Working Principle of Refrigeration Air Dryer
The working principle of a refrigeration air dryer involves four main components: the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator, and the dryer vessel.
- Compression: The compressor compresses the incoming air, causing it to become hot and saturated with moisture.
- Cooling: The compressed air then flows through the condenser, where it is cooled down to a temperature close to the ambient temperature using a refrigerant. The heat generated during this process is dissipated through a cooling fan.
- Separation: The cooled compressed air then enters the dryer vessel, where any remaining moisture in the air is separated from the air stream by centrifugal force.
- Drying: The dry air then enters the evaporator, where it is further cooled down to a temperature lower than the dew point of the compressed air. This causes any remaining moisture in the air to condense into water droplets, which are then drained out of the system.
- Reheating: The dry air is then reheated to a temperature close to the ambient temperature using the heat from the incoming compressed air. This ensures that the dry air is not too cold, which can cause damage to downstream equipment.
- Discharge: The dry and warm compressed air is then discharged from the dryer and is ready for use in pneumatic equipment.
Conclusion
Working principle of the refrigeration air dryer continuously cycles the compressed air through the four stages of compression, cooling, separation, and drying. Additionally, it is used to remove moisture from the compressed air and provide dry, clean air for use in pneumatic equipment.
The moisture in the air condenses into liquid droplets as it is compressed, making the air heated. If this moisture is not taken out of the compressed air. It may harm pneumatic equipment, corrode pipes, and degrade the quality of the final product.
When compressed air is cooled to a temperature where moisture in the air condenses into water droplets, a refrigerated air dryer operates. The compressed air is then passed through a separator to remove the condensed water. After being warmed up, the dry air is released and put to use.