Atlas Copco Air Dryers

BD series
Heat reactivated adsorption air dryers

ABSOLUTELY
DRY AIR

Why Quality Air?

When the air that surrounds us is

compressed, its vapour and particle
concentration increases dramatically.

The high cost of

The threat to an

The compression process causes the oil and

low quality air

excellent reputation

water vapours to condense into droplets,

When it comes to

and then mix with the high concentration

tools, machines and

of particles. The result is an abrasive oily

instruments, poor air quality will cause

sludge that in many cases is also acidic.

more breakdowns, repairs and replacements.

Without quality air equipment, much of this

In addition to the remedial costs, the

corrosive sludge will enter the air net.

resulting downtime and production delays

are often far more expensive than any repair.

Effective air treatment equipment is an

investment with a solid return: it efficiently
reduces the contamination in the air that
would otherwise produce corrosion in
the pipework, lead to premature pneumatic
equipment failure and cause product
spoilage.

Where the compressed

air comes in contact with
the product, the stability, scrap rate and final
quality of the product can be significantly
affected by contamination. Aside from the
costs to correct the situation, the potential
damage to your products reputation can not
be underestimated.

From products to total solutions

Based on years of experience, Atlas Copco

Money disappearing

Persistent pressure

has the know-how to determine the exact

into thin air

on the environment

requirements and to offer the right

The pipe work that

The energy waste

equipment from an extensive range of

carries the compressed

caused by leaks and

quality air products. In addition to providing

air is often forgotten when calculating the

the unsafe disposal of untreated condensate

total solutions, Atlas Copco has built an

potential cost of poor quality air. Aggressive

will adversely affect our environment.

aftermarket organisation to support your

condensate will cause corrosion, leading to

Apart from the stringent legislation

complete installation from a local point of

air leaks and a costly waste of energy.

that imposes heavy fines in case of non-

contact, around the globe.

A leak of 3 mm is roughly equivalent to an

compliance, every waste of energy

energy waste of 3.7 kW. After one year,

negatively influences the bottom line.

From compressor to dryer and down to the

this can add up to 1800.

Caring for the environment can be

last filter, Atlas Copco can be your single

smart business !

partner for total quality compressed air

solutions.

The complete Quality Air solution

Particles / dust

Water

filtration

Quality Air process

=
End user satisfaction

drying
adsorption dryer
MD
(for ZR/ZT/ZE/ZA Compressors)

filter
PD, PDp, DD, DDp & QD

2 3
adsorption dryer
BD

0 1 2 3
refrigerant dryer
FD/ID

0 1 2

draining
electronic water drain
EWD

oil/water separation
OSC/OSD/OSM

Oil
filtration
air compression

0
filter

oil-free compressors

PD, PDp, DD, DDp & QD

ZH/ZR/ZT/ZE/ZA/LF/SF/LXF/H/
S/P/HX-HN/PETPACK

adsorption dryer CD

oil-injected compressors
GA/GR/GX/LE/LT

0 1 2

Air quality

Dirt (solid particles)

Water

Oil

classes

Maximum number of particles per m3

particle diameter (d) size, m

Max. pressure
dewpoint

Max.
concentration

ISO 8573-1

0.10

0.1 < d 0.5

0.5 < d 1.0

1.0 < d 5.0

mg/m3

As specified by the equipment user or supplier and more stringent than class 1

100

-70

-94

0.01

100 000

1000

10

-40

-40

0.1

10000

500

-20

-4

1000

+ 37.4

20000

+ 44.6

>5

* Not specified

A well designed compressed air system ensures that the air quality demands of the process are closely met.
With the desired ISO class as a guide, the appropriate components can be selected.
Atlas Copco offers a complete product range that never requires a customer to compromise.

BD dryers - for absolutely dry air

WATER TO THE AIR NET IF NO DRYER INSTALLED

1000
900

Moisture: an avoidable threat ?

with water vapour. When cooling down, this moisture will

condense, causing damage to your air system and to your
finished products. The amount of water is directly proportional
to the flow and although an aftercooler will eliminate 2/3 of the
moisture, the remaining third can still be very destructive in

800

Water to the air net per day (liter)

Compressed air entering the air net is always 100 % saturated

many applications, such as instrument air, dry powder

700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0

1000
2120
3600

conveying or processes with rapid air expansion.

3000 l/s
6360 cfm
10800 m3/h

2000
4240
7200

Flow

BD totally eliminates moisture

WATER ENTERING AND LEAVING THE COMPRESSOR & DRYER (EXAMPLE)

Adsorption dryer BD
pressure dewpoint -40 C / -40 F

Atlas Copco BD adsorption dryers eliminate the moisture

completely before it can cause any damage. Even the possibility

Compressor

of freezing is non-existant. The BD dryers ensure a reliable

52 l/h

process and impeccable end products by offering absolutely dry

cooler 19 l/h

0.05 l/h
Air net

air to your compressed air system, with a pressure dewpoint

33 l/h

of -40 C or even -70 C.

