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Articles for Difficult Products

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

May 16, 2025 by Brittany Dollimore

Quiz: Test your mineral processing know-how

Minerals are tough — conveying them can be even tougher. See if you know the answers to these questions on the basics of mineral ore processing.
May 15, 2025 by Paul Bowman

‘Fix me!’ 5 signs your valve needs attention

Find out how to diagnose and troubleshoot a rotary airlock valve that makes too much noise, stops rotating, or shows any of these other symptoms.
Jan 21, 2025 by Greg Thompson

How do shear pin sprockets keep valves in good shape?

When material jams inside your rotary airlock valve, shear pin sprockets can prevent unnecessary downtime and damage. Find out how they work.
Nov 21, 2024 by Nena Dallas

Quiz: Can you master milling with valves?

Think you know a lot about processing milled ingredients like flour and corn? Take our quiz on milling, conveying, and rotary airlock valves to find out.
Oct 17, 2024 by Nena Dallas

Which rotary valves are best at handling fertilizer mix?

Fertilizer mixes tend to cause buildup and abrasion in your conveying equipment. Try these rotary airlock valve recommendations to boost longevity and material flow.
Aug 08, 2024 by Nena Dallas

Tips for conveying recycled plastic flakes

Read our plastic flake conveying tips to maintain healthy material throughput, minimize product waste, and prevent contamination.
Jan 17, 2024 by Brittany Dollimore

5 tips for more efficient mineral processing

With its unique material properties and complex material handling systems, mineral ore is tricky to convey. Keep these tips in mind to optimize your process.
Dec 07, 2023 by Megan Thompson

What were this year’s top rotary valve topics?

In 2023, our readers were most interested in OSHA safety, the valve quoting process, cement conveying, and dust collection systems.
Sep 13, 2023 by Terri Shipstone

How do I keep plastic pellets intact in conveying?

For the best end product, it’s important to keep plastic pellets in a uniform shape and size. Learn the best rotary valve configurations and tips to prevent issues.
Jan 16, 2023 by Terri Shipstone

How do I configure a valve for conveying cement?

In a heavy-duty setting, durability and reliability are key. These coatings and options help rotary valves handle cement and construction materials
Oct 17, 2022 by Terri Shipstone

Valves for sugar, spice, and all things nice

Fine, powdery materials like sugar can get your equipment into sticky situations. These rotary valves help prevent build-up and corrosion
Feb 10, 2022 by Megan Thompson

Can I replace my old valve with an ACS model?

Find out how easy it is to get a drop-in replacement rotary airlock valve for any manufacturer
Oct 14, 2021 by Nena Dallas

Rotary valves with niche appeal

Some airlock valves are built with a specific application in mind, and that’s what makes them great!
Jul 21, 2021 by Nena Dallas

Here’s how we configure rotary airlock valves

Rotary valves, like hot dogs, have lots of customization options. Learn how we do it at ACS
Jan 22, 2021 by Megan Thompson

5 best practices for cannabis processors

New to the cannabis industry or just looking for some efficient processing tips? ACS has you covered
Nov 05, 2020 by Megan Thompson

Find your fit: Valves for cannabis and health food applications

Niche applications such as cannabis and alternative health food processing work best with specially configured Quick-Clean valves
Jun 18, 2020 by Terri Shipstone

Stand up to corrosion with the XTR Series valve

The XTR Series rotary airlock valve comes fully armored with a corrosion-resistant, food-grade coating
Jun 09, 2020 by Wayne Beveridge

Avoid sticky situations with a rotary airlock feeder

The Aero-Flow feeder valve mixes material with pressurized air to prevent premature wear and boost consistency
Sep 13, 2019 by Paul Bowman

Avoid rotary valve jams with adjustable shear protectors

Adjustable shear protectors prevent jamming, keep materials intact and maintain an efficient fill capacity
Jun 24, 2019 by Megan Thompson

The sticking point: Examining flow issues in bins, hoppers and silos

An ADM speaker sheds light on powder and bulk solid flow patterns
Feb 21, 2019 by Paul Bowman

Flex or fixed? The difference between two rotor tip types

Find out which rotor tip type is right for your process
Nov 24, 2017 by Nena Dallas

What coatings mean for your valves

When your valve needs to weather a material storm, layering it up with a coating can help it keep moving. Here's how.
Apr 25, 2017 by Nena Dallas

How to increase the life expectancy of your machinery

That rickety old valve has broken down again, and you're tired of replacing it all the time. Here are some tips on how to ensure your valves last longer and give you less downtime.
Nov 26, 2015 by Nena Dallas

Why you shouldn't size your airlocks for 100% pocket fill

Using the same methods to size all of your feeder valves is a recipe for inefficiency
May 21, 2015 by Nena Dallas

How to convey sticky material with a blow-through

Conveying sticky material? Harness the efficiency of a blow-through valve, without the premature wear!

FAQs for Difficult Products

Q.
When my rotary valve jams, can I use tools to knock the material loose?

A.
While we understand the temptation for a quick fix, we definitely don’t recommend hitting your valve with hammers, wrenches, or whatever tools you have on hand. It only damages the valve and doesn’t help with material blockage. If you need help improving material flow, speak to one of our valve experts for recommendations specific to your application.
Q.
I have products that are sensitive to shearing. Are there rotary valves designed to minimize product degradation during material transfer?

A.
When it comes to material shearing, the first thing we tend to look at is fill capacity. Factors like your material shape and size, equipment specifications, and conveying speed influence the right fill capacity to prevent jamming and shearing. Optional accessories like adjustable shear protectors, often recommended for materials like plastic pellets and sawdust, can be useful to help things keep flowing smoothly. A valve expert can give you more specific guidance based on your application.
Q.
Can rotary valves accurately meter plastic pellets or regrind at varying flow rates?

A.
They can! For situations when consistent feeding is essential, we have rotary valves specifically designed for applications like pellets or metering small batches of product. To get the most accurate flow, it’s important to work with a specialist who understands your industry well enough to recommend the right valve configurations.
Q.
How can rotary valves help food industry processors meet safety and sanitation standards?

A.
Rotary airlock valves can be specified with features that support food safety and sanitation goals. We often recommend stainless-steel materials of construction, special coatings, and valves designed on a rail system for easy disassembly and cleaning.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.