Industrial Particle Size Reduction Equipment for Dry Bulk Material Processing

Improve Particle Size Consistency | Increase Throughput | Reduce Downtime

We help identify and implement the right Prater Industries solution for particle size reduction, grinding, milling, lump breaking, air classification, and material feeding applications. From food ingredients and chemicals to minerals, plastics, grains, agricultural products, and other dry bulk materials, Prater equipment helps manufacturers improve product consistency, production efficiency, and overall process performance.

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Hammer Mills • Fine Grinders • Air Classifying Mills • Lump Breakers • Rotary Airlocks • Rotary Valves • Particle Size Reduction • Dry Bulk Material Processing

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Prater Rotary Airlock Valves

Feed bulk material while limiting air leakage between pressure zones.

Discuss My Application Product Brochure PDF Product Details

Feed bulk material while limiting air leakage between pressure zones.

Do you need controlled discharge into or out of an air system?

Prater rotary airlock valves use a pocketed rotor to transfer powder or granules. The design is selected around the material, pressure difference, temperature, and required delivery rate.

Typical application
Discharge collected powder from a dust collector into downstream handling.

Also known as: Rotary valves, rotary feeders, airlocks, star valves.

What this equipment can help you do

Material transfer

Review the discharge rate and how material enters each rotor pocket.

Pressure interface

Assess differential pressure and allowable air leakage.

Duty-specific selection

Compare wear, cleaning, temperature, and access requirements.

How the process works

Fill the pockets

Material enters the rotor pockets from above.

Rotate through the housing

The rotor carries material between inlet and outlet.

Discharge the material

Product leaves into the downstream process.

See the equipment and process

Quick-take-apart airlock components shown separated for access.

Materials, industries & equipment choices

Powders, granules & pellets

Flour, sugar, grains, pigments, minerals, and plastics are starting points for material review. Pocket filling and bulk density affect delivery.

Collection & conveying

Discuss discharge beneath dust collectors, cyclones, and hoppers, or feeding a pneumatic conveying line.

Configurations to compare

Dust collector, heavy-duty PAV, blow-through, abrasion-resistant, and quick-take-apart designs. Match construction and clearances to the duty.

Heavy-duty airlocks in pneumatic conveying

Prater introduces the heavy-duty PAV airlock for transferring dry powders across a pressure difference. Discuss the actual material, pressure differential, temperature, and leakage requirement before selecting a configuration.

Watch on Prater’s YouTube channel

How to select a rotary airlock

Prater explains how the material and operating conditions affect rotary-airlock selection. Use it to frame the application information to send RTS.

Watch on Prater’s YouTube channel

Prater application insight

Application example: feeding and discharge in sugar processing

Prater’s sugar-system example uses PAV airlocks with a fine grinder and lump breaker. For your process, review what sits above each valve, the pressure zones it connects, and where material discharges. The system rendering gives process context; final valve selection depends on your operating conditions.

Prater rendering of a sugar grinding system using rotary airlocks.

Source: Prater Industries. See how airlocks fit the sugar system >>

Configuration & selection

Material and rate: Bulk density, particle size, flowability, abrasion, and required capacity.
Pressure and temperature: Differential pressure, process temperature, and allowable leakage.
Fit and safety: Flanges, clearances, drive, cleaning, and any application-specific protection requirement.

Options to discuss

Heavy-duty or quick-take-apart designs
Blow-through arrangements
Abrasion-resistant construction
Rotor, seals, and contact materials

Send the material, bulk density, discharge rate, pressure differential, temperature, flange dimensions, and a process sketch. Include cleaning and wear concerns.

Plan your application review

Does an airlock create an airtight seal or automatically provide explosion isolation?

A rotary airlock limits leakage; it is not a hermetic seal. Explosion isolation requires a specifically suitable, documented configuration and application review. Confirm the requirement before selection.

Can we review or test my material before selection?

Share the material, the current process, and measurable acceptance criteria. RTS can discuss the appropriate review and any testing requirements with Prater before a final recommendation.

What about dust collection and process integration?

Include the feeder, collection system, utilities, cleaning needs, and upstream and downstream equipment in the review. Final equipment and protection requirements depend on the complete application.