Filter by topic

All Articles

Name: ACS Valves
Address: 611 Argyle Street North, Caledonia, Ontario, N3W 1M1, Canada
Telephone: 1-905-765-2004
Price range: $

All FAQs

Q.
My conveying line handles dusty materials like cement or sand. How effective are rotary valves at minimizing dust leakage?

A.
Rotary valves can be very effective at minimizing leakage when properly configured by an expert.

As a general recommendation to prevent dust leakage, valves should be equipped with ACST-4 shaft seals and an outboard bearing design. You should also check rotor-to-housing tolerances often, as enlarged tolerances can also cause leaks.
Q.
My process involves caustic or acidic chemicals. Which rotary valve options are best to ensure a long lifespan and minimal risk of corrosion?

A.
Corrosive materials can damage the rotary valve’s internal parts over time, including the rotor-to-housing tolerances. We recommend a coating called XTR-Coat to minimize the effects of acidic, abrasive, or corrosive materials. Its durability prolongs the lifespan of your valve and parts, and its compliance with FDA and USDA regulations also makes it an excellent choice in many food-grade applications.
Q.
How can rotary airlocks prevent contamination in pet food conveying?

A.
Whether you’re conveying ingredients for medicated pet foods, kibble with allergen control, or any pet food that must adhere to strict food safety guidelines, it’s important to prevent cross-contamination between batches. Make sure your valve is designed with outboard bearings and reliable shaft seals that are easy to replace.

To quickly wipe away residual product that may harbor bacteria, choose a Quick-Clean design, which allows you to open up the valve without tools for fast and easy cleaning. You might also consider sanitary materials and coatings, such as stainless-steel and XTR-Coat.
Q.
How are rotary valves manufactured?

A.
At ACS Valves, each rotary airlock valve is manufactured with a team of engineers, machinists, welders, millwrights, and other qualified specialists. The valve housings are cast locally using 65% US steel, while the internal parts are CNC machined for precision and reliability.
Q.
How do I repair a rotary valve?

A.
That depends on the problem, but common valve repair and maintenance procedures include lubricating parts, adjusting chains, and replacing the rotor, bearings, or shaft seals. Check your ACS Valves instruction manual for more specific guidance and call us if you need help.
Q.
How do I calculate rotary valve capacity?

A.
Capacity is the volume of material your rotary valve can handle per rotation. The calculation involves the rate of conveying, material bulk density, valve efficiency, and RPM of your rotor. We can help you with the math, but if you're just looking for a valve sizing recommendation, you can use our handy calculator tool.
Q.
Where can I find rotary valve specifications?

A.
All our rotary valve specifications and technical datasheets are available for download on our website. If you need a custom configuration, our sales reps can provide you with all the required drawings and specifications for that valve.
Q.
Which parts of a rotary valve do I need to replace?

A.
The most common parts you need to replace on a regular basis include the rotor, shaft seals, and bearings. It’s a great idea to keep spare parts for your rotary valve. We have an NFPA compliance kit you can order to have the most important parts on your shelf just in case you need to make a quick replacement.
Q.
Where do I get parts for my ACS rotary valve?

A.
Right here! ACS Valves manufactures all the rotary valve parts and accessories you might need. You can browse what we have on our site, check out technical brochures, or call one of our sales reps directly to determine exactly what you need.
Q.
Do you also ship outside of the US and Canada?

A.
ACS Valves does not ship rotary valves internationally. However, for our customers in the US and Canada, we are able to have valves packaged and crated for air or ocean freight.
Q.
Where is ACS Valves located?

A.
Our headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Caledonia, Ontario, Canada, and our representatives are posted throughout Canada and the United States. We partner with Canadian and US companies to ensure reliable shipments and local sourcing for our rotary valve components.
Q.
Do you serve the Central USA?

A.
Yes, we have representatives ready to serve Canada and all 50 states in the United States, including the Central USA.
Q.
Which rotary valve should I choose?

A.
It depends! Do you want a valve with an easy-to-clean design? A valve with multiple ports for split conveying lines? Maybe a valve for heavy-duty applications, for corrosive material, or for metering small batches?

We could go on, but the best way to determine which valve you need is to speak with an ACS Valves rep. Give us the details and we’ll help you choose a rotary valve that’s optimized for your needs.
Q.
Why do I need to check rotor-to-housing tolerances?

A.
Rotor-to-housing tolerances, or clearances, are the distance between your rotor tips and valve housing. Because they wear down over time, you should measure them as part of your regular maintenance routine. Increased tolerances leave a bigger gap for material to leak through, which prevents the valve from working effectively. This can lead to issues with material flow, NFPA compliance and safety, and overall efficiency. Check them often!
Q.
How much do rotary valves cost?

A.
Because rotary valves come in so many different types and sizes, we don’t list prices online. Please contact an ACS Valves rep to request a quote. We’re happy to walk you through exactly what you need and why.
Q.
What are the different types of rotary airlock valves?

