Hybrid drying system cuts cost of super-dry air/gas

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States)

OSTI ID:6988015

An air/gas dryer that combines the advantages of a refrigerated dryer and a regenerative dryer has been awarded Top Honors in the air dryers category of the 1986 Chemical Processing Vaaler Awards competition. The equipment provides a low operating cost alternative to obtaining ultralow (-40 to -100/sup 0/F) pressure dew point (PDP) conditions. A refrigerated dryer produces a PDP on the order of 40/sup 0/F. Taking 100/sup 0/F PDP air as the starting point and 40/sup 0/F PDP air as an end point, refrigerated drying eliminates 87% of the moisture present in the air. The hybrid air/gas dryer removes the bulk of the moisture in the air/gas feed with a refrigerated dryer. The system then uses a regenerative dryer to achieve the ultimate, ultralow PDP. The hybrid regenerative dryer requires substantially less purge air for operation than if the heatless regenerative dryer were to process 100/sup 0/F PDP air directly to ultralow PDP conditions. Two-stage operation results in reduced operating costs. For example, starting with 100 psig, 100/sup 0/F compressed air saturated with moisture, the hybrid will require only 2% net purge air to provide output air with -40/sup 0/F PDP. A conventional heatless dryer starting at 1000/sup 0/F PDP would require a 15% net purge to get the same result. Continuous drying of 100 scfm with the hybrid unit would result in savings of over $12,000/yr (air at $0.20/1000 cu ft; electricity at $0.05/kWh).

• OSTI ID: 6988015
• Journal Information: Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States); ISSN CHPCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
320304 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
AIR
COOLING
DEW POINT
DRYERS
DRYING
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FLUIDS
GASES
LOW TEMPERATURE
PERFORMANCE
REFRIGERATION
REFRIGERATORS
REMOVAL
WATER REMOVAL