Moving forward with 'big' ideas

The setting up of BEKO Systems was important to the BEKO group because it gives the company capability in very large dryers. The Everdry range of heat regenerated adsorption dryers extends to 20,000m3/h and the company can provide tailor-made solutions beyond this figure.

Drying compressed air to low dew points such as -40°C is expensive.

The desiccant medium has to go through a regeneration process to drive off the water adsorbed but then must be cooled before the desiccant can start drying again. The industry standard, says Beko, is that a desiccant dryer is two columns filled with desiccant. The first column dries the compressed air until the desiccant is partly saturated; the other column then comes on line and the wet column is regenerated and cooled.

All this takes energy and the trend has been away from any kind of purge loss of compressed air. Beko believes the solution to reduce drying costs is the HOC, heat of compression dryer. This uses the fact that compressing air raises the temperature of the air in 2- stage, non-lubricated compressors to approaching 200°C. In other drying solutions this heat is allowed to pass downstream where it can be recovered and used, but in many cases goes to waste through the cooling system.

Heat of Compression Dryer layout: This type of dryer can offer low dew points and low running costs. Different types of compressors require different versions of HOC adsorption dryers. The standard range meets these requirements. The Everdry HOC-R (reload) provides stable pressure dew points lower than -40°C. Beko says demand for high quality air for the electronic industry with pressure dew points of -70°C will be realised with the Reload procedure. Beko has three other ranges of classic twin column/tower heat reactivated adsorption dryers.

FRP heat regenerated adsorption dryers: Heated blower air regenerates the desiccant and a small purge flow of expanded dry air cools the desiccant. This product, with few components, is designed for customers who need to keep capital costs to a minimum. Performance range is 580-40,000m3/h, dew point is to -40°C at pressure. It is suitable for all climate zones.

FRA heat regenerated adsorption dryers: These use heated blower air to regenerate the desiccant. Cooling is by ambient air and a blower.

Performance range is 580-40,000 m3/h, dew point is to -40°C at pressure. Units are suitable for moderate climate zones FRL heat regenerated adsorption dryers (pictured): The FRL dryer is aimed at critical ambient conditions, normally high temperatures and has a closed circuit loop for cooling using blower air and the regeneration by heated blower air. Performance range is 580-40,000 m3/h, dew point is to -70°C at pressure, and it is suitable for all climate zones.