Using Energy Saving Refrigerated and Desiccant Air Dryers

The Theory of a Desiccant Air Dryer thumbnail There are two main types of dryers utilized when it comes to removing contaminants from your industrial air compressor system: refrigerated dryers and desiccant dryers. Both types of dryers have their own unique purpose and equally effective when it comes to removing pollutants such as moisture and condensates from the air.

  • Refrigerated dryers work by cooling the air and draining contaminants into an external unit such as a large tank.
  • Refrigerated dryers come in both cycling and non-cycling versions
  • Desiccant dryers have been around for much longer than refrigerated dryers
  • Desiccant dryers do not cool the air, but rather makes use of desiccants; or moisture removing packs that absorb water vapor and contaminants
  • Desiccant dryers save more energy than refrigerated dryers since they do not use additional power as opposed to their refrigerated counterparts
  • Refrigerated dryers, on the other hand, uses heat exchangers to cool the air and can also keep energy costs low
  • Newer models of refrigerated dryers also tend to be less maintenance, keeping the costs of repair and maintenance low

An alternative energy saving solution is to use a combination of both dryers. The desiccant dryer can serve to remove moisture from the system while a low-power refrigerated dryer can ‘finish the job’ down the line. This system can help save maintenance costs while keeping energy levels low, saving you and your business’ finances a great deal.

Any way you choose, it is vital to remove condensates in the process of maintaining industrial air compressors. Do your research on both types of dryers and find out which one best works for you and your business. 

For all your installation needs Air Center, Inc. can help.  Air Center stocks many air compressor parts and filters for major manufacturers, designs and installs compressed air systems, and employs technicians who are able to service any compressed air equipment.

 

Popular Terms to Understand When Working with Air Compressors

Air CompressorWhen you are dealing with an air compressor, there might be a lot of technical words and parts of the compressor that you might not know or might be hard to understand. Knowing these terms are very important to ensure proper function of your air compressor.

 

Basic Components of an Air Compressor

Air Regulator

Gauge the amount of air being expended from the tank

Check Valve

Ensures all the air is going in one direction

Line Pressure Gauge

Measures how much air is in the hose that stores the tool with air

Tank

The biggest part of the air compressor/ holds the air until it is ready to be used

Tank Pressure Gauge

Determines how much air is available to use in the tank

Technical Terms for an Air Compressor

PSI "pounds per square inch"

Measure of how much force is being brought from the compressor to the tool

ASME "American Society
of Mechanical Engineers"

A tank that is considered an ASME certified tank has particular welding standards.

CFM "Cubic Feet per Minute"

The amount of air being brought from the compressor to the tool. Tanks with higher CFM ratings deliver more air.

By knowing the basic parts of an air compressor as well as developing awareness for the technical terms, the next time you deal with an air compressor can be an easy one.

For all your installation needs Air Center, Inc. can help. Air Center stocks many air compressor parts and filters for major manufacturers, designs and installs compressed air systems, and employs technicians who are able to service any compressed air equipment.

Basic Air Compressor Parts

Air Compressor PartsDue to the wide variety of models available, selecting the right industrial air compressor can be a challenge. When choosing an industrial air compressor, keep in mind how the air compressor will be used and the location of its use. While it is always important to research and understand your air compressor’s model, it is also equally as important to understand how they work and the various parts that make up the air compressor.

  • Motor- sized according to air flow and pressure requirements, the motor ‘drives’ the compressor, providing power to produce air
  • Storage Tank- coming in a variety of sizes, the storage tank is where compressed air is held before it is used
  • Drain- prevents moisture from forming in the storage tank by discarding excess water from the tank
  • Intake Filter- removes contaminants by cleaning out dirt through an exit filter, allowing for a clean air flow to compress
  • Control Valve- regulates the required amount of air pressure

 

It is good to understand what constitutes an air compressor and knowledge of what each part does. This information serves to provide a more educated decision making process when it comes to purchasing your air compressor.

For all your installation needs Air Center, Inc. can help.  Air Center stocks many air compressor parts and filters for major manufacturers, designs and installs compressed air systems, and employs technicians who are able to service any compressed air equipment.

 

How Filters Keep Your Air Clean

Air FilterIt is extremely important to ensure that the air circulating within and around your air compressor is clean and healthy. Contaminants such as water vapor, oil and dust can pollute this air and destroy its competence. In order to prevent this issue, one has to invest in air filters, and have it installed; which can be a somewhat vexing task to undertake for some.

What do compressed air filters do?

  • Remove dust, oil and other impurities from the air
  • Protects your equipment and ensures its safety from contaminants

Compressor Intake Filter

This type of air filter blocks particles and removes any chemical contaminants. The filter allows compressed air to pass through while filtering out any water and oil droplets. The air then passes through to the Coalescing filter.

Coalescing Filter

This filter effectively removes oil and water droplets by draining them from the compressed air. It is also extremely operative at removing large solids from the air.

What should you keep in mind when choosing an air filter?

  • Specific manufacturer that the air compressor uses
  • Determine the filter element of your air compressor
  • Temperature of the environment where the filter will be in use

For all your installation needs Air Center, Inc. can help.  Air Center stocks many air compressor parts and filters for major manufacturers, designs and installs compressed air systems, and employs technicians who are able to service any compressed air equipment.

Space Saving Air Compressor Systems for Small Facilities

Air Compressors

Finding a suitable air compressor that is compact while being able to deliver substantial capacity and pressure can be difficult. Space-saving air compressors use small, compact spaces and can meet your demands while reducing energy costs. They have many benefits, including:

 

  • User friendly controls
  • Sound damping enclosures (most systems)
  • Reliable source of compressed air for industry applications such as construction sites
  • Wide range of models and accessories
  • Saves space
  • Allows energy efficient, high quality air flow
  • Offer flexibility to relocate to temporary locations with quick, easy installations

 

The most common type of space-saving air compressors utilized in small facilities are reciprocating air compressors. They use positive displacement, or increasing air pressure by reducing it’s volume. They are available as air-cooled models and both lubricated and non-lubricated designs. They provide multiple capacity and pressure selections and are available in many standard and special order configurations, which include base-mounted and duplicated compressors.

A practical solution for small businesses and facilities, space-saving air compressor systems are an eco-friendly, energy efficient alternative that can provide the necessary functions of an air compressor while saving both space and energy costs.

For all your installation needs Air Center, Inc. can help.  Air Center stocks many air compressor parts and filters for major manufacturers, designs and installs compressed air systems, and employs technicians who are able to service any compressed air equipment.