Application
Pneumatic Conveying in Food Production
Answer in brief
In a food plant the conveying air is an ingredient.
It touches the product over the whole line, so its moisture, oil content and filtration are part of the food safety case rather than a utility specification.
- Specify the air quality, not just the pressure and volume.
- Choose velocity from the product, not from the pipe size.
- Design the line to be cleaned and inspected.
Reviewed October 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
The problem
Compressed air and blower air carry moisture and, if badly specified, oil; both reach the product directly.
Velocity chosen for convenience damages fragile powders and agglomerates.
Desired outcome
A line that delivers the rate with the product intact, using air that meets the food safety requirement, and that can be cleaned to the plant standard.
Process approach
Air treatment is specified with the system: drying to a defined dew point, filtration and, where oil-free operation is required, the compressor type that guarantees it.
Velocity is set from the product: dilute phase for robust powders, dense phase or vacuum where agglomerates and particle size must be preserved.
The line is a food contact surface, so joints, bends and the receiving filter are designed for inspection and cleaning.
- Air quality specified as part of the system.
- Velocity set by product trials rather than by pipe sizing alone.
- Cleanable line construction with accessible bends.
Selection factors
- Dew point and filtration required for the conveying air.
- Product fragility and agglomerate strength.
- Hygienic standard for the line and the receiver.
- Allergen matrix where lines are shared.
- Explosion characteristics of the powder.
Common failure modes
- Conveying air not dried, causing caking in the receiver
- Velocity chosen from the pipe size rather than the product
- Line joints that cannot be cleaned
- Receiving filter treated as a utility rather than as process equipment
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