The choice of an air dryer is a crucial part of any project or upgrade to any plant. The wrong choice at inception can cost a company millions in spoilt goods and products or in wasted energy costs.
Driers vary widely. Some merely provide dew point suppression with high operating costs while others offer medium or low dew point capability. In general, the drier the compressed air (the lower the dew point), the higher the capital and operating cost.
Start with an evaluation of the plant’s air quality requirements. How dry does the compressed air have to be? Over-specifying the factory’s air quality requirements will increase the cost of the dryer. Refrigeration air dryers have the lowest operating cost with lower pre- and after-filtration requirements when compared with a chemical adsorption air dryer. In the majority of applications, a refrigeration air dryer will be sufficient.
If large volumes of low dew point air are required, the use of a more expensive chemical adsorption air dryer fitted with dew point demand control and purge heating is indicated. Compared with its heatless twin tower cousin, it has a lower operating cost, but a higher purchase price. However, the difference in capital cost will be recovered in less than two years, thereafter saving the operator substantial amounts of money while providing high quality compressed air.
Another solution could be the use of a refrigeration dryer as the prime dryer in the compressor room, with a de-centralised chemical adsorption dryer downstream within the factory. The refrigeration dryer provides bulk low cost air drying, thereby reducing long-term operational costs. The smaller downstream chemical air dryer provides a more cost effective solution for specific applications that require very high quality compressed air.
Compressed air treatment is a specialised field. Consult a reputable supplier for advice before making your final choice on an air dryer. Always consider the cost of ownership and the level of competency that a supplier can offer before placing an order.
Siemens launches SIMATIC AX WinCC Unified Elements
Pneumatic systems & components Other technologies
New engineering tool speeds automation application development, reducing the time required to bring industrial projects to market and empowering automation engineers to build, manage version control, and deploy visualisation engineering projects
Read more...High-performance linear guides igus
Pneumatic systems & components
igus continues its quest to replace traditional lubricated linear guides with its drylin polymer technology, which improves machine reliability. The absence of lubrication means it contributes to safer, cleaner operation with no risk of contamination.
Read more...Air compressor secures premium meat company’s legacy
Pneumatic systems & components
A tailored ELGi compressed air solution from Integrated Air Solutions is helping Tulisa Meat Market protect six decades of quality and consistency in its premium meat production.
Read more...Alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating
Pneumatic systems & components
Bolt and Engineering Distributors, as an authorised distributor for the Harris Products Group, is helping South African industries transition from acetylene to safer, more cost-effective alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating applications.
Read more...Integrated Air Solutions opens Pinetown branch
Pneumatic systems & components
Integrated Air Solutions has opened a branch in Pinetown, bringing world-class diesel and electric air compressor services closer to customers in KwaZulu-Natal.
Read more...How to clean compressed air effectively
Pneumatic systems & components
ISO-Reliability Partners has taken another step in bringing to market highly effective solutions to combat contamination in all its forms. The locally designed and patented Air Wizard inline water trap is proudly manufactured in South Africa. It has been SABS tested for the separation of water, oily fluids, rust and solid particulates from pneumatic compressed air or gas lines.
Read more...Compressed air piping design Artic Driers International
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
When designing a compressed air pipeline, remember that size matters. The internal size of the pipe, along with the pressure and air volume, determine the velocity of the compressed air in the pipeline.
Read more...Top questions about pressure gauges SA Gauge
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
Some questions never go out of date, and in our industry, a few have been asked for decades. At SA Gauge, we hear them every week. Here are the ten questions we hear most often, and the practical answers that can save time, money and frustration.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version