Application
Pneumatic Conveying in Pharmaceutical Production
Answer in brief
In pharmaceutical production pneumatic transfer means vacuum transfer, for one reason: a vacuum line leaks inward.
A failed seal draws air in rather than releasing product, which is the opposite of what a pressure line does.
- Use vacuum where containment matters, which is almost everywhere.
- Watch the receiver, because that is where containment is lost.
- Validate the cleaning of the whole path.
Reviewed October 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
The problem
Pressure conveying releases product at any leak, which is unacceptable for potent compounds, and the filter and discharge of the receiver are where exposure actually occurs.
Desired outcome
A transfer system that moves the material gently, keeps it contained from source to destination and can be cleaned and validated as a unit.
Process approach
Vacuum receivers with integrated filters and discharge valves transfer batches into blenders, presses and capsule fillers.
The filter cleaning mechanism and the discharge valve are the containment-critical components, and they are specified with measured performance.
Gentle transfer matters for granules, where velocity breaks the structure that was created in the granulator.
- Vacuum operation so leakage is inward.
- Receiver filter and discharge specified for containment.
- Velocity limited to protect granule structure.
Selection factors
- Containment band of the compound.
- Granule friability and the acceptable change.
- Cleaning validation for the receiver and line.
- Batch size and transfer time required.
- Explosion characteristics of the powder.
Common failure modes
- Containment lost at the receiver discharge
- Granules broken by excessive conveying velocity
- Filter cleaning mechanism not included in the validation
- Pressure conveying used where containment was required
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