Desiccant of IA Dryer

Why does anyone in India care at all about a dryer in Iowa (IA)? The most cost effective dryer would certainly be a natural gas driven dryer, but one maybe forced by what is available to an electric dryer.

You should know that not defining an acronym is almost CRIMINAL here.

My prediction is that responses will split 50% both ways. Well maybe not, are you also considering silica gel?

You are referencing Instrument Air (IA) dryer, correct? For anyone to make a good recommendation, they will need more info:

* Is this a new installation or existing? If new, do you have other dryers, and, if so, what dessicant do they use? If existing, what is existing dessicant and why are you considering a change?

* What type compressor, lubricated or oil free, how much oil to contend with, pre-treament?

* What type dryer, pressure-swing or heat regenerated? Specific details of the regeneration system?

* Dryer bed dimensions

* Design air flow and pressure

* Design entering wet bulb

* Design exit dry bulb required?

* What is your location? Which types are readily available for you?

thanks Alot of replying to my concern, and I will answer the qeusetions:

1. Dryers are exsiting , and due to fines generated and plugged SOV's we are thinking to replace the Dessicant.

2. centerfugal compressors and lubricated,

3. pressure swing.

4. this I am not aware about it.

5. air flow 1700nkm3/hr and pressure 8.0 bar

regards,

My opinion is that the OP refers to MOLECULAR SIEVE 1A.

This is a typical sizing of the "sieve" of the pellets or balls. One angstrom pellet size can dry the air up to 0.1 PPMV. The system has to be cyclic, i.e. 2 columns filled with the sieve - one active while the other regenerates in backflow.

Once in a while the sieve can be completely regenerated under vacuum and heated at 300 degrees Celsius or higher. (saves you from buying new product)

One angstrom is

1.0 X 10 to the -10th in Meters.

Molecular sieves or MOLSIV is also derived from aluminum. More specs. available

All desiccants are dusty. You need high performance dust filters if dust is a problem for the equipment. The filters will block up causing pressure drop but this can be easily monitored - and filters changed when necessary.

But there are steps you can take to reduce the amount dust generated by the dryer.

Dust is caused by constant rubbing of the desiccant beads as the air passes through the bed. At a certain point of time the wear and tear on the beads reduces their size such that the bed packing becomes loose enough to allow more room for the beads to move about, and the bed starts to fluidise - which in turn seriously increases the amount of rubbing - thus generating even more dust.

It really is necessary to ensure the vessels are fully packed tight by keeping them topped up. There will still be dust but your dust filters will last much longer.