Pneumatech EE Series, Owner'S Manual

Pub. No. OM-A-10E — April 2004

5

DESICCANT REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES

Pneumatech uses Activated Alumina Grade A desiccant 
for all standard heat reactivated air dryers. Dryers up to 
1500 SCFM are factory filled with desiccant. Dryers 
1800 SCFM and larger are supplied with loose desiccant 
in 50 lb. bags. The dryer must be filled with desiccant 
before start-up. Dryers ranging from 35 SCFM to 500 
SCFM use 1/8" diameter desiccant. Dryers 650 SCFM 
and larger use a mix of 1/8” and 1/4" size desiccant. 
See the dryer specification sheet or dryer data tag for 
amounts per tower.

FILLING PROCEDURE

1.

Make sure the dryer is depressurized.

2.

Remove the plugs or flanges from the fill ports 
located on the top of the pressure vessels.

3.

Using a flashlight, inspect the inside of each vessel to 
be sure they are empty.

4.

Verify that the desiccant drain port located in the 
bottom of the pressure vessel is closed tightly.

5.

Desiccant is available in 50# bags, or 300# barrels. 
Divide the desiccant into equal amounts for each 
tower, and verify the correct amount by the 
specification tag located on the electrical panel. 
Towers can be filled manually with desiccant bags. 
A fork lift or overhead crane should be used when 
filling with 300# barrels.

6.

Dryers 650 SCFM and larger use two sizes of 
desiccant. For all heat reactivated models, fill the 
tower with the 1/4" diameter Activated Alumina 

first

, followed by 1/8" Activated Alumina. The 

large desiccant (1/4” size) is used to disperse the 

inlet

 air flow.

7.

Close the fill ports and put the dryer in service. Refer 
to the Start-Up Procedure listed in this manual.

MOLECULAR SIEVE OPTION 
(LOW DEWPOINT)

Dryers with optional Molecular Sieve are filled with the 
Activated Alumina 

first

 and the Molecular Sieve 

last

. The 

Molecular Sieve is used as a polishing agent to lower the 
dewpoint temperature.

NOTE: 

The proper amount of desiccant may or may not 

fill the vessel to the top.

DRAINING PROCEDURE

The desiccant can be removed by the two methods listed 
below. 

MAKE SURE THE DRYER IS DEPRESSURIZED 

PRIOR TO REMOVING THE FILL OR DRAIN PORT.

Method #1 –

 Remove the drain port and drain the 

desiccant into buckets which are then poured into the 
proper dumpster or receptacle.

Method #2 –

 Usually used for large dryers (1000 SCFM 

and larger). An industrial dry vacuum cleaner is required 
for this method. 

1.

Remove the desiccant fill port. 

2.

Using an industrial vacuum cleaner, remove the 
desiccant from the vessel.

3.

Open the desiccant drain port and remove the 
remaining desiccant.

DESICCANT DISPOSAL

Desiccant is not considered a hazardous waste, unless 
contaminated with oil or other toxic substances. Disposal 
of the desiccant should be handled by a local waste 
management company.