Air Compressors & Dryers Design Standards

Air Compressors in Dryer Design

• Air compressors increase the pressure of the air used to dehydrate substances. Air compressors can also be used to improve the energy efficiency of the drying process. According to the "Handbook of Industrial Drying" by A. S. Mujumdar, "the compressor is used to compress vapor leaving the evaporator and, under appropriate conditions, the energy required by the compressor in significantly lower than the recoverable heat value in the vapor." This is called heat capture or reheat.

Industrial Design Standards

• Industrial dryers can remove a majority of a processed substance while it is turned into a powder. This can result in dry powder buildup around the hot dryer surface. "Encapsulated and Powdered Foods" by Charles Onwulata states "all modern dryers have explosion protection as a standard feature."

Design Standards

• According to "Air Sampling and Industrial Hygiene Engineering" by Martha Boss and Dennis Day, "the design of all systems must comply with the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) handbook and to the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Numbers 90A, 90B, and 91." These standards set require adequate space for maintenance, air flow and energy efficiency. Air compressors are used to recover heat to boost efficiency of the air dryer when practical.