Compressed Air Moisture Removal Air Dryers

Compressed air dryers help you get rid of condensate. These units, connected downstream of the compressor, are an inseparable part of the compressed air treatment range. We offer you three types of dryer – refrigeration, adsorption and membrane. Installing one will multiply the service life of the connected pneumatic tools, blow guns or spray guns and components of automated lines such as cylinders and valves. Lower service costs for these connected devices will please every air compressor operator. The differences between the individual dryers and an article on why and, above all, how to dry compressed air can be found here.

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How to choose the right type of air dryer?

Refrigeration dryers

The most sought-after type for drying compressed air in workshops and in most areas of industry. Well-known manufacturers include, for example, Hanksion or the international Mark Compressors and Omega Air. In a refrigeration dryer the compressed air is first cooled to a temperature below the pressure dew point. The water vapour in the air then condenses and turns into water, which is drained from the air by a condensate drain.

Advantages of refrigeration dryers

• they are inexpensive
• they work with no loss of compressed air

Disadvantages of refrigeration dryers

• the dew point can only be lowered to +5 °C or +3 °C
• electricity consumption for the fan, the control system and the refrigerant compressor.
• effective ventilation must be ensured

Adsorption dryers

Somewhat more expensive, but highly efficient dryers for industrial plants with high demands on air quality. Their hallmark is a pair of towers filled with desiccant. The desiccant has to be highly porous; activated aluminium oxide – alumogel (Al2O3) – or silica gel (SiO2) is used most often. Adsorption dryers for compressed air are made, for example, by Omega Air.

Advantages of adsorption dryers

• the dew point can be lowered to a much lower temperature, depending on the desiccant used commonly to –25°C, –40 °C or even –75 °C

Disadvantages of adsorption dryers

• adsorption dryers consume up to 20 % of the compressed air supplied
• the desiccant charges have to be replaced regularly

Membrane dryers

This type of dryer resembles a test tube with a stopper at each end. Membrane dryers are made up of a bundle of hollow fibres (membranes) through which moist compressed air flows from top to bottom. As it passes through, the moisture is forced out through the membranes and the air leaves the fibre dry. They are intended for supplying compressed air with a low dew point at a low flow rate. Leading manufacturers also include Omega Air.

Advantages of membrane dryers

• minimal installation dimensions

Disadvantages of membrane dryers

• membrane dryers consume 10 - 30 % of the compressed air supplied

*Does buying a quality dryer for your compressor seem expensive? The truth is that all these units always pay for themselves in time. They protect every part of the compressed air system, which can then work reliably, without service intervention, for a long time and above all extremely efficiently.

Do not forget the other air treatment accessories either:

• compressed air filters
• compressed air regulators
• cyclone separators
• water – oil separators