Air Knife Tunnel and Enclosure
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SMART Air Knife Tunnel and Blower Enclosure
Advanced drying systems for bottles, cans, and more
The Sonic SMART Air Knife Tunnel offers 100% flexibility. This SMART Tunnel Dryer is designed as a modular system, featuring a convenient bolt-on design that allows for seamless additions or modifications to the air knife configuration. This scalability enables the accommodation of future changes in product size or increased production line speeds, ensuring long-term adaptability and efficiency.
Modular Air Knife Tunnel Solutions for High-Speed Production Lines
The Sonic air blower and air knife system integrated with the SMART Air Knife Tunnel and Blower Enclosure is an advanced drying solution designed to efficiently remove moisture from bottles and cans before processes such as inspection, coding, labeling, or packaging. This bottle and can drying system accommodates production speeds ranging from 100 to 1,500 products per minute. It offers a scalable, efficient, and adaptable solution for drying applications in the beverage and packaging industries.
Smart Design Meets High Functionality in Bottle Drying Systems
- Standard stainless steel modules bolt together for 24" (610mm), 48" (1,219mm), 72" (1,829mm), and 96" (2,438mm).
- Easily expandable (length or sound dampening) for future products or higher line speeds
- Standard sound reductions of 7-10 dbA and <80 dbA option available
- Optional 3-axis air knife brackets with index markings allow quick and repeatable settings for consistent drying of a full range of product sizes
- Sealed drip pans for complete water containment
- Aerodynamic tunnel design prevents rewetting cans or bottles.
- Minimal walkway clearance required with easy lift off, lightweight access panels
- No hinges or latches to break or bind
- Complete with piping and hose kits for your Sonic blower
- No conveyor drilling or modifications, except side rail cutouts
- Blower enclosure mounted remote from tunnel for easy installation and ground-level blower/filter access
- No hoists or cranes required for tunnel installation
- The majority of the tunnel installation can be done while the existing conveyor is running.
- Guaranteed drying & sound reduction
- Designed SMART Air Knife Tunnels for mass conveying or dry product blow-off, complete with vacuum dust collection
- Modular and Scalable Design: With its bolt-together stainless steel modules, the system can be easily expanded or adjusted to fit your production needs. This flexibility makes it a cost-effective choice for growing operations.
- Noise Reduction for a Safer Workplace: SMART's sound-reducing design minimizes noise levels by 7-10 dBA, with additional options to bring it below 80 dBA. This helps create a safer and more comfortable environment for your team.
- Effective Moisture Control: The sealed drip pans in the modular Air Knife Tunnel contain and manage water runoff, preventing rewetting and keeping your workspace dry. This design supports better hygiene and prevents water-related product damage.
How to Select the Right Industrial Diverter Valve
Determining the best valve for your system depends on balancing air volume, pressure, and material characteristics. When these factors align, you achieve smoother performance, higher efficiency, and long-term reliability. The ideal configuration not only maintains consistent airflow and minimizes pressure loss but also enhances energy efficiency across continuous production cycles.
Common Types of Diverter Valves
- Flap Type Diverter: Simple, cost-effective valve ideal for low- to medium-pressure systems handling powders, pellets, or airflows requiring gentle redirection.
- Plug (Rotor) Diverter: Designed for continuous-duty applications, offering smooth switching between lines with minimal leakage.
Slide or Slideflex Diverter: Provides fast, tight-sealing transitions for high-pressure or high-temperature processes where precision airflow management is essential.
Key Technical Considerations
When specifying an industrial air diverter valve, consider the following engineering factors to ensure long-term reliability:
- Material Compatibility: Choose materials suited to your process—aluminum for lightweight efficiency, stainless steel for hygienic or corrosive environments, or coated alloys for chemical resistance.
- Actuation & Automation: Sonic offers manual, pneumatic, or automated actuation to integrate with PLC or sensor-driven systems for instant airflow control.
Sealing & Maintenance: Valves are designed with precision-fit components and replaceable seals to maintain efficiency and reduce downtime during maintenance intervals.
View Case Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sonic butterfly valves can operate in conjunction with a VFD for blower speed control; however, they can also function as the sole airflow control device. As a low-cost alternative to a VFD, the butterfly valve allows operators to manually fine-tune air velocity and pressure, setting the optimum airflow level during the initial system setup without relying on expensive electronic controls.
The Sonic Y-Verter™ is a mechanical alternative to Variable Frequency Drive motor controllers traditionally used in blower and air knife systems. It allows rapid, reliable airflow redirection between system branches without changing motor speed, reducing complexity and maintenance requirements compared to VFD-based systems.
A Y-Verter™ is particularly effective when using standard 3,600 RPM, 60 Hz motors where air control needs can be met through mechanical redirection rather than motor speed modulation. While certain high-speed blower motors (up to 20,000 RPM) may require VFDs with output frequencies up to 330 Hz, many air knife applications can achieve equal or better airflow management with the simpler, more durable Y-Verter™ system.
Yes. They can be integrated with most industrial blowers or pneumatic systems, and custom configurations are available for unique operating conditions.
Specification Sheets
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Air Knife Tunnel and Enclosure
SMART Air Knife Tunnel and Blower Enclosure
Advanced drying systems for bottles, cans, and more
The Sonic SMART Air Knife Tunnel offers 100% flexibility. This SMART Tunnel Dryer is designed as a modular system, featuring a convenient bolt-on design that allows for seamless additions or modifications to the air knife configuration. This scalability enables the accommodation of future changes in product size or increased production line speeds, ensuring long-term adaptability and efficiency.
Modular Air Knife Tunnel Solutions for High-Speed Production Lines
The Sonic air blower and air knife system integrated with the SMART Air Knife Tunnel and Blower Enclosure is an advanced drying solution designed to efficiently remove moisture from bottles and cans before processes such as inspection, coding, labeling, or packaging. This bottle and can drying system accommodates production speeds ranging from 100 to 1,500 products per minute. It offers a scalable, efficient, and adaptable solution for drying applications in the beverage and packaging industries.