TOC 1500
User Manual
Page 15
2014 © Peak Scientific - Rev. 3A - 18.11.14
Normal Operation
Principal of Operation
The TOC 1500 works on the principle of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA).
This is where gases and moisture can be selectively adsorbed from compressed
air into a porous crystalline sieve material. The adsorption process is aided by
the electrostatic interaction between the adsorbate sieve material and the
gases to be adsorbed.
The sieve material used in the Air Dryer is a specially developed Mol sieve
compound, utilising the Skarstrom process of pressure swing adsorption where
there are two columns of sieve material utilised alternately as described below.
The inlet air to the Dryer passes through a pre-filtration process where it
undergoes particulate removal (
0.01 micron) and bulk moisture removal (by a
coalescing element). The air is then passed to the sieve columns.
TOC 1500
The air is fed at pressure into one of the columns and the outlet air from this
column is split into two paths. Part of the air is directed to the outlet of the
Dryer for use by the consuming instrument and the other part is ‘blown’ back
down the other unused column (open to atmosphere) to purge out the
adsorbed impurities. After specified time period the columns swap over to
ensure that any adsorbed impurities are purged out before they can build up to
saturation point within the adsorbate material.
In this way each column repetitively adsorbs impurities and then releases them
to atmosphere assisted by the purge of dried air that is ‘blown’ through it.
