Products · Pneumatic conveying

Pneumatic pressure conveying of bulk materials

Pressure conveying moves powders and granules through enclosed pipework on a stream of compressed air: over long distances, from a single pick-up point to several destinations. Every system is engineered individually, from feeding into the pipeline through to reception, filtration and control.

Ask about a system How it works

over 100 m conveying distance 1 → many one pick-up point, several destinations high throughputs pipework routed vertically and horizontally ATEX · HACCP · GMP compliant builds

Operating principle

How pressure conveying works: air pushes the material through the pipeline

A blower generates a stream of compressed air, into which the material is fed through an airlock — usually a rotary valve or a pressure vessel. The airstream carries the material along the pipeline to the destination, where it is separated from the air and discharged into the process. The whole operation takes place in a closed system, with no dust emission.

Compressed air source

A Roots or side-channel blower selected to suit the material, the throughput and the length of the route. With an air cooler, inlet filter and safety valve.

Feeding into the pipeline

The material has to be introduced into the pipeline against the pressure, so we use an airlock: a rotary valve or a pressure vessel. Feeding is continuous and even.

Reception and separation

A receiving vessel with a filter separates the material from the conveying air. Diverter valves direct the flow to the chosen destination: a silo, a mixer or a feeder.

Pneumatic pressure conveying installation with gravimetric feeders — A pressure conveying installation with gravimetric feeders

Conveying modes

Dilute phase or dense phase?

Dilute phase is the standard: the material is dispersed and carried on a high-velocity airstream. It is the most versatile mode for dry, well-flowing materials. For fragile, abrasive or pre-blended products we use dense phase: the material travels in slugs, with less air and at low velocity, which minimises degradation and segregation.

Diagram of dilute-phase pneumatic conveying: particles dispersed in the airstream — Dilute phase (lean phase)Particles dispersed across the whole cross-section of the pipe and carried on a high-velocity airstream. Long distances and considerable lift heights.

Diagram of dense-phase pneumatic conveying: material travelling in slugs along the bottom of the pipe — Dense phaseThe material travels in slugs, with less air and at low velocity. Suited to delicate, abrasive or heavy raw materials.

Parameter	Dilute phase lean phase	Dense phase faza gęsta
Air velocity	high, material in suspension	low, material travels in slugs
Product degradation	moderate	minimal
Risk of blend segregation	possible	very low
Pipe, bend and energy consumption	higher	significantly lower
Typical materials	flour, sugar, chemical powders, granulates	flakes, premixes, crystals, abrasive and heavy materials

Downloads

Pneumatic conveying data sheet (PDF) System selection questionnaire (DOCX)

System components

What a pressure conveying installation consists of

Every system is assembled from components chosen to suit the material, the throughput and the route: from the blower, through the feeding airlock, to the receiving vessel and the controls. We integrate the system with existing equipment: big bag stations, feeders, mixers and packing machines.

individually engineered integrated with the control system ATEX

BlowersRoots or side-channel, with an air cooler and filtration
Feeding airlocksrotary valves, pressure vessels
Pipeworksteel or plastic, routed vertically and horizontally, with long-radius bends
Valvesdiverter and non-return valves, letting one pipeline serve several discharge points
Receiving vesselswith filters and automatic cleaning, built in stainless steel
Quality controlmetal detectors, screeners, separators
Automationsequence control, integrated with feeding, weighing and recipe management

System selection

Pressure conveying or vacuum conveying?

We offer both technologies and choose the one that fits the arrangement of pick-up and discharge points, the distance and the throughput — not the other way round. The main differences are set out below.

Parameter	Pressure positive pressure	Vacuum negative pressure
System layout	one pick-up point → several destinations	several pick-up points → one destination
Conveying distance	long, over 100 m as well	typically up to about 50 m
Throughput	high, continuous duty	up to about 10000 kg/h, cyclic or continuous duty
Introducing the material	airlock: rotary valve or pressure vessel	suction hopper, pick-up wand, big bag station
Behaviour if a leak develops	dust may escape into the surroundings	air is drawn inwards, nothing escapes

Need contained pick-up from several points to a single destination? Take a look at our VSU vacuum conveying system.

VSU vacuum conveying

Industries and applications

Conveying bulk materials in key industries

Pneumatic pressure conveying in the food industry

Food and animal feed

Flour, sugar, cocoa, starch, animal feed and feed additives. Filling silos, mixers and packing lines over long routes. FDA and HACCP compliant builds.

Pharmaceutical and chemical

Active ingredients, powders, pigments, resins, detergents. A closed, hygienic conveying system, with builds for ATEX zones.

Pneumatic conveying of cement and granulates in the construction industry

Plastics and construction

PE and PP granulates, PVC, cement, lime, fly ash. Filling silos, distributing from one point to several vessels, feeding extruders.

Why InterProcess

Why choose our solutions

A tailored approach

Every system is designed around the customer’s material, throughput and space, following a site survey.

End-to-end delivery

From design, through installation and commissioning, to service and spare parts.

Proven components

Reliable industrial equipment only, with no compromises on the critical assemblies.

Experience across many industries

Food, chemical, pharmaceutical, plastics, construction and animal feed.

Safety and hygiene

Systems compliant with ATEX, HACCP and GMP, including builds for potentially explosive atmospheres.

Technical support and service

Fast service response, including 24/7 cover. Audits and upgrades of existing installations.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When should pressure conveying be chosen over vacuum conveying?

Pressure conveying works well where material has to travel from one pick-up point to several destinations, over a long distance (more than 100 m as well) or at high throughput. Vacuum conveying is the better choice with several pick-up points and a single destination, and wherever full containment matters: if a vacuum system develops a leak, the material does not escape. The two can also be combined into a suction–pressure system.

Which materials can be conveyed under pressure?

Practically every dry, well-flowing bulk material: flour, sugar, cocoa, starch, chemical and pharmaceutical powders, pigments, plastic granulates, cement, lime and fly ash. The limitation is wet or strongly adhesive materials; in such cases we recommend a conversation with our application engineer.

How does the material get into the pipeline if it is under pressure?

Through an airlock that separates the pressurised zone from the surroundings. Usually this is a rotary valve, which feeds the material continuously and evenly, or a pressure vessel where throughputs are higher. The choice of airlock depends on the material, the working pressure and how the installation operates.

Do you build pressure conveying systems to order?

Yes, and it is our key strength. We design the route around the existing infrastructure, select the blower and the airlock to suit the material, and integrate the system with feeders, big bag stations, mixers and the control system. From the site survey through to commissioning and service. We also carry out audits and upgrades of existing conveying installations.

Need a pneumatic conveying system?

Get in touch and our engineers will prepare a solution matched to your process. We also offer audits of existing installations and upgrades of older conveying systems.

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