Rotary Air Knife and Air Nozzle (Patented)
Powerful and Cost-Effective Rotary Knife and Air Nozzle
Precision drying and debris removal for complex surfaces
Sonic's PATENTED Rotary Air Knife and Rotary Air Nozzle significantly reduce power consumption compared to traditional stationary air knives and nozzles by up to 80%. The Rotary Air Knife is ideal for complex geometric parts such as surface mount circuit boards, medical devices, and multi-cavity products as it outperforms multiple stationary air knives for 3” to 36” (15.2 to 91.4 cm) wide coverage areas. It excels at drying and debris removal from complex shapes up to 12" away (305mm). At the same time, the rotating air nozzle is perfect for long-distance blowing and drying applications.
Sonic's Rotary Air Knives and Nozzles can also cool or heat parts. Sonic blowers can reach temperatures up to 275°F (135°C) without a separate heat source for heating. This heater-less technology enables effective drying and heating of stationary or indexed parts. It accelerates cooling from 1,000 to 100°F (537 to 38°C), surpassing liquid spray, refrigeration, CO₂, or chilled roller cooling. The COOL-AIR™ water-to-air aftercooler achieves air knife temperatures as low as 40°F (4.5°C).
A Faster Way to Dry, Cool, and Clean Surfaces
Sonic Air Systems' Rotary Air Knife and Rotating Air Nozzle are advanced air solutions designed for efficient drying, debris removal, cooling, and heating in industrial applications. Unlike traditional stationary air knives and nozzles, these patented systems deliver high-speed rotating airflow, ensuring uniform and precise coverage even on complex surfaces.
The Rotary Air Knife is ideal for conveyor-based processes, effectively drying and removing particles from delicate components such as circuit boards, medical devices, and industrial parts. The Rotary Nozzle provides targeted, high-velocity airflow, making it perfect for long-distance drying, cooling, and debris removal in automotive, aerospace, and packaging industries.
Both systems are engineered to reduce power consumption and enhance production efficiency by eliminating moisture, dust, and contaminants more effectively than stationary counterparts.
Efficient, Targeted Airflow for High-Performance Applications
- High-Speed Rotating Airflow: The rotary air knife and spray nozzle use a dynamic rotating mechanism to create an even, high-velocity airflow, providing complete coverage for irregular surfaces and hard-to-reach areas.
- Extended Blower Air Reach: Unlike stationary nozzles, the rotary nozzle effectively projects airflow up to 12 inches (305 mm) away, improving efficiency for high-speed conveyor drying, long-distance cooling, and targeted debris removal.
- Versatile Temperature Control: The system supports both high-temperature heating (up to 275°F/135°C) and rapid cooling using Sonic’s COOL-AIR™ aftercooler, which can lower air knife temperatures to 40°F (4.5°C) for accelerated cooling applications.
- Modular & Customizable Design: Sonic Air Systems offers customizable air knife and nozzle configurations, allowing users to adjust airflow volume, pressure, and nozzle shape to meet the specific needs of their production process.
- Superior Drying & Debris Removal: The rotating air nozzle delivers uniform airflow across surfaces, ensuring more effective moisture and particle removal compared to static air knives. This is especially beneficial for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and precision manufacturing.
- Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings: By optimizing airflow and reducing reliance on compressed air, Sonic products cut energy consumption and lower operating costs.
- Increased Production Throughput: With fast, effective drying and cooling, these systems enable faster processing times and higher production speeds, reducing bottlenecks in packaging, assembly, and finishing operations.
How to Select the Right Industrial Diverter Valve
Determining the best valve for your system depends on balancing air volume, pressure, and material characteristics. When these factors align, you achieve smoother performance, higher efficiency, and long-term reliability. The ideal configuration not only maintains consistent airflow and minimizes pressure loss but also enhances energy efficiency across continuous production cycles.
Common Types of Diverter Valves
- Flap Type Diverter: Simple, cost-effective valve ideal for low- to medium-pressure systems handling powders, pellets, or airflows requiring gentle redirection.
