Industrial air treatment
Refrigerated Air Dryers
Remove moisture from industrial compressed air. Compare dryer series by airflow, pressure and inlet temperature, then get help matching a model to your system.
Understanding refrigerated drying
What Is a Refrigerated Air Dryer?
A refrigerated air dryer removes moisture from compressed air by cooling it until water vapor condenses. It then separates and drains the liquid water before the air returns to the system.
This helps reduce moisture reaching pipework, pneumatic tools and equipment. Refrigerated drying suits applications with above-freezing pressure dew point requirements. Filters are still needed for the particles and oil aerosols your process requires you to control.
Product range
Explore Our Refrigerated Air Dryer Series
Choose shell-and-tube or compact plate-fin construction, with a higher-inlet-temperature option for hotter incoming air. Each series uses air cooling as standard.
RD Series Refrigerated Air Dryer
RD Series provides air-cooled refrigerated drying for general industrial compressed air systems. Fifteen standard models cover 1-65 Nm³/min, with 6-10 bar working pressure, up to 60°C inlet-air temperature and a 2-10°C pressure dew point.
Airflow
1-65 Nm³/min
Pressure
6-10 bar
Pressure dew point
2–10°C
Inlet temperature
≤60°C
RD-H Series Plate-Fin Refrigerated Air Dryer
Air-cooled refrigerated air dryers with a brazed aluminum plate-fin heat exchanger, fixed-speed refrigeration with hot gas bypass control, and automatic condensate drainage. Choose from 21 models with listed flows of 0.6–150 m³/min and a pressure dew point range of 2–10°C.
Airflow
0.6–150 m³/min
Pressure
Min. 6 / Max. 16 bar
Pressure dew point
2–10°C
Inlet temperature
Norm. ≤42°C / Max. 70°C
DS-V Series Refrigerated Air Dryer
Air-cooled refrigerated air dryers with integrated aluminum plate-fin heat exchange and fixed-speed refrigeration with hot gas bypass control. Choose from 13 models rated at 1–45 m³/min, with a pressure dew point of 2–10°C.
Airflow
1–45 m³/min
Pressure
7–16 bar, model dependent
Pressure dew point
2–10°C
Inlet temperature
≤50°C
DS-VH Series High-Inlet-Temperature Refrigerated Air Dryer
The RUEGO DS-VH Series handles compressed air with inlet temperatures up to 65°C. Eighteen air-cooled models operate at 7–13 bar with a nominal pressure dew point of 2–10°C. All models operate in ambient temperatures of 0–38°C.
Airflow
1.2–100 m³/min
Pressure
7–13 bar
Pressure dew point
2–10°C
Inlet temperature
≤65°C
Capacity depends on operating conditions. Share the flow unit and its reference conditions so we can match the dryer to your compressor.
Compare the essentials
Compare RD, RD-H, DS-V and DS-VH
Start with construction and operating limits. Final model selection also depends on peak airflow and the pressure dew point your process needs.
| Specification | RD | RD-H | DS-V | DS-VH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listed airflow range | 1–65 Nm³/min | 0.6–150 m³/min | 1–45 m³/min | 1.2–100 m³/min |
| Heat exchanger | Shell-and-tube | Aluminum plate-fin | Aluminum plate-fin | Aluminum plate-fin |
| Working pressure | 6–10 bar | 6–16 bar | 7–16 or 7–13 bar By model; see note below. | 7–13 bar |
| Inlet temperature | 60°C | 70°C max. | 50°C | 65°C |
| Ambient temperature | 5–40°C | 50°C max. | 0–38°C | 0–38°C |
| Pressure dew point | 2–10°C | 2–10°C | 2–10°C | 2–10°C |
| Cooling configuration | Air-cooled as standard; water cooling by project | Air-cooled | Air-cooled | Air-cooled |
DS-V: DS010V–DS135V and DS250V operate at 7–16 bar. DS185V, DS205V, DS350V and DS450V operate at 7–13 bar.
Airflow units are shown as specified for each series. Confirm reference conditions before comparing capacities. Maximum temperature, maximum pressure and listed airflow are not a combined performance guarantee.
Match your conditions
Choose a Dryer for Your Air Compressor
Start with the air your system actually uses. Compressor motor power alone does not tell you how much drying capacity you need.
Send Your Operating Conditions →01
Airflow and Pressure
Provide peak airflow, its unit and reference conditions, plus the lowest and highest operating pressures. Include all compressors that may run together.
