How Do Air Dryers Work?

20 May.,2024

 

How Do Air Dryers Work?

How Do Air Dryers Work?

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We often think of water as being essential to life, but it can be very detrimental in manufacturing. In an air compressor set up, water vapor becomes concentrated during the process of air compression. If allowed to build up, this excessive water can lead to a variety of operational problems and production complications.

An industrial compressed air dryer is used to separate water vapor from process air and cool it, so the air can be compressed efficiently. This step is necessary to prevent such production failures as freezing outdoor air lines, dangerous corrosion in piping and equipment, and malfunctioning of pneumatic process control instruments.

JHFOSTER distributes a variety of compressed air dryers to keep production running smoothly. Our line includes regenerative, breathing air system, membrane, and refrigerated cycling and non-cycling. Air dryers are essential to keep your air compressor set up free of moisture, and prevent rust build-up. This article looks at the different types of compressed air dryers, and discusses some possible applications for each.

Refrigerated Air Dryers

Refrigerated air dryers are typically used in industrial applications because they are easy to maintain, relatively low-cost, and have few special requirements. Similar to a home refrigerator or air-conditioner, the industrial refrigerated air dryer works in the following way:

  • Warm, moist air enters the air dryer.
  • It is rapidly cooled to a temperature slightly above freezing in a refrigeration unit.
  • The water vapor condenses into liquid water.
  • The water is collected in a trap and emitted through discharge lines.
  • The warm, gaseous refrigerant is cooled and regenerated in a condenser.
  • The remaining dry air is then reheated to room temperature and fed through an outlet.

Refrigerated air dryers are typically best used for general plant operations, as opposed to critical processes that may require extremely dry air.

Variable Speed Refrigerated Air Dryer from Quincy

Desiccant-Type Air Dryers

In these dryers a desiccant is used to adsorb water vapor in the air stream. Here the moisture adheres to the desiccant itself, and collects in the pores of the desiccant beads. Because they are capable of achieving a very low dew point, these dryers are perfect for use in colder climates or for industries which require super dry air.

Although a single tower set-up is possible, desiccant-type air dryers usually have a twin tower construction. One tower is used to dry the air, while spent desiccant is regenerated in the second tower. Moisture is driven off by a dry air purge, heat, or some combination of both.

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The dry air process utilizes purge air to expel moisture, which can fall in a range of up to 18% of the total air flow. The dew point rating in the desiccant dryer is about -40°F, but it can be driven as low as -100°F. The heated process has a heater in the circuit, with similar dew points. Valves are used to divert about 8% of the air which is leaving the drying tower and send it through the heater. The hot and dry air is then passed through the regenerating tower, with captured moisture discharged to the outside.

Cost is an important deciding factor in choosing a desiccant-type air dryer. A heated dryer may use about half of the compressed air for regeneration, but they do require a lot of electricity. On the other hand, the heatless dryer offers great energy savings. With these dryers, you also need to remember the cost to periodically replace the desiccant bed, usually every 3-5 years.

Regenerative Desiccant Dryer from ZEKS

Membrane Air Dryers

A membrane air dryer incorporates a specially designed, permeable membrane which allows water vapor to pass through it. A high purge air loss is required to achieve the required pressure points. This process has a low installation and operating cost, and involves no moving parts, but the membrane can become fouled by oil and other contaminants. This type of dryer is particularly suited to low-volume operations, outdoor installations or hazardous environments.

Choosing the proper air dryer for your air compressor setup can be a complicated process, but it is not one you have to experience alone. From start to finish, the compressed air specialists at JHFOSTER have the knowledge and experience to help you easily navigate the journey towards maximizing the efficiency of your air compressor system. We also maintain the JHFOSTER Compressed Air Library, which is full of free compressed air resources.

Headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, JHFOSTER is a leading distributor and service provider of automation and compressed air systems. We are committed to providing successful solutions that exceed production demands, reduce costs, and increase overall efficiencies. Contact us online, request a quote, or call 855-688- for more information on air dryers.

The Working Principle of Compressed Air Dryer

Clicks:

A: Refrigerated dryer

The refrigerated dryer uses the cooling air to precipitate the moisture of the moist air from the air after condensation and obtain the drier air.

working principle

The humid and high temperature of the compressed air into the front cooler (high temperature type) heat dissipation into the heat exchange and discharged from the evaporator cool air for heat exchange, so that the compressor into the compressed air temperature.

After the heat transfer of compressed air into the evaporator through the evaporator heat transfer function and refrigerant heat exchange, compressed air heat is taken away by the refrigerant, compressed air quickly cooled, moisture in the humid air to saturation temperature quickly condensed, After the condensation of water after the formation of water droplets, through the gas-water separator high-speed rotation, the role of centrifugal force and air separation, separation of water from the automatic drainage valve discharge. After the cooling of the compressed air pressure dew point theory up to +3 ~ +10 &#;, the general measured at +20 &#; above.

