What Are Automatic Drain Valves? Importance of Automatic Drain Valves w/ Compressed Air Dryers
Where there is compressed air, there is water, which means that condensate management is a critical step in supplying clean, dry compressed air to your tools, equipment, and processes. Van Air Systems is a leading manufacturer and supplier of compressed air dryers, automatic drain valves, and more.
The Importance of Using Compressed Air Dryers
In the process of generating and distributing compressed air, moisture condensation is inevitable. It usually contains oil and other contaminants that can sometimes be particularly aggressive. Companies recognize the pitfalls that accompany contaminated air–increased maintenance, higher operating costs, premature equipment failure, and replacement, as well as an overall decrease in productivity. Deliquescent D-Series Dryers, Portable Compressed Air Dryers, Regenerative Desiccant Compressed Air Dryers, In-line Desiccant Dryers, and Moisture Block Dryers remove those harmful toxins and eliminate water from compressed air lines, reducing any condensation or rusting.
“Salt Dryers” or “Desiccant Dryers,” otherwise known as deliquescent compressed air dryers, are made to protect against freeze-ups in winter and liquid in the summer with the help of using automatic drain valves.
Benefits of Using Automatic Drain Valves in the Compressed Air Dehydration Process
Businesses across various industries are equipped with air compressors, many of which could be improved in terms of moisture extraction for better overall performance. Vaporized water is present in all-natural air. After air enters into a compressor, the vapor turns to liquefied water once the air gets too cold to retain any more vapor. The coldness level that causes this process is called the dew point, and it signifies the amount of drying needed for clean air compression.
The demand for moisture-free air has risen since the spread of air compression and the increase in the number of industries that rely on compressed air for manufacturing products. As a result, the rapid development of drying equipment surged to demand. When producing compressed air, condensation that’s been built up in the dryer must be drained. With new EPA regulations, Van Air provides an economical solution.
Automatic drain valves remove mixtures of water and compressor lubricants from compressed air systems. An automatic drain valve eliminates the need for a maintenance worker to patrol the plant, manually dumping liquid from the air system.
Applications of Compressed Air Dryers
Compressed Air Dryers w/ Automatic Drain Valves can be used for:
- Auto Repair Shops / Body Shops
- CNC Machine Shops
- Service Trucks
- Dry Cleaners
- Paint Shops
- HVAC Systems
- Manufacturing Plants
- Home Workshops
- Dairy Farms
- Off-Shore Operations
- Dental Labs
- Chemical Plants
- Process Equipment
- Food Packaging
Compressed Air Dryers w/ Automatic Drain Valves can prevent:
- Liquid-related damage
- Excessive liquid build-up
- High costing maintenance
- Noise hazard
- Lost compressed air
- Liquid carryover downstream
Types of Drain Valves
Automatic Drain Valves
As the name implies, auto drain valves remove human labor from emptying drying storage tanks. An automatic drain valve eliminates the need for a maintenance worker to patrol the plant, manually dumping liquid from the air system. Here are a few different auto drain valves available:
Learn more about Van Air System’s Automatic Drain valves and find which is best for you based on application and price.
Timered Solenoid Automatic Drain – EDV Series
These drains are the most economical drains on the market. They use a solenoid to open and close a needle valve. The downside to these valves is that they clog up when there are heavy particulates in the drain lines. Since these valves only have a needle seat drain, they often clog up. If your condensate line is clean, like on a coalescing filter, then the EDV timered solenoid drain valve would be a perfect solution.
Motorized Automatic Drain Valve – MDV Series
These automatic drain valves are built like a tank and can handle heavy particulates without clogging up. The best part about our MDV drain valves is that it can be wired to upper and lower limit liquid level sensors to be used as a zero loss drain valve. You can operate the MDV in Timer Mode, Switch Mode, or both. Using high powered actuators and a full ported ball valve, nothing will stop these valves from opening and closing. Our valves can snap a #2 pencil if it gets in the way, so keep your fingers clear when it begins to rotate.
Pneumatic Drain Valves – PDV Series
These automatic drain valves are used when you cannot have any loss of compressed air. They work by allowing the condensate to gravity feed into the valves condensation reservoir. When the liquid in the reservoir rises to a point where the float lifts off the seats, control air pressure is sent to the pneumatic piston to open the normally closed ¾ ported ball valve. When the liquid is evacuated and the float returns to the seat inside the reservoir, the control air pressure is cut off and the pneumatically operated piston slams shut. The most unique part about our PDV series is that our trigger mechanism does not touch the liquid condensate so there is no chance for sediment to build up and prevent the float from reseating. This means that our zero loss drain valve will always reseat and close unlike some of the others on the market.
A Leader in Manufacturing and Supplying Compressed Air Dryers, Automatic Drain Valves, & Desiccants
Van Air Systems provides more than just an affordable solution to problematic electric and diesel air compressors with pristine automatic drain valves. With 65 years of diverse technical experience behind us, Van Air Systems has grown into a leading manufacturer and supplier of absorbent desiccants for natural gas and compressed air deliquescent dehydration. Throughout that time, our company has worked to produce a wide array of energy-free products that improve the drying process. Regardless of your industrial dehydration equipment needs, we at Van Air Systems are confident in our abilities to provide cleaner solutions at an economical rate.
As a top manufacturer and supplier in our industry, our products continue to act as energy-free alternatives for your commercial coating, blasting, and industrial dehydration needs. Explore our full product line of compressed air and natural gas dryers, automatic drain valves, air and gas filters, and other accessories today.
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