High Inlet Refrigerated Air Dryers

A refrigerated dryer built to accept compressed air hotter than a standard dryer will tolerate. Standard refrigerated dryers have a maximum inlet air temperature, and feeding hotter air into one overwhelms it so moisture passes straight through.

When there is no aftercooler between the compressor and the dryer, or when the existing aftercooler cannot bring discharge temperature down to what a standard dryer requires. This is common on smaller reciprocating installations where an aftercooler was never fitted.

FS-Curtis RNHI series high-temperature dryers spanning roughly 20 CFM to 125 CFM, sized for small to mid-size shop compressed air systems. They serve installations where compressor discharge air is too hot for a standard refrigerated dryer to handle.

In smaller installations it can be, which is the main reason to choose one. In larger systems an aftercooler is generally still the better approach, because removing heat before the dryer reduces the refrigeration load and improves overall efficiency.

Match the CFM rating to your compressor's actual delivered flow at working pressure, and confirm the model's rated maximum inlet temperature exceeds your actual compressor discharge temperature. Both conditions must be met — sizing on flow alone is the common mistake.

Correct. The FS-Curtis RNHI series collection contains the same units organized under the brand series name. Either collection reaches the same products, so browse whichever organization suits how you are searching. Browse whichever organization matches how you are searching.

Standard refrigerated dryer maintenance — keep the condenser clean, verify the condensate drain discharges, and watch for a rising dew point. High-inlet units work harder by design, so condenser cleanliness matters more rather than less.