After Cooling Dryers

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After Cooling Dryer

Aftercooler is designed to cool down compressed air to assist with the removal of condensate.

Definition

Aftercoolers are the cheapest form of removal of condensate (water vapour that has condensed back to water) from compressed air. Aftercoolers are not normally needed on new compressors as most new machines are fitted with them as standard. However, some are undersized for Australian conditions and in certain circumstances you may need an additional aftercooler in your compressed air system. Aftercoolers operate similar to a radiator in your car. The name suggests exactly what an Aftercooler does. An Aftercooler cools compressed air and condenses the vapour back to water. It is then removed by a condensate separator after the air has been compressed. Once it has been separated, the condensate is delivered to an oil/water separator for safe disposal. Delivering cool, dry air to your factory is required so that you do not wreck equipment or the products you are working on or manufacturing. Water vapour that is in the air gets heated up and turned to steam whilst it is being compressed. As soon as it touches your cold pipework it condenses back into liquid water. An aftercooler makes the cooling happen in a predetermined place, making the separation and removal of water easy. Their limit is the ambient temperature, as this is the cooling medium or "energy" that is cooling the air. A refrigerated or dessicant dryer may also be necessary if an aftercooler does not produce dry enough air.

Advantage

• Reduces moisture build up in air lines
• Reduces rust inside the air lines
• Reduces rust inside the air tools
• Reduces likelihood of water getting into products

Why Should Use

• It is like a radiator in your car. A fan blows air across the core of the aftercooler which

dissipates heat out of the compressed air. The air is then channeled through a condensate

separator that spins out a large portion of the condensate contained in the compressed air.

• It can be air or water cooled.
• It can be supplied as an aftermarket accessory for your existing compressor set - (most new

Indented line compressors already have an aftercooler supplied as standard).

• It can be matched up to suit your reciprocating or rotary vane compressor because those

compressors were often originally sold without an aftercooler.

• These are the first stage in removal of condensate from compressed air.

Prime Function

Aftercoolers typically remove about 70% of the water vapour from compressed air, if they are correctly sized to do the job. Aftercoolers can be air or water cooled. Aftercoolers can only cool the compressed air to within a few degrees of the cooling medium (air or water). To size an aftercooler properly a number of considerations and readings must be taken from the proposed site. Your Southern Cross Engineer is best able to take these readings and recommend a model suited to YOUR application.