Vapour Dryers - Air Options

These unique dryers represent a unique method of treating compressed air. These dryers utilize the vapour refrigeration cycle. This is a highly reliable process that combines tap water, compressed air and ambient air to generate a low- temperature vapor cloud, which is introduced into a heat exchanger.

The low – temperature cloud is generated within a dual Venturi refrigerator. Compressed air drives a Venturi, which creates a vacuum. A controlled amount of water is introduced into the vacuum chamber. This has the effect of atomizing the water into micro-droplets. Some of the micro-droplets evaporate and, in doing so, the temperature of the discharge is cooled.

To improve the evaporation process, the discharge drives a second Venturi that draws in ambient air.

The ambient air has a lower relative humidity and is allowed to mingle with the micro- droplets. The introduction of the “dry” air aids in the evaporation of the micro-droplets and forces a lower discharge temperature.

The dryer body consists of a tube-in-shell heat exchanger with a built-in water separator. Hot, moist air from the compressor head is introduced into the air input, where it flows through the exchanger tubes. A cooled vapour cloud, discharged from the vapour dryer, is introduced into the coolant cavity. The cloud then flows through the heat exchanger, where it cools the outside of the exchanger tubes, and out the coolant discharge. When the hot, moist air comes in contact with the inside of the cooled exchanger tubes, the water vapor condenses on to the inside walls of the tubes.

The condensed water runs down the inside of the tubes along with the air flow and drips into the water reservoir. The dried air flows around the lower end of the dry air output. The trapped water is periodically vented through the drain valve.

This dryer is ideal for applications that only require a general service dew point, and without the implications of chemicals, power or sophistication of a refrigeration air dryer

Dew points of between 12 and 14 ºC are achievable with Vapour type dryers. Should a lower dew point be required a refrigeration or adsorption air dryer should be considered. Vapour dryers are ideal as a bulk dewatering device for use prior to a adsorption dryer or a refrigeration dryer.