Great Lakes Series GBS Air Dryers use regenerative type blowers to supply the purge air for desiccant regeneration. Atmospheric air is drawn into the blower through an intake filter silencer. During the heating portion of the regeneration cycle, the air is heated with an external circulation heater similar to the externally heated models. Because the design uses wet atmospheric air to regenerate and cool the desiccant bed, the dewpoint of this system will fluctuate with ambient conditions. An average dewpoint rating of this system is -20 F to +20 F pressure dewpoint.

Sequence of Operation

Compressed air laded with moisture vapor enters the system throught the right inlet valve and proceeds to enter the desiccant bed through the stainless steel diffuser screen. The air flows up from the bottom of the tank to the top allowing separated and condensed liquit to remain at the bottom of the vessel not contaminating the rest of the desiccant. The dehydrated compressed air then exits the right vessel through the top stainless steel diffuser screen, and past the outlet check-valve.

A regenerative blower moves atmospheric air into the circulation heater where it is heated and directed to the left desiccant bed for regeneration. The hot absorbent purge air enteres the desiccant bed from the top and flows down heating the desiccant bed and collecting moisture from the desiccant. The now moisture laden purge air exits the system through the purge valve and muffler. After 2.5 hours, the purge heater cycles off allowing the un-heated atmospheric purge air toe cool the bed. Several minutes before the cycle nears completion the purge valve closes and a solenoid repressurization valve opens allowing the regenerativion vessel to equalize pressure with the on-line tower. The cycle completes after 4 hours and the inlet valves invert continuing the cycle.