In industrial production, compressed air is an important power and process gas, but the moisture in it can cause problems such as equipment corrosion and product quality degradation. As the core equipment for removing moisture, the performance of the air dryer directly affects production stability. At present, the mainstream adsorption, refrigeration and membrane air dryers in the market meet various industrial needs with different technologies, promoting the development of air source purification technology.
Table of contents
●Adsorption air dryer: the representative of deep drying
(1.) Working principle
(2.) Performance and application
●Refrigerated air dryer: the choice of high efficiency and popularization
(1.) Working principle
(2.) Performance and application
●Membrane air dryer: emerging technological breakthrough
(1.) Working principle
(2.) Performance and application
●Market and development trend
(1.) Market competition pattern
(2.) Future development direction
Adsorption air dryer: representative of deep drying
Working principle
Adsorption air dryers mostly adopt a double-tower structure, which is filled with adsorbents such as activated alumina and molecular sieves. When working, the compressed air enters the adsorption tower after pre-filtration. Under the action of the adsorbent, water vapor is adsorbed, and the dry air is output after post-filtration. When the adsorbent is saturated, part of the dry air is decompressed and reversely passed into the regeneration tower to desorb and regenerate the adsorbent. The double towers operate alternately to achieve continuous air supply.
Performance and application
This type of dryer has a strong drying capacity and can reduce the dew point of compressed air to -70℃, which meets the requirements of electronic semiconductors, medical pharmaceuticals and other industries with extremely high requirements for air source dryness. Pressure swing adsorption is energy-saving, micro-heat adsorption regeneration is thorough, and the equipment has a compact structure and a long maintenance cycle. It is widely used in precision manufacturing, food and beverage and other industries to ensure product quality and stable operation of equipment.
Refrigerated air dryer: the most efficient and popular choice
Working principle
Refrigerated air dryers are based on the principle of cooling and condensation. Compressed air first enters the precooler for initial cooling, and then is further cooled to below the dew point by the refrigeration system, so that water vapor condenses into liquid water and is discharged through the gas-water separator. Finally, the dry air returns to the precooler for temperature increase and output, which improves energy utilization and avoids condensation in the pipeline.
Performance and application
Its advantages are large processing capacity and low energy consumption. It can stably control the dew point at 2-10℃, which is suitable for most industrial scenarios. The operating cost and maintenance difficulty are low, but it cannot meet the ultra-low dew point requirements, and the refrigeration efficiency is affected in low temperature environments. In the automotive manufacturing, textile, mechanical processing and other industries, refrigerated air dryers provide dry air sources for equipment such as spraying and jet looms to ensure smooth production.
Membrane air dryer: an emerging technological breakthrough
Working principle
Membrane air dryers use the selective permeability of hollow fiber membranes. After the moist compressed air enters, the water vapor is discharged through the membrane wall under the action of the water vapor partial pressure difference on both sides of the membrane, and the dry air is output from the other side. It is driven by the compressed air's own pressure and does not require complex equipment and additional energy.
Performance and application
The dryer has a simple structure, small size, no moving parts, easy installation, almost no maintenance, and environmentally friendly operation. The degree of drying can be adjusted as needed, but the current processing volume is small and the cost of membrane elements is high. In special fields such as laboratories, small production lines, aerospace, etc., which have high requirements for equipment size and maintenance, membrane air dryers play a unique role and are expected to be further promoted in the future.
Market competition pattern
The current air dryer market is highly competitive. International brands occupy the high-end market with their technology and service advantages, and domestic companies continue to expand their market share through innovation and cost advantages. Each company launches customized products to meet the needs of different industries to enhance its competitiveness.
Future development direction
In the future, air dryers will develop towards high efficiency, energy saving, intelligence, miniaturization and green environmental protection. Adsorption dryers develop new adsorbents, refrigeration dryers optimize refrigeration systems, and membrane dryers reduce membrane material costs. At the same time, intelligent control systems will be widely used to achieve intelligent monitoring and regulation of equipment operation, improve operational reliability and management efficiency.