Agriculture & Forestry
Forestry machines are exposed to a harsh environment on construction sites – they are used in all weathers and must function reliably over long periods of time.
The high temperature fluctuations and air humidity, are a particular challenge for the hydraulic system. If it heats up during operation and then cools down again, the moisture contained in the air condenses in the hydraulic tank and contaminates the hydraulic oil. To ensure that the environment is protected even in the event of a leak, biodegradable hydraulic oils are used – these synthetic esters are not only highly hydrophilic, contact with water also leads to decomposition and premature aging through hydrolysis.
Therefore, moisture must be prevented from entering the tank. An adsorber performs this task by drying the air before it is sucked into a hydraulic tank to balance the volume.
Mining
Manufacturing industry
Hydraulics are an essential component of any plastic injection molding machine with toggle clamping units (partially hydraulic) or fully hydraulic clamping units. High energy efficiency, low mold costs, mold closure as well as the better adjustment possibilities of the clamping and locking forces at higher pressures speak for their use. Rust can be caused by moisture penetrating the inside of the tank. If a tank is located at the outer end of an injection molding machine, the tank is exposed to high temperature fluctuations between standstill and operation, but also due to external influences such as open gates. When the air in the tank cools, the moisture it contains condenses and settles on the walls inside the tank. Even if the results of the oil test show no water in the tank, rust may have already formed. This is because although water droplets form, they stick to the tank walls and do not drip into the oil. An aeration dryer dries the air drawn in during the closing process of the injection molding machine, thus preventing moist air from entering the tank and condensing. In addition, the adsorber shows where the water is coming from by changing color. If the adsorber changes color from the bottom, the moist ambient air is dried when it is sucked in. If the adsorber changes color from above, the humid air inside the tank is dried. In this way, conclusions can be quickly drawn about the condition of an injection molding machine.
Energy supply
Solar collectors are exposed to strong temperature fluctuations. If the outside temperature drops towards 0°C in winter and at the same time the air in the collector warms up to about 20°C due to solar radiation, condensate forms on the inside of the glass pane. This condensate impairs the further incidence of sunlight and thus the performance of the collector. A ventilation dryer counteracts this by drying the incoming air beforehand.
The gearbox between the rotor and generator of a wind turbine cools down during standstill (power grid overload) and breathes in air from the environment. If this air contains dirt and moisture, this leads to oil saturation via condensation in the gearbox. To prevent damage such as corrosion or cavitation and the associated high maintenance and unplanned downtime costs, adsorbers are used to protect the gearbox from moisture and dirt ingress. The hydraulic systems of a wind turbine, such as the braking systems, are also effectively protected by the use of aeration dryers. Here, adsorbers ensure that the systems are ventilated without dirt or water and supply the hydraulic tanks with purified and dried air. The use of a sensor-monitored adsorber in the nacelle also enables online monitoring of the saturation state and thus preventive and planned maintenance measures.
Mobile and stationary power generators are used where there is no public power grid or where a power grid failure would have serious consequences. These reliable gensets supply power to hospitals, chemical plants, server rooms and nuclear power plants, for example, to ensure the removal of decay heat even if the power grid is shut down or fails. Due to infrequent operation, diesel fuel or heating oil is usually drawn from the tank for one hour once a month. During this process, moist ambient air flows through the vent pipe into the tank. When the tank wall cools, the moisture in the air condenses and flows into the fuel. The results are diesel pest, clogged filters, rusted lines and the development of bacteria and algae. The use of a tank air dryer is a simple as well as effective solution here, because it dries the incoming air and thus achieves a strong reduction of the water content and the dew point.
In power transformers in high-voltage engineering, moisture is one of the main causes of malfunctions and progressive aging, along with oxygen and temperature. For this reason, dehumidifiers are used on the expansion tanks to prevent the ingress of moisture.
In German-speaking countries, dehumidifiers are used in accordance with DIN 42562. These are mounted on the pipeline from the expansion vessel via a triangular flange. Depending on the oil quantity of the operating medium, the dehumidifier consists of one or more chambers. Transformers with load switches usually have another small dehumidifier mounted for the expansion vessel.
When the oil level drops during operation, either due to load reduction or because the air in the expansion tank contracts due to the drop in ambient temperature, the transformer “breathes” dry air through the expansion tank and the connected dehumidifiers.
An oil pad attached to the bottom of the dehumidifier acts as an air seal to prevent unwanted exposure of the silica gel to ambient air. The silica gel is usually provided with a color indicator to indicate a necessary change of the silica gel.
Insulating oils for transformers are hygroscopic and strongly attract water molecules. If a transformer “breathes in” air from the environment, water molecules are also carried inside. The insulating oil absorbs these. The use of a dehumidifier has therefore been standard in the field of transformers for years, because it dries the “inhaled” air in advance.
At GIEBEL, we have developed adsorbers especially for use on transformers, whose maintenance only requires opening of 3 quick-release fasteners and replacing the cartridges. The loaded cartridge can be sent back to us for reprocessing (Send & Refresh).
Waste management
Balers are important equipment in the waste industry and are in constant use. Aeration dryers are used to protect the hydraulic tank and the hydraulic oil. They reduce the water content in the oil and thus increase its quality.
Structural & Civil Engineering
Wheel loaders are exposed to a harsh environment on construction sites – they are used in all weathers and must function reliably over long periods of time.
The high temperature fluctuations and air humidity, are a particular challenge for the hydraulic system. If it heats up during operation and then cools down again, the moisture contained in the air condenses in the hydraulic tank and contaminates the hydraulic oil. To ensure that the environment is protected even in the event of a leak, biodegradable hydraulic oils are used – these synthetic esters are not only highly hydrophilic, contact with water also leads to decomposition and premature aging through hydrolysis.
Therefore, moisture must be prevented from entering the tank. An adsorber performs this task by drying the air before it is sucked into a hydraulic tank to balance the volume – even on machines with tank pressures of 0.3 to 0.8 bar.
Excavators are exposed to a harsh environment on construction sites – they are used in all weathers and must function reliably over long periods of time.
The high temperature fluctuations and air humidity, are a particular challenge for the hydraulic system. If it heats up during operation and then cools down again, the moisture contained in the air condenses in the hydraulic tank and contaminates the hydraulic oil. To ensure that the environment is protected even in the event of a leak, biodegradable hydraulic oils are used – these synthetic esters are not only highly hydrophilic, contact with water also leads to decomposition and premature aging through hydrolysis.
Therefore, moisture must be prevented from entering the tank. An adsorber performs this task by drying the air before it is sucked into a hydraulic tank to balance the volume – even on excavators with tank pressures of 0.3 to 0.8 bar.