Why dryers are important for compressed air systems

There are many contaminants that can threaten your compressed air system, but moisture is common among them. You may be thinking, but it's just water, but water can have a devastating effect on your compressed air system, your production equipment, and your final product. The ideal way to prevent moisture from contaminating your compressed air is to use a dryer.

Moisture in compressed air is unavoidable because ambient air always contains moisture. When air is compressed, it is pressed into a more compact space. As a result, the contaminants it contains, including moisture, can be found in a higher volume.

So why is moisture a problem for air compressors?

Corrosion

It all starts with your compressed air system itself, and if your air is untreated (or improperly treated), moisture can cause your equipment to corrode. This can reduce the reliability and durability of your compressed air equipment, and shorten maintenance intervals. Corrosion is a problem that magnifies downstream, for example, rust particles in corroded pipes entering your compressed air can damage the equipment that uses this air. It can also penetrate all the way into your final product, affecting product quality.

Microorganisms

Humidity creates ideal conditions for the growth of microorganisms (such as fungi, molds and bacteria). These organisms multiply in the hot and humid environment of your compressed air system. These microorganisms pose a danger not only to your compressed air system itself, but to your final product as well. This is especially true when your final product is consumed by your customers, such as food, beverages or pharmaceuticals.

What are the types of dryers?

Dryers are the most important line of defense against moisture in compressed air. The right technology can effectively protect your system and end product, thus saving you a lot of hassle and cost.

Refrigerated air dryers

Refrigerant dryers are the most common type of dryer. They consist of an air-to-air heat exchanger and an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. They remove moisture from compressed air by condensing it.

Absorbent dryers

Desiccant is a material that absorbs moisture. One of the widely known desiccants is silica gel in product packaging sachets, which is used to keep products dry. Desiccants are also known as moisture absorbing materials and are used in desiccators to absorb moisture from compressed air. The air flows through the material, releasing the moisture and thus being dried.

Membrane Dryers

These dryers are quiet, easy to operate, have no moving parts, consume little power and require very little service. They use a method called "selective permeation" of the gas content of the air. The dryer consists of a cylinder filled with thousands of tiny hollow polymer fibers with an internal coating. Using their selective permeability, these fibers remove water vapor.

There are many factors to consider when selecting a dryer for your application. Your goal should be to find a balance between meeting air quality requirements and reducing expenses. Not sure which dryer is right for you? Contact Lingyu Machinery today!

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