Refrigerant Compressed Air Dryer
Sub-Zero Refrigeration Dryers
Revolutionary Regenerative Refrigerated Dryers
The revolutionary CMT dryer is the only regenerative refrigerant dryer available in the compressed air market today. It combines the sub zero pressure dew point (PDP) of a typical regenerative desiccant dryer, with the low operating and energy costs of a refrigerant dryer, to provide an extremely low total cost of ownership (TCO). Sub zero air dryers take clean, dry air to new levels of cost-efficiency across a broad spectrum of operating conditions.
Optimised for Class 3 air quality
Many applications require very dry, high-quality air with sub zero dew points. CompAir’s desiccant dryers are the best option for the most stringent requirements – ISO Class 1-2 with a pressure dew point (PDP) as low as -70°C (-94°F). However, ISO Class 3 air, with a PDP of -20°C (-4°F), is sufficient for a large portion of the market. For applications that only require Class 3 air, we've expanded our family of high quality air dryers with our CMT dryers. They combine the ease of maintenance and operation of a refrigerated dryer with the sub zero pressure dew points typically associated with a desiccant dryer. Please download our white paper at the bottom of the dryers homepage to learn more about the ISO classes and how the apply to compressed air. Please contact us directly to get further information on this topic.
Features
Pre-Cooling
Air enters the dryer through the pre-cooler/re-heater
Regeneration
Leaving the pre-cooler/ re-heater, the air enters the first heat exchanger for regeneration
Drying
With only 15% of the of the moisture remaining, the air now enters the sub zero dryer heat exchanger where it is cooled and dried to -20°C (-4°F) PDP.
Reheating
The air dried to -20°C (-4°F) PDP is reheated before exiting the dryer in two steps.
1. Refrigerant Compressed Air Dryer
This is the most common type of air dryer used in industrial setups. It works by cooling compressed air using a refrigerant system (similar to an AC or fridge). As the air cools, moisture condenses and is removed.
Typical outlet dew point: around +3°C to +10°C
Best for: general manufacturing, workshops, automotive use
Pros: energy-efficient, low maintenance
Cons: not suitable for ultra-dry air requirements
2. Sub-Zero Refrigeration Dryers
These are an advanced version of refrigerant dryers designed to reach lower dew points (below 0°C) without freezing the system.
Dew point: can go down to -20°C or lower
Best for: colder environments or applications needing drier air than standard refrigeration dryers
Pros: better moisture removal, prevents freezing in pipelines
Cons: more complex and expensive than standard refrigerated dryers
3. Regenerative (Desiccant) Dryers (“Revolutionary Regenerative Refrigerated Dryers” sounds like a marketing hybrid term)
These dryers don’t rely on cooling. Instead, they use desiccant materials (like silica gel or activated alumina) to absorb moisture.
Dew point: as low as -40°C to -70°C
Best for: pharmaceuticals, food processing, electronics, or any moisture-sensitive process
Pros: extremely dry air
Cons: higher energy consumption, more maintenance
What “Revolutionary Regenerative Refrigerated Dryers” Might Mean
This sounds like a hybrid or marketing term, possibly referring to:
A system combining refrigeration + desiccant stages
Or an improved regenerative dryer with energy-saving features
Quick Comparison
Type Dew Point Cost Use Case
Refrigerant Dryer +3°C Low General use
Sub-Zero Dryer -20°C Medium Cold / moderate dryness
Regenerative Dryer -40°C to -70°C High Critical dry air
