Refrigerated Air Dryers

Refrigerated air dryers are used in industrial plants of all types to remove water from compressed air. Ambient air contains trace moisture vapors which are pulled into the compressor during the compression process. The compressed air cools after the compression process condensing vapors into liquid water. This water can cause harm and damage to your production equipment and products.

An air dryer for compressed air cools the warm incoming air from the compressor to a 38 degree dew point. The cooling process causes water vapors to condense which the dryer then discharges via an automatic drain. The dew point of the air is lowered to approximately 38ºF (3ºC). You should not see any water after the dryer if the compressed air temperature does not drop below 38ºF.

A refrigerated air dryer with proper filtration will remove approximately 99.5% of all water from your airlines. Clean dry air will increase the life of your production equipment and prevent rust or scaling on the inside of your compressor piping.

Three main types of refrigerated compressed air dryers are:

• Non Cycling Air Dryers: The most common type of refrigerated dryer on the market. A non-cycling refrigerated dryer turns on and runs the refrigeration cycle at full speed. This results in a steady dew point of approximately 38ºF.
• Cycling Air Dryers: The most energy efficient style of dryer available. The dryer stores cooling capacity in an internal thermal mass medium when it is not fully loaded. This allows the air dryer to shut off during periods of low airflow without sacrificing drying capacity. These will match the refrigeration cycle to your plant demand, saving on energy cost.
• High Temperature: High temperature air dryers should be paired with piston air compressors. Compressed air from a piston compressor is significantly hotter than the air from a rotary screw. A high temp dryer can handle this hot incoming air. High temp dryers typically achieve a 50ºF dew point compared to a standard refrigerated air dryer that cools the air to 38ºF.

Please give us a call if you need assistance in deciding whether a cycling vs non cycling air dryer is best for your plant. We can calculate energy costs and ROI to help your decision process. A dryer for your compressed air system can save thousands in lost production and product costs.