Compressed Air Dryers

The atmospheric air drawn into a compressor is a mixture of gases that always contains water vapour. However, the amount of water vapour that air can carry varies is mostly dependent on temperature. As air temperature rises – which occurs during compression – the air’s capability to hold moisture increases also. When the air is cooled its capacity to hold moisture reduces, which causes the water vapour to condense.

This condensate is then removed in the centrifugal separator, or the air receiver, downstream from the compressor. Even then, the air can still be completely saturated with water vapour. This is why, as the air cools further, significant amounts of condensate can accumulate in the air distribution piping and at take-off points. System failure, production downtime and costly service and repair work are therefore unavoidable without additional air drying.