10/11/2017 Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs.

Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The How of -100F Pressure Dew Point | Van Air Systems Blog

Search... Go

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Subject

Your Message

Enter code below

Send

About Us
Located in Lake City, Pennsylvania, Van Air Systems™, a division of Van Air Inc.™, is the original and leading
manufacturer of tabletted absorbent desiccants for compressed air dehydration applications.

http://www.vanairsystems.com/blog/understanding-pressure-dew-point-vs-atmospheric-dew-point-the-how-of-100f-pressure-dew-point/ 1/6
10/11/2017 Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The How of -100F Pressure Dew Point | Van Air Systems Blog

Learn More
Home » Application Solutions » Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The How of
-100F Pressure Dew Point
« Previous Post
Next Post »

Dale Oesterling
September 5, 2012

Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The

How of -100F Pressure Dew Point
The most common measurement of compressed air water content is dew point. Dew point is the temperature
where air–or any gas– is saturated with water and moisture will begin to condense. In other words, it’s the point
where dew begins to form. Dew point is always stated as a temperature. Simply put, dew point is the
temperature where condensation begins.

In compressed air applications, pressure is critical when discussing dew point . Compression and expansion of
air affects its dew point. Generally speaking, compression increases dew point, and expansion (i.e. de-
compression) lowers dew point. For example, consider compressed air leaving a dryer at 200 PSIG with a
pressure dew point of -40º F/C @ 200 psig. If the pressure is eventually reduced to 100 psig, the pressure dew
point will fall to -50 ºF @ 100 psig. If the air is further expanded to 5 psig, the pressure dew point becomes
-77º F @ 5 psig.

For this reason, the phrase pressure dew point (PDP) is commonly used. This term usually refers to the dew
point of the compressed air at full line pressure. Conversely the phrase atmospheric dew point refers to what the
dew point would be if fully depressurized to atmospheric conditions.

Many industrial users of compressed air specify a pressure dew point of -40⁰ F/C at line pressure. This is
especially so in process industries, facilities where air lines will be exposed to cold ambient air, and systems
where compressed air interacts with sensitive instruments and processes.

In rare cases a pressure dew point lower than -40⁰ F/C @ 100 psig will be specified. We normally see this
requirement in instances where the end-user is conveying chemicals that react with trace amounts of moisture,
micro-electronics manufacturing, some food processing facilities, and cryogenic (super-chilled) applications.
ISO 8573.1 is a common standard for defining compressed air quality. ISO 8573.1 dew point class 1 calls for a
pressure dew point of -94 ºF PDP @ 100 PSIG.

Most off the shelf regenerative desiccant dryers, both heated and heatless, will deliver a -40º F/C @ 100 psig
average pressure dew point. But how does one obtain a continuous ultra-low pressure dew point? Here are
some useful guidelines.

1. You probably won’t use a heated dryer. It’s well known that most industry standard heated dryers will involve
a dew point spike at tower change over. This can be eliminated through design modifications, but that will drive
up capital and operating costs.

2. Use a heatless dryer – but only at the point of use or for that portion of the air system where an ultra-low
pressure dew point is truly required.

3. Continuously operate the heatless dryer. To obtain very low dew points, the dryer needs to run continuously.
This means 24/7. Demand switching and purge shut-off features cannot be used.

http://www.vanairsystems.com/blog/understanding-pressure-dew-point-vs-atmospheric-dew-point-the-how-of-100f-pressure-dew-point/ 2/6
10/11/2017 Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The How of -100F Pressure Dew Point | Van Air Systems Blog

4. De-rate the heatless dryer by 20% for -100º F. So if the standard dryer is rated for 100 SCFM @ 100 PSIG
for -40º F/C PDP, it will be rated for 80 SCFM @ 100 PSIG for -100º F PDP.

5. Fast cycle the heatless dryer. Most heatless dryers operate on a 10 minute NEMA cycle, 5 minutes per tower.
For an ultra-low dew point a heatless dryer will need to operate on a 4 minute NEMA cycle, 2 minutes per
tower. Unfortunately this will result in rapid aging of valves and desiccant. Expect the desiccant to last only 1-2
years on a NEMA 4 cycle.

6. Turn up the purge on the heatless dryer to about 22.5%.

7. Verify the operating pressure will be at least 100 PSIG. Heatless dryers function on the principal of pressure
swing adsorption. The driving force of regeneration (the swing) is a differential between line pressure and
regeneration pressure. If that differential is less than 100 PSIG, you’ll never meet a -100º F PDP requirement.

8. Operate the dryer in a clean, temperature controlled, dry indoor area with minimum outlet piping to avoid
back pressure on the purge line. Again, outlet piping on the purge line creates back pressure on the regenerating
tower, thus inhibitinh the all important swing.

9. Have a good after-filter. The fast cycling often creates elevated levels of desiccant dust.

As you can see, driving down the pressure dew point from -40º F/C to -100º F takes considerable effort. It can
be costly too, both in terms of energy use and increased maintenance costs. This is why I suggest only pursuing
this dew point at the point of use or in isolated portions of the plant. Trying to achieve a pressure dew point of
-100º F throughout the plant is likely to be needlessly wasteful and very difficult to maintain.

