CD Heatless Regenerative Desiccant Air Dryer By Atlas Copco
3-551CFM -40 Degree Dewpoint Compact Heatless Regenerative Desiccant Air Dryer
20 Configurations Available
Some Models In Stock
$2,801.00 – $18,303.00
View DetailsDesiccant is an exceptionally adsorbent material due to its high affinity to water. In addition, they pull moisture from the air due to their hygroscopic properties. This process can lower the dewpoint down to -50°F.
3-551CFM -40 Degree Dewpoint Compact Heatless Regenerative Desiccant Air Dryer
Our Professionals are ready to help you with your technical questions backed by decades of experience.
When lenders compete, making smart equipment decisions is easy.
Found it cheaper somewhere else? no worries, we will make sure you get the best deal on your new equipment.
Desiccant is an exceptionally adsorbent material due to its high affinity for water. In addition, it pulls moisture from the air due to its hygroscopic properties. In other words, it can keep the area in immediate contact with the air dry by removing all the moisture into the center of the bead and containing it to allow more water to be adsorbed. This process continues until the beads become saturated and must be switched out.
By using a desiccant air dryer, you can prevent wear and tear on your components that are highly sensitive to water. Specific materials need to be used to perform this air-drying process. These materials are often chemically stable, but a few potentially toxic options require specific conditions to be used. The most commonly used desiccant includes but is not limited to:
Given the high quantities of water in compressed air and the need to extend the life of the desiccant, these dryers often rely on a robust two-tower system filled with desiccant. As the air passes over them, the water is adsorbed, and eventually, the beads will not be able to hold anymore. These towers are intelligently designed so that before the desiccant reaches full saturation, they will switch how the air flows between towers.
One will go from removing moisture to being dried and vice versa, ensuring the desiccant’s longevity. This regeneration cycle depends on demand, dew point, the moisture present in the desiccant, or a combination of factors. These dryers work year-round with no problem due to the dew point that a desiccant can make. These dryers can filter moisture in air as low as -100°F.
The drying process is relatively straightforward with these dryers; the confusion comes when determining how you want your desiccant to be regenerated. Differences arise between the models through the processes and what is used to regenerate the desiccant. The three main models of regeneration in dryers are:
Heatless Pressure dryers only use compressed air as purge air. If you are unsure what purge air is, it is the air used to dry out the desiccant. In the case of a heatless dryer, a portion of the air that has been dried is redirected into the tower that is in the regeneration phase.
Using dry compressed air does not require extra energy to dry the desiccant out. The problem arises when you consider how expensive compressed air is from an energy standpoint. Using the valuable compressed air as a purge reduces the volume your compressor produces, as the air used to dry the desiccant is not cycled back through. These air dryers typically require a purge rate of around 17-20% of the total airflow.
Compressed air is a valuable resource in terms of cost, and if you do not want to waste much compressed air, a heated regenerative dryer may be the best bet. These dryers use a hot air blower or an internal heating system to heat ambient air to the point of regenerating the desiccant. These dryers often use less than a 7% purge rate during this process, much lower than a heatless desiccant.
It may be a surprise, but these dryers are classified under hot air desiccant regeneration. A stream of hot air is passed through the saturated desiccant to remove the moisture from within the beads. This classification requires using a fan or internal electrical heating system to get the air up to the needed temperature while saving valuable compressed air. Rather than using air from within the system, heated atmospheric air is used to dry out the desiccant.
Unlike the other forms of regeneration, heat of compression is much less common. This is because it can only be used with oil-free compressors. Excess heat comes off an oil-free compressor due to the lack of something to remove heat in the compression chamber of the compressor. This heat would then be rerouted to the dryers so that regeneration could occur.
Like heated regenerative desiccant air dryers, these are considered hot air desiccant regeneration. The air does not need to be heated up, at least not to the same degree. In this scenario, the heat is moved from the compressor to the desiccant dryer to be used for the regeneration phase. This process can lower the dewpoint down to -50°F.
Want to learn more about compressed air dryers? Check out our guide on compressed air dryers here.
The Words Warthog and the Stylized Warthog are Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Reg. No. 7,109,357 and 7,109,356
