Compressed Air Dryer Sizing & Dew Point Calculator
Model compressed air moisture removal, calculate liquid water condensation gallons per day, and size refrigerated vs desiccant dryers with CAGI correction factors.
Air Flow & Inlet Operating Conditions
Target Dew Point & Operating Hours
Dryer Sizing & Correction Results
Moisture Content Comparison
Engineering Application Note
Recommended Tools & Equipment
Tested hardware and components for high reliability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pressure Dew Point (PDP) in compressed air systems?
Pressure Dew Point is the temperature to which pressurized air can be cooled before water vapor begins condensing into liquid droplets at that specific operating pressure. Chilling the air below its PDP in a dryer and separating the liquid condensate guarantees that no liquid water will form in plant lines as long as ambient temperatures remain above the PDP.
Why does inlet air temperature have such a drastic effect on dryer sizing?
The moisture-holding capacity of air roughly doubles with every 20°F (11°C) increase in temperature. Saturated compressed air entering at 120°F carries nearly twice the moisture load of air entering at 100°F. If the compressor aftercooler fails to cool the air adequately, the dryer will be overwhelmed with heat and water.
When is a desiccant dryer required instead of a refrigerated dryer?
Refrigerated dryers are physically limited to about +38°F PDP because cooling air any lower would freeze condensate onto the evaporator heat exchanger tubes. Whenever compressed air piping passes outdoors through freezing winter climates or into sub-freezing cold storage rooms, a desiccant dryer (-40°F to -100°F PDP) is required to prevent frozen pipes.
What are the ISO 8573-1 air purity classes for water vapor?
ISO 8573-1:2010 specifies purity classes for moisture: Class 1 (≤ -94°F PDP), Class 2 (≤ -40°F PDP, standard for outdoor electronics and pharmaceutical pneumatics), Class 3 (≤ -4°F PDP), Class 4 (≤ +38°F PDP, standard for general manufacturing tools and indoor cylinders).