18.95 l/h

Reference conditions:
Compressor flow 1050 l/s - 2226 cfm - 3780 m3/h FAD Compressed air temp. 35 C
Ambient air temp. 25 C Ambient relative humidity 60 % Pressure: 7 bar(e)

ENERGY SAVINGS WHEN USING SILICAGEL DESICCANT

BD is energy efficient in every aspect

the lowest energy cost. The desiccant needs 30 % less

reactivation energy than other drying agents. The heating is
internal to optimally use the radiation effect and the thermostat
control saves additional energy. The air flow is evenly
distributed over the desiccant bed and compressed air is used for
cooling, again reducing the power consumption.

10000

Energy savings (-$/year)

The BD dryer has been designed for high drying efficiency at

8000
6000
4000

Savings

2000
0
0

1000
2120
3600

2000
4240
7200

Flow
Regeneration temperatures: Silicagel: 140 C
Activated alumina: 175 C

3000 l/s
6360 cfm
10800 m3/h

The BD adsorption drying process

Dewpoint sensor (optional)

Internal heater

Working principle

Outlet valve

Two towers contain silicagel desiccant. While in one tower the silicagel
Dry air out

beads adsorb the moisture from the air, the saturated silicagel is
reactivated in the other tower. After half a cycle, the tower functions are
reversed.
Blower

Adsorption/drying phase

Wet air in
Pneumatic actuators

Strainer

Wet compressed air enters the bottom of the drying towers via the inlet
valve. The air flows upwards through the silicagel desiccant beads, where
the moisture is adsorbed. Dry air leaves the tower via the outlet valve.

Inlet valve

Temperature
sensor

Regeneration valve

Reactivation phase
The blower sends ambient air past the internal heater; the heated air
travels through the saturated desiccant, where it forces the adsorbed
moisture out of the silicagel beads. The hot wet ambient air leaves the

Silicagel desiccant
adsorbs the moisture from the wet air; during reactivation,
hot air forces the moisture out of the silicagel beads

tower through the bottom valve; this continues until the temperature
sensor switches off the heater. Next, dry compressed air is used to cool
the desiccant bed, further improving the reactivation efficiency.

Full size strainer

optimizes the flow distribution over the desiccant bed and
separates water droplets before entering the desiccant, for
better drying performance, lower pressure drop and reduced

Shifting
After regeneration, the towers pressure is equalized to system pressure
by closing the regeneration valve. The functions of both towers are now

energy consumption
Temperature sensor
controls the heating sequence; switches off the heater as soon
as the desiccant bed is sufficiently heated

switched. If a dewpoint sensor is installed, the dryer can be in waiting

mode without consuming energy, until the desiccant in the drying tower

Pneumatic actuators
control all main valves to prevent clogging or malfunctioning;

is saturated.

steered by dry and filtrated air

Internal heaters
placed within the drying bed in each tower, but separated from
the desiccant; air is blown in and warmed up, both by heat
transmission and radiation
High efficiency blower
takes in ambient air and blows it to the internal heaters, for
reactivation

Silicagel desiccant

High performance drying

Elektronikon
monitoring system
Internal heater

Minimal energy consumption

desiccant with high adsorption capacity and low
reactivation energy requirement
internal heating, benefiting from heaters radiation effect
thermostat based heating sequence
dewpoint control for even more savings (optional)
low pressure drop

First class performance, first class air quality

guaranteed dewpoint of -40 C or optionally -70 C
optimal spread of air flow over drying bed
reliable, continuous drying process

Efficient reduction of water load and pressure drop

air inlet at bottom keeps droplets from entering the tower
strainer separates droplets/moisture before air enters
desiccant cooling with dry compressed air;
no water/moisture added during cooling

Intelligent control and monitoring

advanced Elektronikon monitoring system with
limit switches, pressure & temperature sensors
clear indication of dryer status, operation cycle
and alarms

Blower

optional dewpoint control and indication

easy to use

Low maintenance, minimal downtime

long service life of silicagel desiccant

Environment friendly

pneumatic actuators on all main valves to prevent

low energy requirements for reactivating the desiccant

clogging

100 % oil-free process

one heater in each vessel doubles heaters lifetime

silent operation

easy to service

total absence of CFCs

Excellence by design

Fully automatic operation

Remote start/stop
Display for status indication and alarms
Voltage-free alarm contact
Pneumatically controlled valves
All valves equipped with limit switches
Alarms for low inlet pressure and blower,
heater and valve operation
Easy installation; delivered complete and ready to use
with all connection parts
Full range to perfectly match your compressor
installation
Design, manufacturing and service from one
single source

Options
Electronic dewpoint control
-70 C pressure dewpoint
Filter pack for pure process air
14.5 bar(e) operating pressure
Drying towers insulation
Copper-free dryer
Minimum pressure valve control at dryer outlet

BD options for even more versatility

Electronic dewpoint control

Instead of shifting tower functions at regular time intervals,
the BD can be controlled by a dewpoint sensor.
When the dewpoint reaches a preset point, the dryer will
automatically switch towers. This results in an extension of the
drying time and considerable energy savings when the dryer is
not operating at maximum capacity. Energy savings can be
as high as 70 %. The dewpoint is continuously monitored and
indicated on the dryer display.