B: Adsorption dryer

Adsorption dryer using the principle of pressure swing adsorption, wet air through the adsorbent, the moisture absorbed by the adsorbent to get dry air.

working principle

A large amount of air discharged from the air compressor flows through the compressed air inlet pipe and enters the running tower in the two towers through the valve, where the moisture is absorbed by the adsorbent and dried. When the air flow to the top of the tower, the moisture in the air is completely absorbed, the pressure dew point of up to -20 ~ -70 &#;, so as to achieve the purpose of drying, the entire cycle standard takes 10 minutes, each tower for 5 minutes, During the course of work (running tower), the other tower in the regeneration state (non-operating tower) regeneration time of 4.5 minutes, continued pressure time 0.5 minutes. During the regeneration process, a portion of the dry air in the running tower enters the non-operating tower by the regenerated air volume control valve to bring the water in the tower to the atmosphere through the silencer. Its operating time for the amount of equipment handling capacity of 12% to 15%....

Heatless regeneration: regeneration of dry air by the regeneration of the air flow control valve into the regeneration group outlet buffer chamber, dry gas in the regeneration group core adsorption chamber expansion after decompression to atmospheric pressure, from top to bottom on the regeneration of the sub-sieve to purify the adsorbent In vivo molecular sieves and adsorbent separation, analysis in dry air, with the regeneration of gas from the muffler excluded. Regeneration gas consumption &#; 5%

Heated regeneration: regeneration of dry air through the regeneration of the air flow control valve into the regeneration group outlet gas flow chamber, high temperature dry gas in the regeneration group core adsorption chamber expansion decompression to atmospheric pressure, from top to bottom on the regeneration of the sub-sieve for cleaning, adsorption Agent will speed up the body of water and adsorbent separation, analysis in dry air, with the regeneration of gas from the muffler discharge. Regeneratio

The refrigerated dryer uses the cooling air to precipitate the moisture of the moist air from the air after condensation and obtain the drier air.The humid and high temperature of the compressed air into the front cooler (high temperature type) heat dissipation into the heat exchange and discharged from the evaporator cool air for heat exchange, so that the compressor into the compressed air temperature.After the heat transfer of compressed air into the evaporator through the evaporator heat transfer function and refrigerant heat exchange, compressed air heat is taken away by the refrigerant, compressed air quickly cooled, moisture in the humid air to saturation temperature quickly condensed, After the condensation of water after the formation of water droplets, through the gas-water separator high-speed rotation, the role of centrifugal force and air separation, separation of water from the automatic drainage valve discharge. After the cooling of the compressed air pressure dew point theory up to +3 ~ +10 &#;, the general measured at +20 &#; above.Adsorption dryer using the principle of pressure swing adsorption, wet air through the adsorbent, the moisture absorbed by the adsorbent to get dry air.A large amount of air discharged from the air compressor flows through the compressed air inlet pipe and enters the running tower in the two towers through the valve, where the moisture is absorbed by the adsorbent and dried. When the air flow to the top of the tower, the moisture in the air is completely absorbed, the pressure dew point of up to -20 ~ -70 &#;, so as to achieve the purpose of drying, the entire cycle standard takes 10 minutes, each tower for 5 minutes, During the course of work (running tower), the other tower in the regeneration state (non-operating tower) regeneration time of 4.5 minutes, continued pressure time 0.5 minutes. During the regeneration process, a portion of the dry air in the running tower enters the non-operating tower by the regenerated air volume control valve to bring the water in the tower to the atmosphere through the silencer. Its operating time for the amount of equipment handling capacity of 12% to 15%....Heatless regeneration: regeneration of dry air by the regeneration of the air flow control valve into the regeneration group outlet buffer chamber, dry gas in the regeneration group core adsorption chamber expansion after decompression to atmospheric pressure, from top to bottom on the regeneration of the sub-sieve to purify the adsorbent In vivo molecular sieves and adsorbent separation, analysis in dry air, with the regeneration of gas from the muffler excluded. Regeneration gas consumption &#; 5%Heated regeneration: regeneration of dry air through the regeneration of the air flow control valve into the regeneration group outlet gas flow chamber, high temperature dry gas in the regeneration group core adsorption chamber expansion decompression to atmospheric pressure, from top to bottom on the regeneration of the sub-sieve for cleaning, adsorption Agent will speed up the body of water and adsorbent separation, analysis in dry air, with the regeneration of gas from the muffler discharge. Regeneratio

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