Cell Wheel | Rotary Valve | Air Lock

Airlock (Rotary Valve – Airlock – Rotary Feeder – Cell Wheel)

A Reliable Solution for Controlled Material Flow and Air Sealing in Industrial Processes

The airlock is one of the most critical components of pneumatic and mechanical conveying systems.
It enables the controlled, safe, and continuous transfer of powdered, granular, or pelletized materials between equipment such as silos, hoppers, cyclones, filters, mixers, conveyors, and dosing units—while simultaneously preventing air leakage between different pressure zones.

In industrial environments, this equipment is also known as:
Rotary Valve, Rotary Feeder, Airlock, Cell Wheel, Star Feeder, Rotary Vane Feeder, Eclus, Airlock Valve,
all referring to the same working principle and mechanical structure.

Engineering Definition of an Airlock

An airlock is a mechanical rotary valve equipped with a multi-pocket rotor that transfers material from an upper chamber to a lower chamber.
Each rotor cell carries a fixed volume of material while maintaining air-tight separation between the inlet and outlet sides.

This design fulfills two essential functions in modern processing lines:

1. Ensuring stable and continuous material flow

2. Preventing air transfer and maintaining pressure balance

For this reason, the airlock is indispensable in feeding, discharging, dosing, filtration, pneumatic conveying, and process stabilization applications.

Key Advantages of the Airlock (Rotary Valve)

- High sealing performance

Prevents air leakage between different process zones, improves the efficiency of pneumatic conveying lines, reduces energy losses, and stabilizes system pressure.

- Consistent and controlled material feeding

Ensures smooth, uniform transfer of powders and granular materials.

- Robust and durable construction

Cast-iron or steel housing provides long service life under abrasive, high-temperature, or heavy-duty applications.

- Suitable for food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries

Enables clean, hygienic, and contamination-free material handling.

- Modular design with wide model options

Customizable rotor types, seal types, cell sizes, materials, and flange designs offer complete flexibility for different industrial processes.

Structural Features of the Airlock

A rotary airlock generally consists of:

Body (Housing) – cast iron or steel, high-strength construction
Rotor – multi-pocket rotating element
Side covers – support the rotor shaft
Bearings – mounted away from dusty zones for extended life
Sealing system – seals, gaskets, or air-purge sealing
Motor and gearbox – direct drive, coupling drive, or chain-sprocket drive

All components are manufactured with tight engineering tolerances to ensure:

No contact between rotor and housing
Reduced friction
Minimal air leakage
Low vibration and noise
Optimal energy efficiency

Working Principle

Material flows by gravity into the rotor pockets from the upper chamber.
As the rotor turns, each pocket fills with a measured volume of material.
The rotor carries the material downward toward the outlet.
Material is discharged continuously while air transfer is prevented.
The system operates smoothly and reliably without pressure loss.

This makes airlocks ideal for positive pressure, negative pressure, and gravity-flow conveying systems.

Applications

Pneumatic Conveying Systems

Transfer of powders, granules, and pellets such as cement, PVC, calcite, starch, sugar, ash, flour, fertilizers, feed pellets, and chemicals.

Filter and Cyclone Discharge

Maintains pressure balance and improves filtration efficiency.

Silo and Hopper Discharge

Ensures controlled and continuous material flow.

Food and Pharmaceutical Industries

Provides hygienic and contamination-free handling for sensitive products.

Plastics and Chemical Processing

Used for feeding, dosing, and transferring raw materials into production lines.

Criteria for Selecting the Right Model

Airlock selection depends on:

Material type: powder, granular, abrasive, fibrous, hot, sticky
Operating temperature and humidity
Pressure differential
Required throughput
Rotor type and pocket volume
Seal type (double seal, air-purge, mechanical seal)
Housing material (cast iron, stainless steel, Hardox)

Correct selection ensures higher system efficiency, lower maintenance, and long-term operational stability.

Conclusion

The airlock (Rotary Valve – Airlock – Cell Wheel) is a vital component in industrial processes, responsible for:

Regulating material flow
Maintaining pressure balance
Preventing air leakage
Increasing pneumatic conveying efficiency
Reducing energy consumption
Ensuring reliable 24/7 operation

With proper engineering, precision manufacturing, and the right model selection, an airlock provides a reliable, efficient, and long-lasting solution for any industrial production line.