Main difference between a refrigerated dryer and a desiccant dryer

1、The difference in working principle:

The refrigerated air dryer is based on the principle of freezing and dehumidifying, the saturated compressed air from upstream is cooled to a certain dew point temperature through heat exchange with the refrigerant, condensing a large amount of liquid water, which is automatically discharged from the machine after separation by the gas-liquid separator, so as to achieve the purpose of water removal and drying. Desiccant dryer is based on the principle of variable pressure adsorption, the saturated compressed air from upstream under a certain pressure after contact with the desiccant, the vast majority of water adsorbed in the desiccant, dry air into the downstream work, so as to achieve the purpose of deep drying.

2、Difference in water removal effect:

The refrigerated air dryer is restricted by its principle, if the temperature is too low, the phenomenon of icing will occur, so its dew point temperature is usually 2~10℃. Adsorption dryer is not required to pass the temperature change, and the desiccant (alumina) can be dried in depth, so usually the dew point temperature of its outlet can reach -20℃ or below, that is to say, it can achieve deep drying.

3、The difference in energy loss:

For the refrigerated air dryer, because it is necessary to compress the refrigerant to achieve the purpose of cooling, so the power supply power will be high. And adsorption dryer because as long as the valve is controlled through the electric control box, so usually only a few dozen watts of power, that is, there will be no power loss.

4、Difference of gas loss:

Because the refrigerated air dryer is to achieve the purpose of water removal by changing the temperature, and the water is discharged from the machine through the automatic drain, so there is no loss of gas. The adsorption dryer needs to be regenerated after the desiccant is saturated with water, so it needs to have about 12-15% of regenerative gas loss.

5、Difference of failure rate:

Because the refrigerated air dryer refrigerant system and air system including electrical parts are relatively complex, while the adsorption dryer is only the valve due to frequent action and has the possibility of failure, so in general the failure rate of the suction dryer is lower than the refrigerated air dryer.

In general, the desiccant air dryer is better than the refrigerated air dryer both in stability and in effect, just because it needs to lose a certain amount of re-gas, where we generally want customers to weigh the pros and cons and then make a choice. But now more and more manufacturers have chosen adsorption dryers, and it should be said that this is gradually becoming a trend.

Lingyu Machinery ~ 2~10C dew point refrigerated compressed air dryer