Pneumatic Conveying Elbow
Installation and Maintenance

Pre-Installation Checks

Verify that the delivered item matches the approved model, revision and connection drawing. Inspect the body, flanges, pipe ends, liner and wear surface for transportation or handling damage. Confirm the designated flow direction for products with asymmetric geometry. Record serial or drawing identification where provided.

Never rely on a website image instead of the approved installation instructions, lifting requirements, isolation method or site-specific permit-to-work system.

Flange Alignment and Supports

Check the mating pipe axes before tightening any connections. Bolting should not be used to pull poorly aligned piping into position. Supports must account for the actual component weight, operating loads, thermal movement and any heavy lining. Follow the approved gasket, bolt and torque requirements for the complete assembly.

Flow Direction and Orientation

Pocket and other asymmetric elbows may have a specified direction and orientation affecting the internal flow pattern. Flipping a casting to fit the line without engineering review can change material accumulation or wear behavior. Segmented bends must also match the approved inlet and outlet geometry.

Inspection of Castings, Linings and Hardfacing

Before commissioning, check the metal body for damage and the internal surfaces for foreign objects. For lined bends, look at accessible joints and transitions; for hardfaced bends, use the applicable acceptance method for deposit condition and finished bore. Generic outside-wall thickness measurements may not reveal liner condition.

Pressure and Leak Testing Requirements

The test procedure must follow the design documentation and applicable site or project requirements. The operating envelope cannot be inferred from the nominal flange drilling alone. Coordinate testing so that fragile linings, seals and product-contact components are not exposed to inappropriate media or thermal shock.

Service Wear Monitoring

Record operating hours, estimated conveyed tonnes, material changes, pressure trends, abnormal noise, leakage and inspection findings. Examine the pipe directly after the elbow, particularly where the solids stream may reaccelerate or strike the outlet wall. Establish inspection frequency based on service conditions and measured results rather than an unsupported universal interval.

Maintenance and Replacement Records

When removing an elbow, photograph the wear pattern before disposal. Record the location, material, throughput and service history. This evidence makes the next selection more reliable than ordering the same shape without understanding the failure.

Cleaning guide · Troubleshooting · Replacement enquiry.