement, fly ash, lime, alumina, minerals, chemical powders.

Q2: Can Air Slides handle hot material?
Yes—up to 200°C with special fabric.

Q3: How long is the service life?
3–7 years depending on material abrasiveness.

📞 Standard CTA Section

Looking for a reliable Air Slide Conveyor for cement, fly ash, or powder handling systems?

LVRUI provides:
✔ Air Slide Conveyor
✔ Air Slide Fabric
✔ Flow Control Gates
✔ Butterfly Dampers
✔ Diverter Valves
✔ Bulk Material Handling Solutions

📩 Contact us for technical support & quotation
🌐 https://lvrui-conveyor.com
📧 lrst88@126.com


🇮🇩 Indonesian Short Version

Air Slide Conveyor adalah sistem pengangkutan berbasis gravitasi yang menggunakan aliran udara bertekanan rendah melalui kain permeabel untuk memindahkan material bubuk seperti semen dan fly ash.

Keunggulan:
✔ Tidak ada komponen bergerak
✔ Konsumsi energi rendah
✔ Operasi bebas debu
✔ Cocok untuk semen, fly ash, mineral
✔ Umur panjang & perawatan minimal

Hubungi LVRUI untuk solusi Air Slide Conveyor dan sistem penanganan material curah lainnya.