A.
There are so many! Our standard CI Series valve is popular with its efficient construction and plenty of customization options. But there are dozens of other options, and they depend on:

1. Your application (e.g., construction, pet food, or cannabis processing?)
2. Your material (e.g., cement, plastic, or flour?)
3. Your system (bulk material, dust collector, or pneumatic conveyor?)
4. Your desired valve type (airlock with metering, metering/feeding, or airlock?)
You could go even further down the rabbit hole and customize valves with different rotors, coatings, and accessories for maximum efficiency. The easiest approach is to contact an ACS Valves rep to discuss your options — we’ll only recommend what your process actually needs.
Q.
What is a rotary valve used for?

A.
A valve is a transfer point in your material handling system, moving bulk solids from containers (think bins, hoppers, and silos) to the conveyor below. It may also move material from one container to another.

Valves can be used to provide a pressurized seal between those points, help control the flow of material, or both. Basically, they help you move material efficiently and safely, preventing product loss.
Q.
What is the difference between rotary valves, rotary airlocks, and rotary feeders?

A.
This is a great question because they’re also called airlocks (or rotary airlock valves, or rotary airlock feeders) — just to make it extra confusing. The catch-all term is rotary valve, which is what we use most often.

The exact term changes depending on how the valve is used. Anything with the word “airlock” in the name is used to maintain a pressure differential between two separate compartments. Feeders are more about controlling the rate of material flow from one place to the next. If a valve does both, you would call it a rotary airlock feeder.

At ACS Valves, we have a lot of multifunctional rotary valves that can serve any of these roles, as well as more specialized valves for airlock or feeding/metering purposes. If you’re not sure what you need, give us a call and we’ll help you figure it out!
Q.
My rotary valve is stuck. What do I do?

A.
If your rotary valve is not rotating, it could be an issue with the power, the chain, the gearbox, or a foreign object stuck in the valve’s inlet.

If it’s stuck because of material buildup, there are a few different areas to look at: inspect the supply source and the piping of your conveying line. The issue could also be related to excessive pocket fill, moisture, or blowby air.

These are all specific issues, so check your maintenance manual for more in-depth troubleshooting tips.
Q.
What options can help sticky material flow better?

A.
We have lots, and they depend on your application. One approach is coatings, like hard chrome or the abrasion resistant XTR-Coat, which can help material slide through the valve without sticking.

Before we make this answer too complicated, check out our blog on material flow tips.
Q.
Why is my valve squealing?

A.
You know what they say about squeaky wheels! It’s possible your rotor needs replacing: in our experience, the culprit is usually decreased rotor clearances.

It’s possible you’re also dealing with a mechanical problem with the drive chain or drive shaft, or some kind of foreign object is jammed inside.

Check your rotary valve maintenance manual for help with troubleshooting and repair.
Q.
Do I need an airlock or a feeder?

A.
That depends on you. Do you need to control the rate of material flow (feeder), maintain a pressure differential between compartments (airlock), or a combo of both (airlock feeder)?

Not sure? That’s okay — give us some details about your process needs, and we’ll make a recommendation.
Q.
How can I clean my rotary airlock valve faster?

A.
Rotary valves built on a rail system are specifically designed for faster cleaning, because you don’t need tools or a lot of effort to open up the valve and access the internal housing. The ACS Valves model is called the Quick-Clean, and it’s designed to help you clean up in just a few minutes. You could also add a U-shaped rotor, which has round pockets to prevent stubborn material buildup.
Q.
Are there rotary airlock valves for split-feed conveying lines?

A.
Definitely. If you have one conveying line that splits into two, you could try the unique Multi-Port Valve, which has multiple compartments in one trough-style housing. Another option is a plug-type diverter valve, which diverts material into one of two possible feeds.
Q.
How do I configure a rotary airlock valve?

A.
You can configure valves with specialized coatings, rotors, accessories and additional conveying equipment. A rotary valve expert can tell you which of these you actually need, and which will take your conveying efficiency to the next level.
Q.
What type of rotary airlock valve should I choose?

A.
We have dozens of rotary valves available for all industries, applications, ingredients, system types and any other details that affect your conveying process. For a customized answer, a rotary valve expert is the best person to ask.
Q.
How do I choose rotary airlock valve accessories?

A.
It depends on your application and what you need them for – safety, material flow, overall efficiency? Our rotary valve accessory guide breaks it all down.
Q.
How are rotary airlock valves sized?

A.
Our team sizes rotary valves based on several factors such as material characteristics, system configuration and application. There’s a quick and easy way to do it yourself, though – check out our Rotary Valve Sizing Tool.
Q.
How do I replace a rotary airlock valve?

A.
It’s simple, really – just ask. ACS Valves can replace a valve from any manufacturer, whether you need a fast drop-in replacement or something with all the bells and whistles.

For more details, we have a whole blog about the replacement process.
Q.
I’m ordering a valve from the U.S. Do I need to worry about border delays or additional fees?

A.
Absolutely not! ACS is fully bonded, and we’re partnered with a company that picks up shipments daily. For you, that means no delays, customs duties or brokerage fees.
Q.
What is this capped pipe that is sticking out of the side of my valve?

