When outdoor temperatures drop below 32ºF, water in air lines to the arc gougers and other pneumatic tools, such as grinders, wire brushes, chipping hammers, and impact wrenches, freeze and block air flow. Without air power, work on the job site is slowed or stopped. Crews of six to ten highly skilled workers are kept waiting while the air supply is restored.

One of the most heavily used tools on steel plate construction is the carbon arc gouger. The back side of weld seams between plates is prepared by gouging out the weld material with a carbon electrode that heats the base and weld metals and simultaneously directs a jet of compressed air to blow away the molten metal, leaving a prepared joint for welding. Compressed air is supplied by a skid-mounted 50-60-horsepower compressor through flexible hoses to the works areas. Although Tanner gas (similar to anti-freeze used in car radiators) is often injected into the air lines, freeze-ups can still occur. This does not remove any water; it only prevents existing liquid from freezing.

In order to prevent the costly downtime, CBI production management investigated alternate methods for moisture removal. They selected six Van Air Freedom Dryers, model D24. The dryers were skid-mounted at the Van Air factory in Lake City, Pennsylvania for ease of portability from site to site. No outside utility is needed to operate the dryers, making the Freedom Dryer an ideal choice for applications of this type. In addition, with no moving parts, these dryers meet rigorous requirements and endure the rough handling inherent in the steel erection trade. 

The Freedom Dryer suppresses the dew point of compressed air by 20ºF. By suppressing the dew point, moisture cannot condense; hence, freeze-ups are prevented. This is accomplished with a bed of special Van Air deliquescent desiccant called Dry-O-Lite, which absorbs entrained water vapor.

According to CBI’s warehouse manager, “In the field construction business, tools must always  be in working order to get the job done on time, and the Van Air dryers have made that possible. The most important benefit was the elimination of freeze-ups, but we have also noticed savings in tool repair and replacement.”