02
Inlet and Room Temperature
Check the hottest air entering the dryer and the highest room temperature. DS-VH accepts inlet air up to 65°C, while its ambient limit remains 38°C. RD-H has a normal inlet limit of 42°C and a 70°C limit condition. Capacity must be confirmed for the actual conditions.
03
Dew Point and Installation
Specify the required pressure dew point, voltage, frequency, phase and connection standard. Allow space for cooling airflow, drainage and maintenance. For a compact installation, compare RD-H and DS-V model dimensions.
Cooling, separation, drainage
How Refrigerated Drying Removes Moisture
Incoming compressed air is pre-cooled by the cold air leaving the dryer. It then passes through the evaporator, where further cooling turns water vapor into liquid. A separator collects the water, and an automatic drain removes it.
Before leaving, the dried air absorbs heat from the incoming air. This heat exchange warms the outlet air and reduces the load on the cooling system.
For a lower pressure dew point, explore our desiccant air dryers.
Compressed air and refrigerant flow. View larger diagram
Complete the air treatment system
Drying and Filtration Work Together
The dryer removes moisture. Filters control particles and oil aerosols. Select both around the air quality your equipment or process requires.
01
Air compressor
Supplies compressed air
02
Air receiver
Buffers demand; drains collected water
03
Pre-filter
Reduces liquid, oil aerosol and particle load
04
Refrigerated dryer
Cools, separates and drains moisture
05
Two-stage filtration
Two downstream filters selected for the required air quality
06
Distribution
Delivers air to equipment
Typical arrangement; drainage, filter grades and equipment order must suit the project. Adding filters does not replace a dryer when a lower pressure dew point is needed.
Typical Industrial Applications
Support everyday factory air, from a single machine to a central air station. Product-contact and high-cleanliness processes need a separate air-quality assessment.
Machining and CNC
Reduce moisture reaching pneumatic tools, fixtures and valves.
Pneumatic automation
Supply cylinders and valve islands with dried, filtered air.
Packaging and manufacturing
Match routine air needs; assess product-contact air separately.
Painting and surface treatment
Control moisture alongside the required oil and particle filtration.
Central air stations
Check combined peak flow, pressure losses and maintenance access.
OEM and project supply
Configure the Dryer for Your Market
RUEGO supplies refrigerated air dryers for industrial projects, distributors and OEM buyers. Share your operating conditions and destination market so we can confirm the series and order configuration.
Price depends on dryer capacity, operating conditions, electrical requirements and customization. Send your requirements for a model-specific quotation.
Discuss Your ProjectBranding
Color, logo and nameplate
Electrical supply
Voltage, frequency and phase
Connections
Size, type and applicable standard
Delivery materials
Manuals and packaging
Selection and quotation
Find the Right Dryer for Your System
Tell us what you need to dry and the operating conditions you know. We will help you narrow the series and identify the information needed for a quotation.
Before you choose
Refrigerated Air Dryer FAQs
Practical answers before you choose a dryer series or share your operating conditions.
Which series fits my air compressor?
Start with airflow, pressure and temperature. RD uses shell-and-tube construction; RD-H, DS-V and DS-VH use plate-fin designs. For hotter inlet air, compare RD-H with an inlet temperature limit of 70°C and DS-VH with a limit of 65°C. Share your compressor data sheet so we can confirm capacity under your operating conditions.
What pressure dew point can these dryers provide?
The listed range is 2–10°C, depending on inlet conditions and load. Tell us the dew point your process requires and the lowest temperature in downstream pipework. Applications needing a sub-zero pressure dew point should be assessed for desiccant drying.
Can you handle higher inlet temperatures?
Maximum inlet temperatures are 60°C for RD, 70°C for RD-H, 50°C for DS-V and 65°C for DS-VH. Share your airflow, inlet and ambient temperatures, and operating pressure so we can confirm capacity and recommend a model.
Do I still need compressed air filters?
Filters and dryers do different jobs. The dryer removes moisture through cooling and separation; filters reduce particles and oil aerosols. The filter arrangement depends on your end-use air quality. A refrigerated dryer alone does not establish a complete air-quality class.
Can you match my power supply and connections?
Provide voltage, frequency, phase and connection requirements when you inquire. We will confirm availability for the selected model and destination market.
What information do you need for a price?
Send your application, peak airflow and unit, operating pressure, inlet and ambient temperatures, target dew point, power supply and quantity. If some details are unknown, start with the compressor data sheet or nameplate and a description of your system.