13 Comments
Posted In: Application Solutions, Compressed Air Dryers, Desiccants, Regenerative Desiccant Dryers

13 comments
1. Brent Spomer says:
August 18, 2014 at 3:18 pm

I am trying to remove water from my compressor air. As part of the system I am installinga condenser
made from re-purposed (but new) transmision oil cooler. I realize that was air cools water will condense
out after it reaches the dew point. But how cold do I have to get the compressed air for it to condense in
my condensor. The coldest I could hope to get it is room temperature. I recall that the dew point increases
with increase pressure so the dew point of say 100psi air is higher air in the room (atmospheric pressure).

I don’t expect to get the air to room temperature so I am now wondering if this device will have any
significant benefit.

Thanks.

2. Tyler Currie says:

September 29, 2014 at 10:42 pm

Brent,

By cooling the compressed air back to within a few degrees of room (ambient) temperature you’re
accomplishing the most important part of the air treatment process. Good cooling removes about 70% of

http://www.vanairsystems.com/blog/understanding-pressure-dew-point-vs-atmospheric-dew-point-the-how-of-100f-pressure-dew-point/ 3/6
10/11/2017 Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The How of -100F Pressure Dew Point | Van Air Systems Blog

the water.

The problem is that no cooler is 100% efficient. The cooler cannot make the compressed air perfectly
equal to the temperature of the coolant (in this case ambient air). I would guess that your cooler will have
a lower efficiency than a purpose built cooler, since you’re adapting a radiator that was build for a
different application and might not even have a fan with a motor to force air across it.

In any case, you’ll also need a devise for separating the water that condenses in the cooler. This is called a
moisture separator or liquid separator. You need a good drain valve on the separator too.

Finally you might require a dryer. This is a device that will lower the dew point of the compressed air
below the temperature of the ambient air. No cooler will do this. There are a wide range of dryers
available. So the best choice really depends on how you’re using the compressed air.

3. Ravikumar says:
March 17, 2015 at 9:06 am

May i know what is meant NEMA cycle….is there any standard available to know more about NEMA
cycle…….

4. Sunil Kumar Prabhakaran says:

October 17, 2015 at 2:47 pm

I need a clarification from you. One of our customers is using a refrigerated Compressed air Dryer of 20
CFM capacity for one of their applications. The compressed air dryer is showing a due point of 0 deg on
the due point indicator.The customer needs -17 deg continuous.The compressed air pressure going into the
Dryer is 7 – 10 Kg/sq cm and the out put pressure is also the same.Kindly advice.

5. dhiren roy says:

March 28, 2016 at 3:59 pm

refrigerated air driers donot have the capacity to reduce the temperature dew point below 2 deg C,OR else
try decreasing the pressure of the compressed air inlet to your drier and see the result, it will reduce but
not to -17 deg C.

6. Niran Sooknanan says:

December 8, 2016 at 4:49 pm

I am measuring the dew point of SF6 gas in a VT on a GIS system. Would I have different dew points
with different pressures? i.e testing a sample at Vessel pressure and testing a sample at Atmospheric
pressure.

7. Kit says:
February 16, 2017 at 8:49 am

Why the drying and regenerate cycle so called NEMA cycle?

8. Vijay yadav says:

February 19, 2017 at 12:03 pm

I need chart pressure dew point vs atmospheric dew point

9. Vijay yadav says:

February 19, 2017 at 12:04 pm

I need chat pressure dew point vs atmospheric dew point.

http://www.vanairsystems.com/blog/understanding-pressure-dew-point-vs-atmospheric-dew-point-the-how-of-100f-pressure-dew-point/ 4/6
10/11/2017 Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The How of -100F Pressure Dew Point | Van Air Systems Blog

10. Rovate Sigadrodro says:

April 6, 2017 at 12:56 am

We facing an issue on Low pressure dew point on our new installed dryer…need help

11. Benyamen says:

July 7, 2017 at 3:19 am

We have Compressor with Refrigeran dryer.

The PDP is 3dC at 8 bar.
This comp air is starge tank with DPEco dryer
When we measure the dew point in the outlet (user point) the DP is 2.7C/T30C/RH 17.47% (at 1 atm)
If we convert the DP to PDP at 8 bar , the PDP raised up to 37C/8bar.

What is going wrong?

Thanks and regards
Benyamen

12. Manoj Kumar Jha says:

September 25, 2017 at 11:40 am

What are the effect of ambinent temperature on compressed air after dryer. In our area temperature in
night going as low as 6 degree celsius. What we observed, we are getting lots of moisture even after the
refrigerant type of dryer.

13. Manoj Kumar Jha says:

September 25, 2017 at 11:42 am

Ambient temperature is going as below as 6 degree in night. We are getting lots of moisture after
refrigerant type of dryer having due point as 3 degree Celsius. Kindly suggest effect of ambient
temperature on the compressed air leaving utility section at 40 degree Celsius and immediately subjected
to 6 degree of ambient temperature.

Leave a Reply

Name *
E-mail *

Your Comment*

CAPTCHA Code *

http://www.vanairsystems.com/blog/understanding-pressure-dew-point-vs-atmospheric-dew-point-the-how-of-100f-pressure-dew-point/ 5/6
10/11/2017 Understanding Pressure Dew Point vs. Atmospheric Dew Point; The How of -100F Pressure Dew Point | Van Air Systems Blog

submit

http://www.vanairsystems.com/blog/understanding-pressure-dew-point-vs-atmospheric-dew-point-the-how-of-100f-pressure-dew-point/ 6/6