What's the difference heatless air dryer and heated desiccant air dryer?

Air dryers are essential pieces of equipment for removing moisture from compressed air in various industrial applications. Moisture can cause damage to pneumatic equipment, lead to corrosion, and compromise product quality. Heatless desiccant air dryers are a type of air dryer that works without heating the compressed air. They are designed to remove moisture from compressed air through adsorption, where the desiccant material absorbs moisture from the air.

Heatless Desiccant Air Dryer

A heatless air dryer operates by passing compressed air through a bed of desiccant material. The desiccant material, usually silica gel or activated alumina, adsorbs moisture from the compressed air, resulting in dry air at the outlet. The process is called pressure swing adsorption (PSA). The air is passed through the desiccant bed at high pressure, and then the pressure is reduced, allowing the desiccant to release the moisture it has adsorbed. The wet desiccant is then purged with dry compressed air, and the cycle starts again.

Heatless air dryers are commonly used in applications where the compressed air needs to be dry, but the dew point requirement is not critical. They are generally less expensive than heated desiccant dryers and consume less energy, as they do not require heating. Heatless air dryers are commonly used in applications such as painting, sandblasting, and instrument air.

Heated Desiccant Air Dryer

A heated desiccant air dryer operates on the same principle as a heatless desiccant air dryer, but it includes an additional heating process to regenerate the desiccant material. After the desiccant material has adsorbed moisture, it is heated to a high temperature, which releases the moisture from the desiccant material. The moisture is then vented to the atmosphere, and the regenerated desiccant is ready for another cycle.

Heated desiccant air dryers are suitable for applications that require a lower dew point than what can be achieved with a heatless dryer. They are commonly used in applications such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and electronics manufacturing, where dry air is critical to the quality of the end product.

Differences between Heatless and Heated Desiccant Air Dryers

The main difference between heatless and heated desiccant air dryers is that heated dryers have an additional heating process to regenerate the desiccant material. Heatless air dryers do not require heating, which makes them less expensive to operate and easier to maintain. Heatless dryers are also smaller in size, making them suitable for applications with limited space.

Another difference is the dew point capability of the dryers. Heatless air dryers are generally capable of achieving a dew point of -40°C to -70°C, while heated desiccant dryers can achieve dew points as low as -100°C. Therefore, heated dryers are suitable for applications where dry air is critical to the quality of the end product, such as food processing and pharmaceuticals.

In conclusion, both heatless and heated desiccant air dryers are essential pieces of equipment for removing moisture from compressed air. The choice between the two depends on the specific application requirements, such as the required dew point and the available space and budget. Heatless air dryers are less expensive and consume less energy, making them suitable for applications where the dew point requirement is not critical. Heated desiccant air dryers are suitable for applications that require a low dew point and dry air is critical to the quality of the end product. Note that we also produce the quality refrigerated type air dryer. Welcome to contact.