How does a refrigerated dryer work?
A by-product of compression of air is water. Having a drying process removes all the water, which reduces the risk of corrosion damage to the compressed air system.
Drying process of compressed air
There are two drying methods to remove moisture from the compressed air system. This can be done either with the cooling drying or adsorption drying. The method that suits your compressed air system depends on the requirements for air quality.
A rule of thumb is that with higher demands on the quality of the compressed air, an adsorption dryer is a better choice for your compressed air system. For most industrial purposes, a refrigeration dryer will be able to live up to the required compressed air quality.
Consult us if you are in doubt about which method to use for your compressed air system.
Get rid of the water with a refrigeration dryer
A refrigeration dryer removes the water from the compressed air down to the predetermined dew point. There are many benefits to securing dry compressed air. Overall, a refrigeration dryer can extend the life of your air system and compressed air tools. It does this by reducing the risk of corrosion damage to the compressed air system, which can help reduce maintenance costs. In addition, a better quality of compressed air system is achieved and increases the productivity of your operation.
How does it work?
A refrigeration dryer has a built-in refrigeration system with a refrigeration compressor, a heat exchanger and a refrigerant. The hot and humid compressed air is led into the refrigeration dryer, where the heat exchanger and a cooling system cools the air down to a temperature of approx. ± 0 and to + 6 ° C.
During cooling, the dew point of the air falls, whereby condensation water forms. The precipitated condensed water is collected and led away, at the same time as the compressed air on its way out of the refrigeration dryer is heated in the heat exchanger. To obtain condensate-free compressed air, the dryer gives the compressed air a dew point of +3 °C to 10 °C.
Installation of the refrigeration dryer
A refrigeration dryer can be easily mounted both before and after the container, depending on the type of compressor. The dryer requires a small energy supply and is relatively insensitive to oil in the compressed air. Nevertheless, an oil separation filter should be installed after the dryer to reduce the amount of residual oil in the compressed air system. In addition, it is crucial that the maximum recommended temperature for the filter and refrigeration dryer is not exceeded at any time.
How to choose the right refrigeration dryer?
When choosing a refrigeration dryer, there are three different correction factors to consider. These are the ambient temperature, air intake temperature and air intake pressure. That is, what is the temperature and pressure in the compressed air before drying and what is the room temperature?
Depending on the requirement for the dew point after drying process, a refrigeration dryer can be found by inserting the values in the forms.
Correction factors
| Correction factors for ambient temperature | |||||||
| C° | 25 | 30 |
35 |
40 |
45 | ||
| Ambient temperature | A | 1,00 | 0,92 | 0,84 | 0,80 | 0,74 | R-Dry 4- 77 |
| 1,00 | 0,91 | 0,81 | 0,72 | 0,62 | R-Dry 100 - 840 | ||
| Correction factors for air inlet temperature | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| °C | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 | ||
| Inlet temperature | B | 1,24 | 1,00 | 0,82 | 0,69 | 0,58 | 0,45 | R-Dry 4- 77 |
| 1,00 | 1,00 | 0,82 | 0,69 | 0,58 | 0,49 | R-Dry 100 - 840 | ||
| Correction factors for air inlet pressure | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bar | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||
| Operating pressure | B | 0,90 | 0,96 | 1,00 | 1,03 | 1,06 | 1,08 | 1,10 | 1,12 | 1,13 | 1,15 | 1,16 | 1,15 | R-Dry 4- 77 |
| 0,90 | 0,97 | 1,00 | 1,03 | 1,05 | 1,07 | 1,09 | 1,11 | 1,12 | - | - | - | R-Dry 100 - 840 | ||
Are you still in doubt about which refrigeration dryer is right for your compressed air system? Feel free to contact us today for help.
