Aircel HRE-5000 Heated Desiccant Air Dryer

Regenerative compressed air dryers use desiccant to adsorb water vapor from the compressed airstream. In the twin tower design one tower dries the air from the compressor while the desiccant in the other tower is being regenerated to provide continuous operation. These dryers are typically referred to as "heatless" or "heated". Heatless dryers do not use any source of heat for regeneration other than the heat given off during the drying phase. This is known as the "Heat of Adsorption". Heated dryers, on the other hand, utilize an external heat source for regeneration and require little or no process air.

The Aircel HRE Series Dryers (600 - 10,000 scfm) utilize externally heated atmospheric air for regeneration of the desiccant bed. This significantly reduces the use of compressed purge air for regeneration resulting in an overall reduction in the cost of operation. Process air is only consumed during depressurization of the offline tower and during cool-down of the regenerating bed. This amounts to an average process air use of 2% of the rated capacity of the dryer.

• 40°F Dew Point Standard (Contact Us for -100°F)
• Ambient Air Temperature 38°F - 125°F
• Inlet Air Temperature 40°F - 110°F
• Operating Pressure: 60 - 150 psig
• 1 Year Standard Limited Warranty

Dimensions & Specifications

Pricing includes mounted prefilter and afterfilter, ASME code stamped filter housing, differential pressure gauge, automatic drain valve and initial filter element. If you have questions on how to properly select a compressed air dryer, contact our knowledgeable customer service toll-free: 866-650-1937 or send us an email request.

Standard Voltage: 460V/60 Hz/3Ph

¹ Capacity based on -40°F pdp, 100 psig operating pressure, 100°F inlet temperature and 100°F ambient temperature according to CAGI ADF 200.

Standard Features:

• Purge air consumption reduced down to an average of 2% or less.
• Built-in energy management controls.
• Low pressure drop design for energy savings.
• Maximum desiccant volume for long life.
• High quality components for reliable service and long life.
• Unique HRE parallel flow to reduce or eliminate dew point and temperature spikes.
• Small footprint saves valuable floor space.
• Corrosion resistant finish.
• NEMA 4 electrical enclosures.
• Allen Bradley PLC control with panel view 300 display.
• Common alarm / pilot light.
• Failure to shift alarm.
• High performance butterfly valves.
• Stainless steel single body valves.
• Copper control air tubing.
• Water-cooled heat exchanger (HRS-L).

Optional Features for HRE and HRS-L:

• NEMA 4X (corrosive protection) electrical construction.
• NEMA 7 (explosion proof) electrical construction.
• -100°F pressure dew point.
• Low ambient temperature package.
• Dew point* monitor.
• Demand cycle control with dew point monitor.
• Pre-piped filters and by-pass valve packages.
• Visual moisture indicator.
• High output temperature alarm.
• Low ambient temperature alarm.

How The HRE Series Works

1. Wet compressed air, controlled by butterfly valves, enters the base of the on-line vessel (prefilter recommended).
2. As the compressed air passes through the desiccant bed, moisture is removed, lowering the dew point to -40º F.
3. Dry compressed air exits the top of the vessel, passes through a check valve and flows downstream to the use point (afterfilter recommended).
4. When the desiccant bed becomes saturated with moisture, it goes off-line and depressurizes to ambient through an angle-seat globe valve. A muffler attenuates the noise of depressurization.
5. After the off-line vessel has depressurized, a blower draws in ambient air for regeneration.
6. The ambient air is heated to 400º F, giving it the energy required to initiate and accomplish desorption, after which it passes through a check valve and enters the top of the regenerating vessel.
7. As the hot ambient air passes through the desiccant bed, water molecules are released from the surface of the desiccant and enter the airstream.
8. Hot regeneration air passes through a butterfly valve and exits to atmosphere.
9. At the end of the heating phase of the cycle, the desiccant bed, although regenerated, remains hot. The temperature of the bed must be lowered to minimize dew point and temperature spikes in the process air when the bed goes back on-line. This is accomplished by allowing a slipstream of dry process air, controlled by an angle-seat globe valve, to flow from the on-line vessel into the off-line vessel. This slipstream is also used to repressurize the off-line vessel after it has been cooled.
10. Unique to the Aircel HRE is our parallel running period 10 minutes prior to vessel switchover. During this period, the incoming flow of wet compressed air is directed through both vessels. This step further reduces or eliminates the dew point and temperature spikes associated with heated dryers while minimizing the loss of purge air used during the initial cool-down. This step is not required with HRS-L dryers.

Aircel HRE Blower Purge Regenerative Desiccant Dryer Series

Brochure (pdf)

Contact our customer service team by calling toll-free 866-650-1937 or email sales@ecompressedair.com for more information about the HRE dryer or for customized options and quotes.

Available Options

Contact our customer service team by calling toll-free 866-650-1937 or email sales@ecompressedair.com for more information about the HRE dryer or for customized options and quotes.

Replacement Parts & Service

eCompressedair has partnered with Aircel which gives our customers direct distributor discounted pricing and access to the entire Aircel product line.

Purchasing an Aircel dryer from eCompressedair gives you access to factory-direct replacement parts, kits and maintenance information for all Aircel dryers. Contact our customer service team by calling toll-free 866-650-1937 or email sales@ecompressedair.com for more information about the HRE dryer replacement parts, kits or maintenance information.