Air Dryer : What You Need to Know
Air compression is widely used and has become the second largest industrial power source. An air dryer, specifically a refrigerated air dryer, is a device used to dry compressed air. Compressed air contains moisture, dust, and oil that need to be removed, and the refrigerated air dryer’s main function is to remove the moisture.
Many businesses choose not to use air dryers in order to save costs. However, this can lead to a large amount of moisture entering the compressed air system and causing equipment malfunctions, damage, pipe corrosion, and increased product defects. These issues can significantly increase production costs and create a huge financial burden for the company.
Working principle
An air compressor air dryer works by cooling the compressed air using a refrigerant, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into droplets and reducing the moisture content. The droplets are then automatically drained from the machine, and as long as the downstream piping temperature is above the dew point temperature of the evaporator outlet, there will be no secondary condensation.
Refrigeration system
An air compressor air dryer works by cooling the compressed air using a refrigerant, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into droplets and reducing the moisture content. The condensed droplets are then automatically drained from the system. As long as the temperature of the downstream pipeline from the dryer’s outlet is not lower than the dew point temperature at the evaporator outlet, there will be no secondary condensation.
Air compressors are commonly used in various industries to power tools and equipment. However, to ensure the quality of the compressed air, an air dryer is often necessary. The air dryer removes moisture and contaminants from the compressed air, preventing damage to the equipment and ensuring the safety of the workers. There are different types of air dryers available, including refrigerated dryers, desiccant dryers, and membrane dryers, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Air conditioning summer refrigeration cycle: the outdoor temperature is very high in summer, we want to lower the temperature of the room, so the evaporator (indoor unit) is arranged in the room, and the heat is moved to the outside, so the outside (outdoor unit) is a condenser .
Air conditioner refrigeration cycle in winter: The air conditioner in winter is still a refrigeration device, but the purpose of use is different. The temperature is very low in winter, and we hope to send heat to the room, so the “condenser” is placed indoors, and the “evaporator” is placed outside. A four-way valve (as shown in Figure A above) is installed in the air conditioner to complete the role switching between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.
Currently, the quality of air dryers on the market varies greatly. For example, the corrosion and leakage of evaporators have always been the number one difficult problem affecting the stable operation of air dryers, seriously shortening their service life.
Pay attention to the following matters when using a cold dryer:
- The flow pressure and temperature of the compressed air should be within the allowable range of the nameplate;
- The installation site should be ventilated, with less dust, and there is enough space for heat dissipation and maintenance around the machine, and it cannot be installed outdoors to avoid rain and direct sunlight;
- The cold dryer is generally allowed to be installed without foundation, but the ground must be leveled;
- It should be as close to the user point as possible to avoid excessive length of pipeline;
- There should be no detectable corrosive gas in the surrounding environment, especially pay attention not to be in the same room with ammonia refrigeration equipment;
- The filtration accuracy of the pre-filter of the cold dryer should be appropriate, and high precision is not necessary for the cold dryer;
- The cooling water inlet and outlet pipes should be set independently, especially the outlet pipes cannot be shared with other water-cooling equipment, so as to avoid drainage obstruction caused by pressure difference;
- Keep the automatic drainer unblocked at any time;
- Do not start the dryer continuously;
- The parameter index of the compressed air actually processed by the cold dryer, especially when the intake temperature and working pressure do not match the rated value, should be corrected according to the “correction coefficient” provided by the sample to avoid overload operation.
