TURBOTECH proprietary Airknife Shapes combine the most advanced air flow technologies achieving power consumption efficiencies exceeding 95%. This compares with other airknife shapes that may deliver under 65% efficiency. You can expect to get the most efficient design and the best laminar flow characteristics.
Turbotech Modified Teardrop high velocity airknives. The underlying premise of the Turbotech design is centered on providing a highly concentrated controlled air stream to the object to be impinged upon. Exit velocities ranging from 10,000 to 46,000 ft/min are utilized to provide the energy at the point of contact (Angle of Attack) to move or roll solids or liquid particles towards a pre-determined area. This energy has the capability to atomize liquids for easy removal. Overall airknife efficiencies greater than 95% are achievable.
Turbotech Diamond Teardrop. These airknives offer you the same advantages of the full teardrop for applications requiring less that 36,000 fpm. Power consumption efficiencies up to 95% are still achievable.
Your choice of shape allows you to use the correct mix of energy, structured air flow, and mass to provide the optimum solution. The technology behind Turbotech airknives applies advanced air flow principles. Air exits the airknife as an uninterrupted continuous curtain with a well-controlled pattern. This stability minimizes surrounding air excitation on the downstream leg and maintains a narrow pattern on the upstream end.
Both proprietary airknife shapes optimize the angle of attack which determines how effective you will be at removing debris, heating, cooling your intended target
Summary: TURBOTECH airknives, combining the best of all designs and advanced flow technology, achieve efficiencies exceeding 95%
Other Airknife Shapes
An airknife can be supplied in various shapes: round, square, diamond, and tear drop, among others. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Round Tubular airknives. This commonly seen and simple design has typically good internal air flow characteristics when sized correctly, by providing a relatively large laminar flow area. Critical, and quite detrimental, however, are the flow characteristics through the exit slot. Flow coefficients of <65% are not uncommon. This equates to significant pressure losses. Because of the turbulence at the slot, the air exiting tends to immediately tear, fan out, and cause surrounding air excitation and relatively quick deterioration of velocity.
Summary: Minimal internal losses, but very low external efficiencies.
Elongated Round airknives. An acceptable compromise design that provides relatively low internal pressure losses through good laminar flow characteristics. Elongation adds guidance to the air towards the exit slot. The air spray or exit pattern is similar to the square tubular device, and overall efficiencies of 75% to 82% are attainable.
Summary: A viable design with acceptable flow characteristics.
Square Tubular airknives. A simple and commonly used design, that provides better internal air guidance towards the exit slot. Exit slot flow coefficients of 80% are achievable. The restrictive part of this design is the decreased internal laminar flow and greater turbulent flow on the outer periphery. The exiting air does not tear as quickly; however, a relatively wide spray pattern is encountered.
Summary: Higher internal losses but acceptable exit efficiencies.
The above airknife designs are found in low to medium velocity systems ranging from 5,000 to 18,000 ft/min. The air source is typically a radial fan or similar device. Air guidance distance is very limited. Often additional guide lips are mounted in an effort to improve the laminar flow; generally this is a compromise. Airknives with a slot length greater than 24 inches are often prone to significant slot width and continuity deviations. Welded constructions, especially, tend to show greater distortions. All of this naturally affects the performance and the resultant efficiency of the airknife is decreased.