Van Air Systems Helps Industry Go Green

Lake City, PA – Set aside images of solar panels and wind turbines. Here is a less apparent glimpse of the green revolution: a nondescript factory pumping out thousands of white tablets per minute, each the size of a gumdrop.

These tablets are called deliquescent desiccants. Their purpose: turning water vapor into liquid. Place one in a humid room and you’ll soon see a puddle of condensation, water vapor being absorbed from the atmosphere.

Deliquescent desiccants are used mainly in compressed air drying applications, removing harmful water vapor from air lines. Drying compressed air is normally an energy intensive process, but unlike other air drying technologies, deliquescent desiccants require no outside energy for operation.

In a typical industrial facility a compressed air system accounts for 15 percent of electricity consumption, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Department of Energy. This means that air systems, which often include dryers, are prime targets during energy conservation audits.

“We’ve seen a surge of demand for our deliquescent desiccants,” says Tyler Currie, Vice President for Business Development at Van Air Systems, one of only two manufacturers worldwide of the specialty tablets. Industry is becoming increasingly energy conscious, says Currie. “Most drying technologies, such as refrigeration, have lots of moving parts and can require an enormous amount of electricity. A deliquescent system doesn’t need to be plugged it. That’s pretty compelling to a company wanting to minimize its electricity bill or carbon footprint.”

Deliquescent desiccants are also widely applied in the natural gas industry.

“Traditionally natural gas producers and pipeline companies have dried their product with ethylene glycol-based dehydrators,” says Currie. “This process consumes significant energy and is also a potential source of regulated air emissions. Our deliquescent products address both concerns.”

Producers of renewable methane have also successfully applied deliquescent desiccants, including landfills, waste water treatment plants, and dairies.

“It’s an exciting time to be at Van Air,” says Currie. “We are the largest privately held manufacturer of air and gas treatment equipment, which allows us to respond nimbly to changes in the market. We’ve seen this with the success of our deliquescent products. The trend toward minimizing energy consumption is here to stay.”

Contact Information

Tyler Currie

Vice President

Van Air Systems

Contact via E-mail