Activated alumina is an aluminum oxide bead with an extremely porous structure and high surface area-to-mass ratio. Activated alumina has a wide variety of applications, including compressed air and gas drying.
In compressed air and gas drying applications, activated alumina will achieve dew points -40°F to -100°F, depending on the dryer design.
In compressed air desiccant dryers, a 1/8" (2-5 mm) activated alumina bead is most commonly used. The ¼" (5-10 mm) activated alumina bead is typically used as a pre-bed for supporting large desiccant beds or as a buffer for silica gel beds. The 3/16" (5-10 mm) bead is used when pressure drop and surface area requirements fall between the 1/8" and ¼" material.
Features and Benefits
- High adsorption capacity for reducing initial cost, energy consumption, and operating costs
- Low abrasion for ensuring minimal dusting and a low pressure drop
- Resistant to liquid water slugging resulting from the failure of up stream after-coolers, separators, or drain traps.
- The adsorption capacity of the desiccant can be restored after complete regeneration.
- High crush strength for limiting dusting during loading of desiccant into dryer towers
- Uniform bead size minimizes pressure drop, channeling, and ensures utilization of the full desiccant bed
- In regenerative drying systems, Van Air activated alumina beds are sized for a service life of 2-5 years
- Available in 25lb pails, 50lb bags, 375lb steel drums and 2,000lb bulk bags