AKO PINCH VALVES · PNEUMATIC CONVEYING
A polymer-concrete drainage-system manufacturer uses AKO VF Series pinch valves to control abrasive dry ingredients and binding agents in a plant operating around the clock.
Application result
In the documented installation, DN80 and DN100 VF Series pinch valves control ingredients used to manufacture polymer-concrete drainage channels. The plant runs 24 hours a day, the valves cycle repeatedly, and the case study records more than 25 years of AKO pinch-valve use at the facility.
THE PROCESS PROBLEM
Abrasive ingredients create wear and reliability demands
Polymer concrete combines mineral aggregates with binding agents. Moving materials such as quartz sand, calcium carbonate, basalt grit, and glass through the production system exposes valves and other pipeline components to abrasion.
The application also required dependable shutoff during continuous production. Some valves needed to remain closed if compressed air or electrical power was lost so unwanted material transport would not continue.
INSTALLED SOLUTION
VF Series valves with abrasion-resistant sleeves
The installation uses flanged aluminum-housing VF Series pinch valves with abrasion-resistant natural-rubber sleeves. The case study records an average sleeve life of approximately four to six months in this specific 24-hour abrasive service. That figure is an application result—not a universal life expectancy—and actual sleeve life depends on the medium, velocity, pressure, cycling, installation, and compound.
Selected valves also use AKO safety arrangements that keep the pressurized valve closed after a loss of compressed air or power. This fail-position requirement must be engineered as part of the control package rather than assumed from the valve alone.
- Series
- AKO VF
- Nominal sizes
- DN80 and DN100
- Housing
- Aluminum
- Connections
- Aluminum flanges
- Sleeve
- Abrasion-resistant natural rubber
- Operating pressure
- 4 bar
- Control pressure
- 6 bar
- Additional option
- Safety arrangement on selected valves
SELECTION GUIDANCE
What to verify for abrasive bulk-solid service
- Material: particle size, hardness, shape, bulk density, moisture, and tendency to bridge or pack
- Conveying method: gravity, dilute phase, dense phase, pressure conveying, or vacuum conveying
- Line conditions: size, orientation, process pressure, differential pressure, velocity, and temperature
- Sleeve compound: abrasion resistance, chemical compatibility, temperature limit, and required approvals
- Control: available air pressure, cycle rate, normal position, response time, and fail position
- Maintenance: expected access, spare sleeves, inspection interval, and acceptable downtime
COMMON QUESTIONS
Abrasive-media pinch valve FAQ
Why are pinch valves considered for abrasive powders and granules?
The open valve has a smooth, unobstructed sleeve bore without a disc, gate, or seat projecting into the material stream. The flexible sleeve is also the primary wear component and can be replaced without replacing the complete valve.
How long will a pinch-valve sleeve last?
There is no universal sleeve-life number. Abrasiveness, particle shape, velocity, pressure, temperature, cycling, installation, and sleeve compound all matter. The four-to-six-month result reported in this case applies only to the documented polymer-concrete service.
Can an air-operated pinch valve fail closed?
A fail-closed arrangement can be engineered for suitable applications using the correct valve and control accessories. The required position after loss of air or power must be defined before selection.