A.
The capped pipe is called a housing vent port. Rotor pockets can sometimes contain a volume of pressured air, which can impede material flow into the airlock inlet, reducing your efficiency. Also, in conveying systems that run at 6 PSI and higher, large releases of air up the return side of the airlock can cause pulsing in the material flow into the conveying line. Using a vent helps solve both of these issues, and is also helpful in improving your fill efficiency.
Q.
My valve is losing too much air, what could be the problem?

A.
Too much clearance between the rotor, endplates and or housing can result in air loss. Measure the rotor to endplate and rotor to housing clearances to confirm that they are an NFPA compliant 0.0079 inches. If the clearance is larger than this, it might be time to replace your rotor, rotary valve, or have it sent back to ACS for a repair or evaluation. Make sure to stick to a maintenance schedule and check your clearances at least every three months.
Q.
Why use a shear pin sprocket with sawdust or wood fines?

A.
Sometimes the rotation of the rotor is reduced due to an overload of material, or larger pieces of material being fed through the valve, jamming in the clearances. In this case, shear pin sprockets will shear the pin on the sprocket, reducing the risk of damage to the rotor.
Q.
Why do we recommend a shear protector for pellets, flakes or beads?

A.
Shear protectors reduce the flow of material at the valve's inlet. Reduced flow allows for better pocket fill and also reduces the risk of product jams in your housing clearances–ultimately protecting your product from damage.

SEE ALL FAQS

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

Go ahead, make your valve

Put your own spin on our customizable valves to get the best valve for your application, material and industry.

Learn more

LATEST BLOG

Fail-safe food safety tips for rotary valves

The regulatory landscape is always changing, but there are surefire steps you can take to keep your valves and conveying systems free of contamination.

Filter by topic

All Articles

Fail-safe food safety tips for rotary valves

Which rotary valves are best at handling fertilizer mix?

Is my rotary valve NFPA compliant?

6 tips for storing a rotary airlock valve

Tips for conveying recycled plastic flakes

Quiz: What makes a rotary valve tick?

8 questions you should ask a rotary airlock supplier

7 energy-saving tips for your processing plant

6 ways to save time on rotary valve maintenance

5 pet food trends and tips for processors

Quiz: Conveying pet food with rotary airlocks

How to: Check rotor-to-housing tolerances

Please don’t do these 5 things to your rotary valve

How to choose a rotor for your valve’s application

Quiz: Do you know how to spot a high-quality valve?

5 tips for more efficient mineral processing

What were this year’s top rotary valve topics?

Quiz: Do you know these pneumatic conveying terms?

How to: Renew rotor tip clearances

5 ways our conveying knowledge benefits your line

Extra, extra: Read all about our conveying equipment

How do I keep plastic pellets intact in conveying?

Quiz: OSHA safety for rotary valves

Protect your product: How outboard bearings keep valves safe

Why is my rotary valve making noise?

How are rotary valves tested for safety?

How to: Reassemble a rotary valve

A micro blog for a micro valve

4 valve inventions that benefit your process

One base design, two classic valves, endless customization

All about rotary valves for gypsum plants

Quiz: What do you know about deflagrations?

How do I get a rotary valve quote?

Airlocks for dust collection systems: The basics

How do I configure a valve for conveying cement?

New year roundup: Our most-read blogs of 2022

How to: Clean a Quick-Clean Rotary Valve

Valves for sugar, spice, and all things nice

Quiz: How are rotary valves manufactured?

How to: Remove a rotary valve endplate

Will your valve be trapped in shipping limbo? Here are 6 reasons not to worry

Quiz: Workplace safety statistics to know

Why configuration matters: Tips from a rotary airlock pro

What is an NFPA compliant valve?

Mill more flour, corn and oat products with efficient valves

Can I replace my old valve with an ACS model?

What do I really need to know about rotary valve sizing?

Year in review: Our top blogs of 2021

Your rotary valve accessory guide

Rotary valves with niche appeal

Quiz: What do you know about bulk material characteristics?

Choosing a rotary valve: 3 more things to consider

Here’s how we configure rotary airlock valves

Why should I keep a historical maintenance log?

Eat up these health food conveying tips

Check out the Multi-Port Valve, our latest invention

Cleaning sucks! See 5 ways the Quick-Clean rotary valve speeds it up

Quiz: Material flow dos and don’ts

Know your material: 8 characteristics defined

5 best practices for cannabis processors

Readers’ picks: Top 4 ACS blogs of 2020

Quiz: Are you up to speed on rotary valve safety?

Find your fit: Valves for cannabis and health food applications

I missed the DHA deadline! What happens now?

I’m ordering a new rotary valve. Do I need an air purge kit?

Don’t overstuff your pockets and 3 other material flow tips

Stand up to corrosion with the XTR Series valve

Avoid sticky situations with a rotary airlock feeder

Why we recommend ACST-4 shaft seals for valves

Quiz: What do you know about DHAs?

Layer up: An overview of coating types for rotary valves

Are rotary airlocks supposed to leak?

Need a rotary valve safety guide?

Yes, you actually do need to check your rotor clearances

Certifiably awesome: 3 qualifications you need to make a high-quality valve

Seriously, don’t buy a cheap valve

Unchain your rotary valve with direct drives

Avoid rotary valve jams with adjustable shear protectors