What Is Pneumatic Conveying?
Understanding the System That Moves Modern Manufacturing
If you’ve ever wondered how powders, pellets, or granules move efficiently through a facility without shovels, buckets, or conveyors—chances are, you’re looking at a pneumatic conveying system.
At Zephyr Equipment, we engineer pneumatic systems every day for industries ranging from food processing to pharmaceuticals, and from plastics to pet food. But what exactly is pneumatic conveying, and why is it such a vital part of bulk material handling?
The Basics: How Pneumatic Conveying Works
Pneumatic conveying uses air pressure or vacuum to move dry bulk materials through a pipeline. Think of it as using air to push or pull product from point A to point B—cleanly, safely, and efficiently.
There are two main types of systems:
- Dilute Phase Conveying – materials are suspended in fast-moving air (great for light, non-abrasive products).
- Dense Phase Conveying – materials move in a slug or plug through the pipe (ideal for fragile, abrasive, or heavy materials).
Each system is designed based on material characteristics, distance, required flow rate, and environmental considerations.
Key Components of a Pneumatic Conveying System
- Air Source: A blower or vacuum pump provides the energy to move the material.
- Feeder: Introduces material into the airflow in a controlled way (e.g., rotary valve, venturi, screw feeder).
- Convey Line: The pipeline that carries the material to its destination.
- Receiver or Separator: Collects the material and separates it from the conveying air.
- Filtration: Filters dust from the air before it’s released or recirculated.
Why Choose Pneumatic Conveying?
Compared to mechanical conveyors, pneumatic systems offer several advantages:
✅ Fully Enclosed – Keeps materials clean and contained, reducing contamination risk.
✅ Flexible Layouts – Pipes can be routed around obstacles, through walls, and up levels.
✅ Low Maintenance – Fewer moving parts = fewer breakdowns.
✅ Improved Safety – Less dust, better hygiene, and reduced manual handling.
✅ Scalable – Easy to expand or reconfigure as operations grow.
Where You’ll Find Pneumatic Conveying
Industries that rely heavily on pneumatic conveying include:
- Food & Beverage – flour, sugar, spices, protein powders
- Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals – capsules, powders, granules
- Chemicals – resins, catalysts, pigments
- Plastics – pellets and regrind
- Animal Feed & Pet Food – meal, pellets, vitamins
Whether it's loading a mixer, filling a silo, or feeding a packaging line, pneumatic systems deliver consistent performance in demanding environments.
Zephyr’s Approach
At Zephyr Equipment, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Every conveying system we design is tailored to your specific material, process, and facility layout. From clean-room-ready vacuum systems to rugged positive pressure setups for dense-phase transfer—we bring experience, precision, and operator-focused design to every project.
Ready to move your material handling forward?
Contact Zephyr today to learn how a custom pneumatic conveying system can improve your process.