REFRIGERATED / DESICCANT DRYERS
Water vapor is an essential component of creating clean, dry air in a compressed air piping system. All atmospheric air contains some water vapor, and it is only enhanced when the air compressor applies pressure. When the air or gas is cooled past the saturation point, i.e., the point where it can hold no more water vapor, the liquid water can be extracted. The temperature at which this happens is known as the dew point. This dew point becomes all-important in determining how much compressed air drying is needed. A refrigerated dryer cools the compressed air to a low dew point to extract the water, then passes the air into the compressed air piping system for use as clean, dry air.
Refrigerated Dryers
RNC Refrigerated Dryers are digitally controlled cycling dryers for 10 CFM to 5000 CFM applications. RNC Models from 10 CFM to 1100 CFM have integrated pre-filters and after-filters. They use electricity to cool the air and automatically drain the water removed. No service is required other than keeping the heat exchanger clean from dust, and conducting regular filter element changes.
The Pre-Filter (P) is a 1 micron general purpose filter that protects the dryer and high-performance 3- in-1 heat exchanger from dirt and oil. The after-filter (Y) is a 0.01 micron high-efficiency oil removal filters designed to deliver consistent clean and dry air.
The Digital Controller has digital dew point monitoring, Energy-Saving mode display, periodic maintenance interval display, status reports, hours run meter, and a Fahrenheit / Centigrade selection.
- 38°F dew point
- Low pressure drop means energy savings at the compressor
- Quick start and reaction time delivers dry air as needed
- Engineered to match flow and components to optimize energy
- Energy-efficient R134a refrigerant is standard across all models
- Heat exchanger provides highest cost savings in the industry
- Best in class refrigerant compressors consume less energy
- Pressure switches the control of the condenser’s fan motor for energy savings and maximum operation at
Single Tower Desiccant Dryer
Desiccant use beads to absorb water vapor. Desiccant beads turn color to indicate they are saturated and need to be replaced. These dryers can achieve lower dew points than refrigerated and membrane dryers, but also have lower air flow (cfm) capability. They are compact, lightweight, and do not require electrical power. These dryers install at the point-of-use to capture moisture that may have bypassed upstream air treatment.
Single Tower Desiccant Dryers cannot be mounted directly after the air compressor, as the high temperature air will reduce its
efficiency to remove water.
- Produce pressure dew points as low as -40°F (-40°C)
- Molecular sieve desiccant beads
- Rugged powder-painted, corrosion-resistant aluminum
- Desiccant change-out indicator offers convenient
State-of-the-art refinish materials and moisture-sensitive pneumatic tools require compressed air treatment. A CDD Series compressed air dryer can eliminate that damaging water, dirt, and oil which can ruin your refinish work.
In addition to meeting needs of compressed air and paint booth applications requiring critical dry air, CDD heatless desiccant dryers are used also for gases including argon in welding applications.
Heatless Regenerative Dryer
MMR regenerative compressed air and gas dryers use desiccant beads to adsorb (adheres to the desiccant) the water vapor in the compressed air or gas stream. The composition of the desiccant is not changed when in use, and the moisture is removed in the regeneration process by applying dry purge air. Regenerative desiccant dryers normally use two towers. One tower dries the air from the compressor while the desiccant in the other tower is being regenerated after the pressure in the tower has been reduced to atmospheric pressure.
In the heatless regenerative desiccant type, no internal or external heaters are used but the purge air requirement can range up to 18% of the total air-flow. As a result, each time the dryer cycles, it uses the compressed air to purge the beads. To guide sizing selection, note that 18% more CFM will be required of your air compressor.
Manufacturing & Metal Fabrication: Argon is a welding shielding gas that enhances arc stability and prevents atmospheric contamination of welding pools. Argon is essential to gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). It also prevents oxidation during metal production.
Aerospace & Defense: Argon is vital for welding special alloys and for various welding applications. It is essential for laser and light bulb manufacturing. In heat-treating applications, argon is used to create inert environments free of oxygen and nitrogen.
Beverages: Denser than air, argon is used for blanketing wine and flushing oxygen from containers.
- Produce pressure dew points as low as -40°F (-40°C)
- Active alumina desiccant beads
- Low maintenance, and long life between desiccant bead changes
Desiccant & Adsorbents
Alpha-Pure bulk desiccant is engineered to meet the needs of regenerative desiccant compressed air and gas dryers. Alpha-Pure desiccants adsorb moisture by collecting it in its pores, allowing large quantities of water to be retained by a relatively small quantity of desiccant. Compressed air filters should be used before and after desiccant dryers to protect the dryer from oil and to capture any residual dust released by the dryer.
The most common dew point rating for these dryers is -40. While this level may be needed for sensitive processes or instrumentation, this level of dryness is not normally required for general manufacturing unless the pipes are exposed to freezing temperatures.
Activated Alumina
Activated alumina Is a high-surface-area, highly porous form of aluminum oxide. It can adsorb gases and liquids without changing its form. It works as a desiccant through adsorption. As air enters into the pores of the alumina, the water in the air becomes trapped and the air that continues to pass through an activated alumina filter is dried out. Even if immersed in a liquid, Activate alumina will not fall apart or soften.
Molecular Sieves
4A Molecular sieve is an alkali alumino-silicate in the spherical form. It is the sodium form of the Type A crystal structure with an effective pore opening of approximately 4A. It will adsorb molecules such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and straight chain hydrocarbons. Aromatics and branched chain hydrocarbons will not be adsorbed.
Bone Char / Bone Charcoal
Bone charcoal (bone char) is used to reduce the levels of many contaminants often found in water, wastewater and compressor condensate.