Breathers and adsorbent beds for plant that breathes humid air on every thermal cycle.
The problem
Transformers, hydraulic reservoirs, gearboxes and fuel tanks all breathe. As they heat they expel air, as they cool they draw it back in, and whatever humidity is in the plant room comes with it. Over years, that water ends up in the oil.
Intercept the incoming air with a breather charged with indicating silica gel. The charge is visible, so condition is judged on a walk-round, and it regenerates rather than being replaced.
The method
A repeatable sequence, in the order that matters. Skipping the first step is the usual reason the rest disappoints.
Conservators, reservoirs, gearbox vents, fuel tank vents and switchgear enclosures.
Clear view for visual inspection at ground level, aluminium where mechanical protection matters.
Thread or flange to suit the existing fitting.
Blue crystals for maximum contrast, orange where cobalt is restricted, bead form for low pressure drop.
Heat the spent charge at around 150 °C for two hours and refit rather than discarding it.
What you will need
Silica gel breather assembly
Clear-view and aluminium-bodied breathers with indicating silica gel, for transformers, hydraulics and fuel storage.
Regenerable in service — heat for two hours and refit
Self-indicating desiccant
Cobalt-chloride indicating gel that shifts from deep blue to light pink as crystals, or blue to white as beads, telling you at a glance when it needs changing.
Changes colour when spent — no guesswork on replacement
Coarse indicating crystals
Cobalt-chloride indicating blue crystals in a coarse grade, changing to light blue and then pink as they load.
Large crystals for breathers and bulk enclosures
Process drying media
Grades selected for dynamic drying duty — compressed air lines, gas streams and equipment protection.
Dries flowing air and gas streams, not just static packs
Synthetic zeolite adsorbent
3A, 4A, 5A and 13X zeolites for applications where silica gel cannot drive the humidity low enough.
Dries far below the level silica gel can reach
Aluminium oxide adsorbent
Aluminium oxide spheres for compressed air drying and water treatment duty.
Robust drying media that tolerates liquid water contact
Who this applies to
Talk to our experts
Send us the product, the enclosure, the route and the storage period. You will get a desiccant type, a dose and a format back — not just a price list.