Yes, a refrigerated air dryer removes moisture by cooling compressed air to condense the water vapor into liquid. As the air cools, moisture turns into liquid water droplets, which are then separated and drained from the system. The dry air is typically reheated to prevent condensation from forming on downstream piping.
How it works
Cooling: The dryer uses a refrigeration system to cool the incoming compressed air, similar to how a refrigerator cools its interior.
Condensation: When the air is cooled, its ability to hold moisture decreases, causing the water vapor to condense into liquid water. For every 50F(10℃) drop in temperature, the moisture-holding capacity of air is reduced by 50%.
Separation: The condensed water droplets are separated from the air stream in a moisture separator.
Draining: The water is then collected and drained from the dryer.
Reheating: The dry air is reheated to a near-room temperature to prevent condensation from forming in the pipes after it leaves the dryer.