If you work with an air compressor, especially during painting work, special attention should be paid to the preparation of the air, especially its "drying". It should be noted that the use of moisture separators is relevant for any type of compressor. There is an opinion that "oil-free" compressors (running on graphite lubricant) produce already sufficiently clean and ready-to-use compressed air. But this is a delusion. Both reciprocating and screw, and "oil" and "oil-free" compressors need high-quality air drying. And this is where the compressor moisture separator comes to the rescue, which we will discuss in this article.

Dehumidifier selection

When choosing a moisture trap, your first consideration should be based on your compressor application and the challenges it faces.

For household compressors

For small compressors with a capacity of up to 500m³ /min, non-professional type, there is a wide range of moisture separators and air filters from different manufacturers. First of all, these are small cyclone-type filters. Moisture and oil particles settle in the glass of such a moisture separator, and the output is sufficiently cleaned air. As the glass fills, the condensate is drained off. If you are not a professional, then such a filter, as practice shows, is quite enough for painting work, or for connecting a light pneumatic tool.

For professional equipment

For larger compressors, there are more professional drying systems. First of all, refrigeration dryers should be noted. The principle of their operation is that the air supplied from the compressor is cooled to a negative temperature (down to -3 C). As a result, oil and moisture are deposited in the form of condensation, which is removed. The air is then reheated using a special heat exchanger and supplied to the outlet. The quality of such drying is very high, but the cost of such equipment is not small.

The most professional type of dehumidifier is the desiccant. It is used when the highest cleanliness requirements are imposed on compressed air. The cost of such equipment corresponds to its quality.