A refrigerated air dryer removes moisture from compressed air by cooling it to a low temperature, causing water vapor to condense into liquid water, which is then drained from the system. Similar to a home refrigerator, it utilizes a refrigeration cycle to cool a medium that the compressed air flows through, lowering its dew point and preventing condensation in downstream equipment. After cooling and moisture removal, the dry air is reheated, often by exchanging heat with the incoming hot air, to prevent re-condensation in the distribution system.
