Why does the rotary valve get jammed and cannot operate?？

Cause of material jam ：

1. Parts are damaged: After the rotatry valve is turned off for a long time, the parts may be worn or even damaged, such as bearings, belts, gears, etc., resulting in jamming.

2. Poor lubrication: Normal operation of the blower requires sufficient lubrication. If it is not maintained for a long time or is used improperly, the lubrication will be poor, causing friction between parts to generate heat and aggravate the jamming situation.  

3. Debris blockage: In the working environment of the rotary valve, some debris usually enters the fan and forms a blockage, which affects the normal operation of the fan and may also cause it to get stuck.

4. The material’s own reasons, whether it is sticky, its fluidity, powder particle size, etc.

5. The size and diameter of the rotary valve, whether it will cause material bridging, whether the design of the rotor conforms to the material characteristics, etc.

Material can become stuck or trapped between the rotor blades and the housing or top plate, clogging the rotary feeder and causing excessive wear on the rotary feeder valve assembly. This problem is more likely to occur with large fibrous materials (such as wood fibers) or hard materials (such as some plastic pellets). Interference can also occur when the rotary feeder is undersized.

What should we do if the rotary discharge valve is stuck and cannot operate?

First, check the rotation of the rotary feeder. Does the rotor turn clockwise (or counterclockwise) as intended by the manufacturer?

Does the rotor turn smoothly without contacting the housing or top plate?

Do you hear or feel your rotary feeder shuddering? Shaking may indicate that material is trapped between the blade tip and the housing, and ultimately cause the drive chain to "jump" or the rotary feeder to stall.

Depending on your application, you can solve the problem by beveling (or freeing) the blade tip to reduce the possibility of material getting trapped between the blade and the housing or top plate, and to achieve correct rotation.

You can also install flexible sealing strips on the blades to extend beyond the blade tips; the strips allow material to pass through the blade tips while maintaining a seal.

The strips can be made of polyurethane, neoprene, Teflon, carbon steel, stainless steel, wear-resistant steel or other materials and are usually bolted to the blades. However, keeping the strips can be more troublesome because of wear and tear.

Solution to stuck rotary valve

1. Regular maintenance: Carry out regular maintenance on the blower and replace worn or damaged parts to ensure normal operation of the parts and reduce the possibility of jamming.

2. Strengthen lubrication: Pay attention to the lubrication and maintenance work of the fan, and add lubricating oil in time to ensure that the friction between parts is reduced and the risk of jamming is reduced.

3. Remove debris: Timely remove debris inside the blower, such as fly ash, residue, etc. In order to prevent debris from entering the fan, a filter device can be installed at the inlet.

In short, the stuck shut-off fan is a common problem that affects the normal operation of the fan. It needs to be prevented and solved from multiple aspects. Regular maintenance, strengthening lubrication and removing debris will help reduce the probability of the fan getting stuck and improve the working efficiency of the fan.