Common Faults and Troubleshooting Methods for Airslide Fabric

Airslide fabric  is the "core component" of pneumatic conveying systems in industries such as cement, chemical engineering, and grain processing. Any malfunction can easily lead to interrupted material conveying and soaring energy consumption. Below are targeted analyses of the 5 most frequent faults in actual working conditions, along with accurate cause identification and quick solutions to help on-site personnel handle issues efficiently.

1. Sudden Drop/Interruption of Conveying Capacity (Most Frequent Fault)

On-Site Performance

Slow discharge from silos, material accumulation in pipelines, abnormal rise in pressure gauge readings, and a direct drop in production efficiency by over 30%.

Core Causes

1. Airslide fabric’s air-permeable pores blocked by fine powder (moist materials tend to condense and adhere);

2. Insufficient air compressor pressure (pipeline leaks or clogged filter elements);

3. Wrinkles in the fabric during installation, leading to uneven air distribution.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Use dry compressed air (0.3-0.5MPa) to back-blow the fabric and remove blockages;

• Inspect air compressor pipelines, detect leaks with soapy water, repair them, replace clogged filter elements, and adjust the pressure to 0.02-0.05MPa;

• Shut down the system, re-lay the fabric flat, and fix it with clamps to ensure no wrinkles.

2. Fabric Damage (Key Issue Affecting Service Life)

On-Site Performance

Tears or holes appear on the fabric surface, causing local air leakage and material "deviation" during conveying.

Core Causes

1. Metal impurities (e.g., screws, iron blocks) mixed in materials, causing scratches due to high-speed friction;

2. Use of sharp tools for prying during installation, leading to edge tearing under stress;

3. Long-term exposure to high temperatures (exceeding 120℃) or corrosive materials, resulting in fabric aging and embrittlement.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Install magnetic separators and filters at the inlet of the conveying system to block impurities; repair small damages (holes <5cm) with polyurethane adhesive + fabric patches of the same material; replace the entire fabric for large damages;

• Use plastic crowbars instead of sharp tools for installation/disassembly to avoid contact with the fabric;

• For high-temperature working conditions, replace with heat-resistant aramid fabric (withstands 200℃); for corrosive conditions, select polypropylene fabric to extend service life.

3. Material "Bridging" and Accumulation (Easily Overlooked Fault)

On-Site Performance

Materials form an "arch-shaped" accumulation on the fabric surface, with air unable to penetrate underneath, creating a "dead material area".

Core Causes

1. Excessive material moisture content (over 8%), leading to particle adhesion;

2. Clogged air distributor, resulting in insufficient local air pressure on the fabric.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Pre-treat moist materials with a dryer and add a small amount of talcum powder to reduce viscosity;

• Dismantle the air distributor, purge blockages with compressed air, and ensure uniform air coverage on the fabric.

4. Abnormal System Noise (Hidden Fault Signal)

On-Site Performance

High-frequency "hissing" during operation, noise exceeding 75 decibels, accompanied by slight vibration of the fabric.

Core Causes

1. Poor sealing at fabric joints, causing air leakage;

2. Resonance between fan speed and the fabric’s natural frequency.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Re-seal joints with aging-resistant sealant and tighten clamps;

• Fine-tune the fan speed via a frequency converter to avoid resonance (usually reducing the speed by 5%-10% works).

5. Fabric Deviation (Affects Conveying Stability)

On-Site Performance

The fabric shifts to one side of the pipeline, with its edges rubbing against the pipe wall, accelerating wear.

Core Causes

1. Deviation of the fabric’s centerline from the pipeline’s centerline exceeding 5mm during installation;

2. Uneven tightness of clamps on both sides, leading to unbalanced tension.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Re-calibrate the fabric position based on the pipeline’s centerline; after fixing, use a tape measure to ensure the deviation is ≤5mm;

• Measure the tension on both sides with a tension meter, adjust the clamp tightness, and ensure the tension difference is ≤1N/cm.

6. On-Site Prevention Tips

1. Daily pre-shift: Inspect the fabric surface with a flashlight and remove floating dust;

2. Weekly: Check air compressor pressure and fabric tension; clean the inlet filter;

3. Spare parts: Keep 1-2 pieces of fabric of the same model and repair adhesive to avoid prolonged downtime due to lack of parts during faults.