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Have you ever asked yourself which refrigerant dryer is right for you and why it should be this type of compressed air treatment? Your answer is “yes!”? - Then read in today's blog article why not only an energy-efficient compressor but also compressed air preparation plays an important role and which refrigerant dryer is best for you.
Why is it important to install an energy-efficient compressed air preparation system?
Compressed air is an essential element in industrial applications. Immediately after compression, the sucked in air is very humid. This can cause condensation as well as corrosion in the compressed air and in the worst case lead to contamination of the end product. Therefore the air has to be dried. A compressed air dryer uses a lot of energy, which, depending on the operational requirements, can account for up to 20% of the energy consumption of the compressed air supply.
Energy-efficient compressors are important, but the efficiency of the entire compressed air station is even more important. And that means the compressors as well as the dryers and filters. That is why we have developed a complete product range for compressed air treatment with the most efficient and reliable technologies that are tailored to your specific requirements.
In other words, energy efficient dryers play a crucial role because they not only help save money, but also help reduce your carbon footprint. Your CO2 tax can also be positively influenced by energy-efficient air treatment.
Which refrigerant dryer for which application and how do they differ?
In our product range, we at Atlas Copco differentiate between three types of refrigerant dryers. In the next section we will present these to you and at the same time show you the fields of application in which the refrigeratnt dryers can be used advantageously.
The FX series is the smallest series of refrigerant dryers and has a fixed speed. The refrigerant dryers in this series are not only characterized by their extreme robustness and reliability, but are also cheaper to buy than other series. These dryers are increasingly used as redundancy dryers or for applications with low operating hours, as they do not have an energy-saving function.
The FD series is in the middle of the refrigerant dryer range and also has a fixed speed. In addition to the extreme robustness and reliability, it has lower life cycle costs and very low energy consumption. Thanks to its built-in control function, it contributes to excellent energy efficiency. Therefore, the refrigerant dryers of this series can be used as energy-saving dryers when the operating hours are high.
In contrast to the two series mentioned above, the FD VSD (+) series has a variable speed. You are now wondering what effects a speed-controlled drive can have on energy efficiency? The effects are enormous. They are actually the most energy-efficient dryers ever, because they adapt to your needs with the help of the integrated frequency converter and are the first choice when it comes to energy-efficient dryers and CO2 reductions. Our FD series are also available in the "+" variant. The plus stands for particularly high energy efficiency.
Would you like to learn more?
When does a refrigerant dryer with a speed-controlled drive make sense?
It makes sense to purchase a refrigerant dryer with a speed-controlled drive if the following points apply to your operational application.
- Do you need a flexible dew point setting for your application?
Thanks to the variable speed of the refrigerant dryer, the dew point settings can be flexibly adjusted.
- Do you need quick reactions in your application?
Due to the variable speed, quick reaction times to changes in your operating conditions are possible at any time.
- Are high temperatures required in your application?
The variable speed refrigerant dryers are also very efficient at higher temperatures.
What does the GWP value say and how can it be determined?
GWP stands for Global Warming Potential and describes the potential of global warming. In other words, it stands for the relative global warming potential and is therefore crucial for reducing CO2. The so-called GWP value indicates the effect on global warming over a certain period of time. This value multiplied by the amount of refrigerant is also referred to as the CO2 equivalent. When one speaks of the GWP in relation to refrigeration dryers, the refrigerant is meant. The refrigerant is usually considered over a period of 100 years. The higher the GWP value, the more harmful the refrigerant is to the climate.
