Importer and distributor of compressed air treatment products Artic Driers has developed an automated dryer system that is practical for the South African market, says Artic Driers MD Allen Cockfield.

The company has launched a range of cost-effective instruments to assist clients in retrofitting any air dryer with monitoring equipment that will alert the plant operators to a jammed condensate drain, a blocked filter element, or an air dryer fault, before the contamination reaches the application.

The instruments are easy to operate and cost effective. Depen-dent on the needs of a plant, dew point can be logged and monitored through a 4-MA to 20-MA signal. The operators can enter alarm points through the software package and the output information can be retained for analytical purposes later.

For a simpler solution, a liquid- crystal display screen readout can be provided on the dryer for operators. This unit, with its simple voltfree contact, provides an alarm or shutdown when required. These dew point systems effectively monitor the dew point performance of any air dryer at a reasonable price.

Timed automatic drains can be replaced with intelligent level controlled drains that only open when condensate is present and do not waste expensive compressed air. If the unit fails to open, the drain unit will give a fault signal. This ensures that the operator’s time is not wasted and that the operator is freed up to perform other important tasks, rather than routinely checking condensate drain valves.

Intelligent level controlled drains can be used on in-line air filters, air dryers and receivers. Payback is quickly achieved through reduc-tion in compressed air wastage as well as the vital ability of the drain to issue a fault signal when necessary.

Cockfield believes that this type of system is practical for the South African market in the sense that it automates dryer systems and reduces manpower that can be used on other aspects of a project.

“Pneumatic systems have become more and more sophisti- cated and the cost of a system failure is increasingly more expensive,” he explains.

Artic Driers reports that management is under continuous pressure to reduce manpower, and com- panies are finding it increasingly difficult to retain or even recruit experienced staff. As a result, many compressed-air drying systems are often neglected,” he says.

Cockfield adds that the first sign of an air quality problem is often only when contamination causes a component or system failure. The majority of compressed air dryers are fitted with timed condensate drains fitted with strainers. If this malfunctions or the strainer blocks, the dryer still produces condensate, but the blocked drain means that the condensate liquid builds up inside the dryer until the airflow carries these liquids into the air system.

Water, once in an airline, can take weeks to clear or evaporate. Oil in an airline is even more of a problem. Once the airline is infected, it can take months, or years, to find its way out of the airline. Unlike water, oil does not evaporate.

Artic Driers reports that these factors can cost companies thousands of rands a year in lost revenue.

He adds that the system is already on the market and is affordable. “In the past, you would have expected to pay around R20 000 to R30 000 for a system such as this. “It is now available to companies for around R8 000, depending on the companies needs.” He adds that the dryer systems in South Africa will need to work more efficiently in the future.

“Compressors and dryers will have to be able to work more efficiently in the sense that South Africa can expect an increase in power costs; this means that dryers and compressors will have to do the same work at a fraction of the energy consumed,” says Cockfield.

Cockfield notes that there is a trend in the compressor industry to amalgamate dryers with compressors, particularly in Europe. He adds that this works well in Europe because of the fact that the systems will be operating in mild temperatures.

“It is Artic’s opinion that stand-alone, independent air dryers are a better option, as they are individually selected to operate in the client’s own environment. “This means that heat load is taken into consideration and allowed for, thereby providing a dryer that is thermally matched to its application,” Cockfield says.

Meanwhile, Artic Driers has been involved in a number of large projects.

Harvey Roofing products placed an order for an F 600 air-cooled dryer to service its production life for roofing tiles. The new F 600 dryer is capable of purifying air at a rate of 141 m3/min at a pressure of 7 bar. Delivery of the dryer is expected in August 2007

Energy supplier Eskom approached Artic dryers towards the end of 2003 to install a dryer system to service the Kriel power station, near Witbank. Artic Dryers installed three F 600 water-cooled systems which will facilitate the ash removal from the boilers at the station.

Meanwhile, Artic Driers has been involved in the upgrade of Consol Glass’s Bellville plant in the Western Cape on an ongoing basis. Consol Glass has bought an additional two F 600 water-cooled dryers from Artic Driers, bringing the number of dryers at the plant to five. “Consol Glass has just installed a new furnace in its production line,” says Cockfield.

Artic Driers has received an order for an F 300 water-cooled dryer to Xstrata’s Rustenburg palletising plant. The dryer will be purifying air at a rate of 56 m3/min at a pressure of 7 bar. Xstrata placed the order for the dryer in June 2007, with delivery expected in September.

Artic Driers is the Southern African distributor for dryers manufactured by Jemaco Flair, in Busan, South Korea. Cockfield reports that the company has started to develop a presence in Southern Africa, and he hopes to grow this presence. “In Southern Africa, we are mainly doing work in Botswana and Mozambique. We have two distributors in Zimbabwe that we are still in contact with.” He adds that the company will use the Southern African countries as an entry point into other African countries.

The company has ordered an F 200 air-cooled dryer for Metal Fabricators of Zambia, which will service the company’s copper refinery. The dryer will have an external filtration system and the filters will be imported from Bea Technologies in Italy.

Artic Driers International is a family-owned and -operated specialist importing and distribution company that provides a range of compressed air treatment products for the South African market. The company imports from several European and Asian countries and supplies equipment and aftercare support throughout the country and neighbouring states through a network of distributors.