The COOL range is ideal for most applications, offering a PDP (Pressure Dew Point) of 5°C (41°F), balancing cost and high performance seamlessly.
Refrigerated air dryers for air compressors are essential components in compressed air systems, ensuring that the air entering the network is dry and free of liquid moisture. These dryers work by cooling the compressed air, causing the water vapor present in the air to condense and be separated. This process is crucial for maintaining the efficiency and longevity of pneumatic conveying processes and preventing damage to equipment and end products.
Why Drying Compressed Air is Important
Drying compressed air is crucial to prevent future problems in a compressor installation. Moisture in compressed air can lead to condensation issues in the pipe system, causing corrosion, blockages, and damage to pneumatic tools and equipment.
By removing water vapor, refrigerated air dryers help maintain the integrity of the compressed air system, ensuring reliable and efficient operation.
How Refrigerated Air Dryers Work
Refrigerated air dryers operate by cooling the compressed air to condense and separate water vapor. The process involves two main stages:
- Pre-Cooling Stage: The incoming air is pre-cooled in an air-to-air heat exchanger, where the warm compressed air is cooled by the outgoing dry air.
- Cooling Stage: The compressed air then passes through an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, where it is further cooled to reduce the dew point of the air. The condensed water is then removed, and the dry air is reheated to reduce the relative humidity, preventing condensate from forming in downstream piping.
Benefits of Using Refrigerated Air Dryers
- Cost-Effective: Refrigerated air dryers offer a practical and cost-effective solution for preventing condensation and subsequent corrosion within systems.
- Energy Efficiency: By minimising internal pressure drop, these dryers reduce the energy consumption of air compressors, leading to overall energy savings.
- Environmental Sustainability: Modern refrigerated dryers use refrigerant gases with low Global Warming Potential, contributing less to global warming when accidentally released into the atmosphere.
- Minimal Maintenance: Refrigerated dryers require minimal maintenance, providing maximum uptime and reducing production costs through decreased downtime.
- Versatility: Available in both air-cooled and water-cooled versions, refrigerated dryers efficiently cool and remove moisture from compressed air before reheating it to prevent condensation on pipes.
Choosing the Right Refrigerated Air Dryer
When selecting a refrigerated air dryer, consider the following factors:
- Facility Operations: Assess the specific needs of your facility, including the volume of compressed air required and the operating conditions.
- Energy Cost Priorities: Determine your energy cost priorities and whether a non-cycling or cycling dryer would be more suitable for your operations.
- Equipment Usage Patterns: Consider the usage patterns of your equipment and whether a fixed speed or variable speed dryer would provide the most energy savings.
Performance by Dew Point (°C - °F)
For more demanding applications, a lower PDP of 3°C (37.4 °F) is better suited, catering to high-demand air treatment needs.
Refrigerant vs. Desiccant – Choosing the Right Dryer
For standard industrial applications, refrigerant dryers are usually the most appropriate due to their cost-efficiency and easy maintenance. They cool compressed air to a dew point of around 3°C (37.4 °F), allowing condensed water to be removed before heating the air back to room temperature to prevent internal pipe condensation.
Desiccant dryers, or adsorption dryers, utilise materials like silica gel to create exceptionally dry air, with a dew point of -20° to -40°C (-4° to -40°F), and are necessary for sensitive environments like pharmaceuticals, food production, laboratories, and specialised paint spraying. However, they are more costly to purchase and operate.
Common Questions About Refrigerated Air Dryers
What is the primary function of a refrigerated air dryer?
A refrigerated air dryer cools compressed air to condense and separate water vapor, which is then reheated to prevent condensation and reduce the temperature of incoming compressed air.
Why is it essential to maintain the relative humidity of compressed air below 50%?
Maintaining the relative humidity of compressed air below 50% is crucial to protect equipment and systems from the damaging effects of moisture.
Get in Touch with Us for Expert Guidance on Refrigerated Dryers
Refrigerated compressed air dryers are a crucial component in ensuring the efficiency and longevity of pneumatic conveying processes. These dryers offer a practical and cost-effective solution to prevent condensation and subsequent corrosion within systems. For more detailed information on moisture and the role of dryers in air treatment, consider reaching out to our experts for specific guidance.
