These compressed air dryers mikropor remonts use a desiccant, which adsorbs the water vapor in the air stream. A distinction needs to be made between adsorb and absorb. Adsorb means that the moisture adheres to the desiccant, collecting in the thousands of small pores within each desiccant bead. The composition of the desiccant is not changed, and the moisture can be driven off in a regeneration process by applying dry purge air, by the application of heat, or a combination of both. Absorb means the material that attracts the moisture is dissolved in and used up by the moisture. Absorption takes place in a deliquescent compressed air dryers mikropor remonts.

Regenerative compressed air dryers mikropor remonts normally are of twin tower construction. One tower dries the air from the compressor while the desiccant in the other tower is being regenerated after the pressure in the tower has been reduced to atmospheric pressure. Regeneration can be accomplished using a time cycle or on demand by measuring the temperature or humidity in the desiccant towers or by measuring the dew point of the air leaving the on-line tower.

In the heatless regenerative desiccant type, no internal or external heaters are used. Purge air requirement can range up to 18% of the total air-flow. The typical regenerative desiccant dryer at 100 psig has a pressure dew point rating of -40°F but dew points down to -100°F can be obtained.

Heat reactivated regenerative compressed air dryers mikropor remonts may have internal or external heat applied by heaters. In the internal type, steam or electricity may be used in heaters embedded in the desiccant bed. This reduces the amount of purge air required for regeneration to less than 10%. The purge air plus normal radiation is used to cool the desiccant bed after regeneration to prevent elevated air temperatures going downstream.

In externally heated regenerative compressed air dryers mikropor remonts, the purge air is heated to an elevated temperature and then passes through the desiccant bed. The amount of purge air is approximately 5-10% of the air flow through the compressed air dryers mikropor remonts. The purge air from the compressed air system can be eliminated if a blower is used for the circulation of heated atmospheric air through the desiccant bed. To protect the desiccant bed from oil contamination from the air compressor, a coalescing filter is required upstream of the compressed air dryers mikropor remonts. To protect downstream equipment from desiccant dust or “fines”, a particulate filter downstream of the compressed air dryers mikropor remonts also is also recommended.