PCM Air Dryer

Phase change in PCM dryer

• When a refrigeration compressor and condenser fan are running, the cold refrigerant in the chiller (evaporator) cools the liquid Phase Change Material(PCM) and it gradually freezes.
• When a PCM is sufficiently cooled and frozen, the refrigeration compressor and condenser fan stop.
• The compressed air is continuously cooled by the PCM while the refrigeration compressor is inactive. No power is consumed during this period.
• The PCM gradually melts as it adsorbs heat from the compressed air, and when fully melted, the refrigeration compressor and condenser fan resume to cool down the PCM.

How it works.

• Compressed air saturated with water vapour enters the stainless steel brazed air-to-air heat exchanger, is pre-cooled by the outgoing chilled air, and then directed to the stainless steel brazed plate PCM-to-air heat exchanger (evaporator) where it is further cooled by the Phase Change Material (PCM).
• As the air is cooled, water vapour condenses into liquid droplets which are then removed by high efficiency external moisture separator with No Loss Drain.
• Then aerosol and oil mist condensed from oil vapour are removed by high efficiency external oil filter with a No Loss Drain.
• Chilled air returns through air-to-air heat exchanger (re-heater) where it is reaheated before exiting the dryer. This is to prevent external sweating of piping when clean and dry compressed air travels to point of use.