Continuous pneumatic conveying system Air Assist® M366

dense phasecentralizedfor pipelines

Overview
NTE Process has patented Air Assist® M366 for the dense-phase conveying of fragile, abrasive products and for long distances at low speeds. The solution evolved into the patented Artificial Intelligence Air Assist® M533, which adds electronic and remote control using advanced artificial intelligence.

Technology
Air Assist is a volume- and pressure-controlled compressed air or nitrogen injection system placed strategically along conveying pipelines to form and propel regular product plugs. By injecting gas only where and when needed, the system reduces product resistance inside the pipeline, enabling long-distance conveying at low speeds while optimizing compressed gas consumption.

Main advantages

• Improved and optimized product control and transport speed
• Reduced air/nitrogen consumption
• Minimal product deterioration and segregation
• Lower wear on conveying lines
• Ability to restart with a full pipe after accidental or emergency stops

Artificial Intelligence Air Assist® M533 (evolution of M366)
The M533 integrates electronic control and artificial intelligence to manage injection flow rate at each injection point and the optimal gas pressure profile for the conveyor. Controls can be performed electronically and remotely via PLC and supervisory systems.

Additional advantages of M533

• Continuous in-line pressure and flow monitoring
• Increased system efficiency and reduced consumption
• Centralized management via PLC for line-wide adjustments
• System self-diagnostics and self-learning for performance optimization

Eco Dense-Tronic® (patent outcome)
Application of the Artificial Intelligence Air Assist® M533 patent enabled Eco Dense-Tronic®, a dense-phase pneumatic conveying solution delivering up to 40% efficiency gains and up to 70% energy consumption reductions in specific plant configurations. For equipped plants, CO2 savings equivalent to nearly 3,000 new trees planted in one year have been reported (results depend on plant configuration).

Technical characteristics / specifications

• Product / models: Air Assist® M366 and Artificial Intelligence Air Assist® M533
• Patented injection technology (NTE Process)
• Application: dense-phase pneumatic conveying of fragile, abrasive products
• Operating principle: volume- and pressure-controlled injection of compressed air or nitrogen along pipeline
• Function: formation and propulsion of regular product plugs to reduce line resistance and wear
• Gas types: compressed air or nitrogen
• Control (M366): strategic, distributed injection points to optimize gas use
• Control (M533): electronic control of injection flow rate and pressure profile, remote control capability, PLC management
• Monitoring (M533): continuous in-line pressure and flow monitoring
• Intelligence (M533): system self-diagnostics and self-learning for performance optimization
• Benefits: lower gas consumption, reduced product deterioration and segregation, reduced pipeline wear, ability to restart with full pipe after stops
• Eco Dense-Tronic® performance claims: up to 40% efficiency increase and up to 70% energy consumption reduction in specific configurations