- Plug (Rotor) Diverter: Designed for continuous-duty applications, offering smooth switching between lines with minimal leakage.
Slide or Slideflex Diverter: Provides fast, tight-sealing transitions for high-pressure or high-temperature processes where precision airflow management is essential.
Key Technical Considerations
When specifying an industrial air diverter valve, consider the following engineering factors to ensure long-term reliability:
- Material Compatibility: Choose materials suited to your process—aluminum for lightweight efficiency, stainless steel for hygienic or corrosive environments, or coated alloys for chemical resistance.
- Actuation & Automation: Sonic offers manual, pneumatic, or automated actuation to integrate with PLC or sensor-driven systems for instant airflow control.
Sealing & Maintenance: Valves are designed with precision-fit components and replaceable seals to maintain efficiency and reduce downtime during maintenance intervals.
View Case Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sonic butterfly valves can operate in conjunction with a VFD for blower speed control; however, they can also function as the sole airflow control device. As a low-cost alternative to a VFD, the butterfly valve allows operators to manually fine-tune air velocity and pressure, setting the optimum airflow level during the initial system setup without relying on expensive electronic controls.
The Sonic Y-Verter™ is a mechanical alternative to Variable Frequency Drive motor controllers traditionally used in blower and air knife systems. It allows rapid, reliable airflow redirection between system branches without changing motor speed, reducing complexity and maintenance requirements compared to VFD-based systems.
A Y-Verter™ is particularly effective when using standard 3,600 RPM, 60 Hz motors where air control needs can be met through mechanical redirection rather than motor speed modulation. While certain high-speed blower motors (up to 20,000 RPM) may require VFDs with output frequencies up to 330 Hz, many air knife applications can achieve equal or better airflow management with the simpler, more durable Y-Verter™ system.
Yes. They can be integrated with most industrial blowers or pneumatic systems, and custom configurations are available for unique operating conditions.
Rotary Air Knife and Air Nozzle (Patented)
Powerful and Cost-Effective Rotary Knife and Air Nozzle
Precision drying and debris removal for complex surfaces
Sonic's PATENTED Rotary Air Knife and Rotary Air Nozzle significantly reduce power consumption compared to traditional stationary air knives and nozzles by up to 80%. The Rotary Air Knife is ideal for complex geometric parts such as surface mount circuit boards, medical devices, and multi-cavity products as it outperforms multiple stationary air knives for 3” to 36” (15.2 to 91.4 cm) wide coverage areas. It excels at drying and debris removal from complex shapes up to 12" away (305mm). At the same time, the rotating air nozzle is perfect for long-distance blowing and drying applications.
Sonic's Rotary Air Knives and Nozzles can also cool or heat parts. Sonic blowers can reach temperatures up to 275°F (135°C) without a separate heat source for heating. This heater-less technology enables effective drying and heating of stationary or indexed parts. It accelerates cooling from 1,000 to 100°F (537 to 38°C), surpassing liquid spray, refrigeration, CO₂, or chilled roller cooling. The COOL-AIR™ water-to-air aftercooler achieves air knife temperatures as low as 40°F (4.5°C).
A Faster Way to Dry, Cool, and Clean Surfaces
Sonic Air Systems' Rotary Air Knife and Rotating Air Nozzle are advanced air solutions designed for efficient drying, debris removal, cooling, and heating in industrial applications. Unlike traditional stationary air knives and nozzles, these patented systems deliver high-speed rotating airflow, ensuring uniform and precise coverage even on complex surfaces.
The Rotary Air Knife is ideal for conveyor-based processes, effectively drying and removing particles from delicate components such as circuit boards, medical devices, and industrial parts. The Rotary Nozzle provides targeted, high-velocity airflow, making it perfect for long-distance drying, cooling, and debris removal in automotive, aerospace, and packaging industries.
Both systems are engineered to reduce power consumption and enhance production efficiency by eliminating moisture, dust, and contaminants more effectively than stationary counterparts.