Texas Pneumatic Pipe Line Blowers
Compressed-air blowers that bolt to a male API flange and push a high-volume slug of air down the line. Blow down pipe before maintenance, dry a new water main, purge a gas line or clear debris after construction. Four sizes, 11 to 50 lb.
The short version
A pipe line blower is a venturi head with a male API flange on it. Bolt it to the open end of the pipe, feed it compressed air, and it moves a far larger volume of air through the line than the compressor alone could — enough to carry out construction debris, drive out standing water, or purge product before a crew opens the line. Texas Pneumatic builds four sizes: 3 in (11 lb), 4 in (17 lb), 6 in (16 lb) and 8 in (50 lb), and they can be adapted to API flanges from 4 to 24 in. See the all-brands pipe line blowers category, or if you are ventilating a space rather than a pipe, look at venturi air movers and jet fans. Application questions: 1-888-883-5144.
TX-PLB pipe line blowers
One tool, four flange sizes. Pick the size that matches the line you are blowing down.
Texas Pneumatic TX-PLB Pipe Line Blower
Cast body with a male API flange and no moving parts to service. The 3 in head weighs 11 lb and goes in a tool bag; the 8 in head is 50 lb and moves serious volume. All four are compressed-air driven, so there is no motor to certify and nothing to spark inside a gas line.
3 in / 11 lb · 4 in / 17 lb · 6 in / 16 lb · 8 in / 50 lb
Pipe line blower sizes
| Model | Male API flange | Weight | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-TXPLB3 | 3 in | 11 lb | 11 in | $700 |
| TP-TXPLB4 | 4 in | 17 lb | 11 in | $775 |
| TP-TXPLB6 | 6 in | 16 lb | 13 in | $1,050 |
| TP-TXPLB8 | 8 in | 50 lb | 15 in | $1,995 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
What crews use them for
Drying a new water main
After hydrostatic testing there is standing water in the line. A blower on the open end drives the slug out ahead of it instead of waiting for evaporation.
See the four sizesPurging a gas line before maintenance
Compressed-air drive means no motor and no electrical source at the pipe mouth while you are displacing product.
See the four sizesClearing construction debris
Weld slag, rag, gravel and packaging get left in new pipe. Blowing the line down before commissioning is cheaper than finding it in a pump.
See the four sizesPipe mill and tube blow-off
Blowing coolant, chips and scale out of finished tube on the mill floor, with an air supply the plant already has.
See the four sizesTrim and scrap conveying lines
Clearing a packed trim line without dismantling it. Match flange size to the duct, and adapt up to 24 in where needed.
See the four sizesVentilating the pipe itself
For continuous ventilation of a space rather than a burst through a line, a venturi air mover is the better tool.
Venturi air moversPipe line blower questions, answered
What is a pipe line blower?
It is an air-driven blower head with a male API flange, designed to bolt onto the open end of a pipe and move a large volume of air through it. It uses the venturi principle: compressed air fed into the head entrains a much larger volume of ambient air, and the whole flow goes down the pipe. Because there is no motor and no moving part, it can be used on lines that have carried flammable product.
What size do I need?
Match the flange to the line where you can. Texas Pneumatic lists 3, 4, 6 and 8 in male API flanges, and the heads can be adapted to API flanges from 4 in up to 24 in. If your line is larger than 8 in, call 1-888-883-5144 — the adaptation is routine, but the right combination depends on the flange class you are bolting to.
Is this the same thing as a PTO trailer blower?
No, and it is worth being clear because people arrive here looking for one. A PTO or engine-driven bulk trailer blower is a positive-displacement machine that unloads cement, frac sand or plastic pellets from a tanker — that is a different product and we do not stock it. The Texas Pneumatic TX-PLB is a compressed-air venturi head for blowing down, drying and purging pipe. If you need a bulk conveying blower, we can point you in the right direction, but it is not this.
Does it need a big compressor?
It needs a real one. Output is proportional to supply, and these are volume tools. A shop compressor will make the small head work for short bursts; commissioning a run of pipe wants a tow-behind. Tell us the line size, the length and what compressor you have and we will tell you honestly whether it will do the job.
Can it be used as an exhauster?
The TX-PLB is designed to push air down the line. For extraction, or for reversible blower and exhauster duty, look at the TX-JF jet fans, which are explicitly rated for use either way and mount to API tank flanges in the 20 and 24 in sizes.
What maintenance does it need?
Essentially none — there are no bearings, no blades and no motor. Keep the supply air clean and dry, check the flange face and gasket, and keep the inlet threads in good order. A moisture separator upstream is worth it if your air is wet.
Do you stock these or are they factory order?
We stock the common sizes and pull the rest direct from Texas Pneumatic. Stocked items ship the same day on orders placed by 4 PM Eastern, with free UPS Ground on most items. Call 1-888-883-5144 to confirm availability before a shutdown date.
Blowing down a line on a schedule?
Tell us the pipe size, the flange class and the length of the run. We will confirm the head size and whether your compressor is up to it before you order.