Method for operating a dense phase powder pump and dense phase powder pump

A method for operating a dense phase powder pump in a powder-conveying mode, wherein the dense phase powder pump (1) comprises at least one powder conveying chamber having a powder inlet and a powder outlet, wherein a powder inlet valve is allocated to the powder inlet and a powder outlet valve is allocated to the powder outlet, and wherein the powder conveying chamber comprises at least one air exchange opening for alternatingly pressurizing the powder conveying chamber with underpressure or overpressure,

• wherein during an intake phase of the powder-conveying mode of the dense phase powder pump, powder, in particular coating powder, is suctioned into the powder conveying chamber from a first powder reservoir and during a subsequent delivery phase, the powder previously drawn in is expelled into a second powder reservoir arranged downstream of the dense phase powder pump or to a powder-spraying device arranged downstream of the dense phase powder pump,
• wherein during the intake phase, the powder inlet valve is at least temporarily opened and the powder outlet valve is at least temporarily closed while the powder conveying chamber is at least temporarily subjected to underpressure,
• wherein during the delivery phase, the powder inlet valve is at least temporarily closed and the powder outlet valve is at least temporarily opened while the powder conveying chamber is at least temporarily subjected to overpressure, and
• wherein at least one of the following conditions exists during a predefinable or definable period of time in at least one delivery phase of a plurality of pump cycles:
• i) the powder inlet valve is open;
• ii) the powder outlet valve is closed;
• and/or
• iii) the application of overpressure to the powder conveying chamber is interrupted.