-70 C pressure dewpoint

An extremely low dewpoint throughout the complete cycle is
obtained by three measures: the upper filling of desiccant type
molecular sieves, vessel insulation and three-stage regeneration.
The latter optimises the efficiency by using both ambient air and
compressed air for regeneration, which keeps the energy
consumption to a minimum. The insulated vessels further
contribute to the energy saving.

Filter pack for pure process air

The PD pre-filter type removes liquid water and oil aerosol to
0.01 mg/m (0.01 ppm) and particles down to 0.01 micron.
The DDp after-filter type removes particles down to 1 micron.
Filters and piping are all included, with several inlet and outlet
configuration possibilities. This simplifies the installation and
reduces floor space. The pre-assembled PD and DDp filters
come with differential pressure alarm connections, indicating
element replacement.

Technical data
BD adsorption dryer range

BD

Type
BD260
BD390
BD520
BD780
BD1050
BD1400
BD1800
BD2400
BD3000

Capacity*

Installed
power heater
& blower

Pressure
drop

Recommended
filter size

l/s

cfm

m3/h

kW

bar

psig

DD/PD

260
390
520
780
1050
1400
1800
2400
3000

551
827
1102
1654
2226
2968
3816
5088
6360

936
1404
1872
2808
3780
5040
6480
8640
10800

11.0
15.0
22.0
29.5
41.5
65.5
65.5
92.0
119.0

0.14
0.17
0.14
0.16
0.12
0.10
0.12
0.13
0.13

2.0
2.4
2.0
2.3
1.7
1.4
1.7
1.9
1.9

280
390
520
780
1050
1400
1800
2700
3150

Connection
Pn 16, Dn

Dimensions

mm
80
80
100
100
125
150
150
150
200

1020
1175
1380
1490
1727
1770
1858
2043
2344

in

mm

40.2
46.3
54.3
58.6
68
74.4
73.1
80.4
92.3

in

1180 46.5
1340 52.7
1600 63
1880 74
2250 88.5
2540 100
2740 107.8
3090 121.6
3470 136.6

Weight

mm
2080
2145
2205
2360
2445
2645
2750
2925
2976

in

kg

lbs

81.8
84.4
86.8
92.9
96.3
104.1
108.3
115.2
117.1

820
1200
1800
2350
3250
4300
4800
7500
10000

1808
2646
3968
5180
7165
9479
10580
16540
22050

*At 1 bar(a) +20 C

Reference conditions
Compressed air effective inlet pressure:
Compressed air inlet temperature:
Inlet relative humidity of compressed air:
Pressure dewpoint

7 bar(e)
35 C
100 %
-40 C
C

Operating range
Inlet pressure:
Ambient air temperature:
Compressed air inlet temperature:

4.5 - 11 bar(e)
1 - 40 C
1 - 45 C

For -70 C pressure dewpoints, please contact your local Atlas Copco representative.

BD260

For other compressed air inlet pressures, multiply the dryer air flow
by the following factors K1 :
bar(g)

psi

4.5

10

0.69

0.75

0.88

1.00

1.13

1.25

1.38

65

73

87

102

116

131

145

0.69

0.75

0.88

1.00

1.13

1.25

1.38

For inlet temperature, multiply the dryer air flow by the following factors K2 :
C

20

25

30

35

40

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

0.70

68

77

86

95

104

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

0.70

Example:
What is the inlet capacity for BD520 at the following conditions :
Inlet pressure: 8 bar(e) - Inlet temp.35 C - Ambient temp. 25 C
Retrieve the correction factors from the tables
K1 = 1.13
K2 = 1
Qactual = K1 x K2 x Qnominal
= 1.13 x 1 x 520 = 588 l/s - 2117 m3/h

BD3000

The face of innovation

What sets Atlas Copco apart as a company is our
conviction that we can only excel in what we do, if we
provide the best possible know-how and technology to really
help our customers produce, grow and succeed.

There is a unique way of achieving that - we simply call

it the Atlas Copco way. It builds on interaction, on long-term
relationships and involvement in the customers' process,
needs and objectives. It means having the flexibility to adapt
ISO 9001
A consistent quality earned
us the industrys leadership
and the customers trust.

to the diverse demands of the people we cater for.

It's the commitment to our customers' business that

drives our effort towards increasing their productivity through
better solutions. It starts with fully supporting existing
products and continuously doing things better, but it goes
much further, creating advances in technology through
innovation. Not for the sake of technology, but for the sake
of our customer's bottom line and peace-of-mind.

Atlas Copcos
Environmental Management
System forms an integral part
of each business process.

Never use compressed air

as breathing air without
prior purification in
accordance with local
legislation and standards.

That is how Atlas Copco will strive to remain the first

choice, to succeed in attracting new business and to maintain
our position as the industry leader.

2935 0459 12 - Printed in Belgium - Subject to alterations without prior notice

ISO 14001

www.atlascopco.com