
Refrigerated air dryers follow principles similar to household air conditioning systems, cooling the air before condensing moisture present in the air and collecting it into a separator for drainage. In a standard refrigerated dryer or non-cycling refrigerated air dryer, the refrigerant circulates continuously through the system. Because both the flow of compressed air and ambient temperatures vary, a hot gas bypass valve is often used to regulate the temperature of the refrigerant while preventing freezing operating conditions within the system.