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How to Choose an Air Dryer
Compare dryer types, operating conditions and application requirements.
Compressed Air Education & System Design
Air Treatment Resource Center
Explore a connected library of compressed air dryer, filtration, air-quality, system-design, maintenance and industry application guides—including dedicated guidance for CNC machines and machine shops.
27 In-depth guides
2 Interactive sizing tools
6 Application guides
July 2026 Resource center updated
Find an Air Treatment Guide
Search by topic, symptom, equipment type, application or manufacturer.
Recommended Learning Path
New to Compressed Air Treatment? Start Here
Follow these five guides in order to understand dryer selection, dew point, sizing and complete system design.
2
Refrigerated vs. Desiccant Air Dryers
Understand the differences in dew point, operating cost and maintenance.
3
Pressure Dew Point Explained
Learn how pressure dew point defines the moisture content of compressed air.
4
Compressed Air Dryer Sizing Calculator
Estimate corrected dryer capacity using airflow and operating conditions.
5
Air Treatment System Design
Combine separators, drains, dryers and filters into a complete treatment train.
Equipment Selection
Choose and Size Air Treatment Equipment
Use these guides to select dryers, filters, drains and storage for the actual operating conditions.
Featured Application
Compressed Air Treatment for CNC Machines
CNC machines depend on clean, dry and stable compressed air for automatic tool changers, spindle purge systems, pneumatic clamps, controls and part blow-off. Learn how to plan the dryer, filtration, receiver capacity, pressure management and piping for a machine-shop air system.
Common CNC Air Uses
- Automatic tool changers and pneumatic clamping
- Spindle, encoder and bearing purge air
- Part cleaning, chip removal and blow-off
- Stable pressure across multiple CNC machines
- Corrosion and condensate prevention
CNC & Machining
Compressed Air Treatment for CNC Machines
Design clean, dry and stable compressed air for tool changers, spindle purge systems, pneumatic controls and growing machine shops.
Guide
How to Choose an Air Dryer
Select a dryer by pressure dew point, airflow, temperature and application.
NEW HUB
Compressed Air Filtration Guide
Learn how particulate, coalescing and activated carbon filters work, understand ISO 8573 air quality, reduce pressure drop, and build the right filtration train for your compressed air system.
Calculator
Compressed Air Dryer Sizing Calculator
Estimate corrected dryer capacity under real-world conditions.
Calculator
Air Receiver Tank Sizing Guide
Estimate storage using CFM, demand duration and usable pressure band.
Guide
How Automatic Drains Work
Compare timed, float and zero-loss condensate drain designs.
Guide
Compressed Air Pressure Drop Explained
Find restrictions that reduce pressure and increase energy use.
Air Quality Fundamentals
Understand Moisture, Oil and Compressed Air Quality
Learn how contamination enters a compressed air system and how treatment equipment removes it.
Fundamentals
Why Water Forms in Compressed Air
Learn why compression and cooling cause water to condense.
Fundamentals
Common Compressed Air Contaminants
Understand water, oil, particles and other contamination sources.
Oil Control
Oil Aerosols in Compressed Air Explained
Learn how oil droplets travel and how coalescing filtration removes them.
Filtration
How Coalescing Filters Work
Understand aerosol capture, drainage and element performance.
Standards
What Is ISO 8573 Compressed Air Quality?
Learn how particle, water and oil classes describe compressed air purity.
Moisture
Pressure Dew Point Explained
Connect dew point requirements to dryer selection and freeze protection.
System Engineering
Design a Complete Compressed Air Treatment System
Plan the complete treatment train, from bulk-liquid removal through final filtration and condensate treatment.
Pillar Guide
Air Treatment System Design
Build the correct sequence of separators, filters, dryers and drains.
Condensate
How Oil-Water Separators Work
Learn how oily condensate is treated before disposal.
Desiccant
Activated Alumina vs. Molecular Sieve
Compare adsorption media by dew point, capacity and regeneration needs.
Pressure
Compressed Air Pressure Drop Explained
Understand how undersizing and loaded components reduce system pressure.
Drainage
How Automatic Drains Work
Select drainage that removes condensate without excessive air loss.
Storage
Air Receiver Tank Sizing Guide
Use storage to support short demand events and stabilize pressure.
Industry Applications
Compressed Air Treatment by Application
Different processes require different dew points, filtration levels and verification practices.
Featured Application
Compressed Air Treatment for CNC Machines
CNC machines depend on clean, dry and stable compressed air for automatic tool changers, spindle purge systems, pneumatic controls, clamping and part blow-off.
Common CNC air-treatment priorities
- Moisture and condensate control
- Stable pressure during machine cycling
- Particulate and coalescing filtration
- Receiver capacity and correct piping size
Finishing
Compressed Air Treatment for Paint Booths
Reduce moisture, oil and particles that can damage finishes, spray patterns and adhesion.
Food & Packaging
Compressed Air Treatment for Food Packaging
Plan dryers and filtration around product-contact, contamination and packaging-process risk.
General Industry
Compressed Air Treatment for Pneumatic Tools
Protect tools from water, corrosion, pressure loss and contamination.
Controls
Compressed Air Treatment for Instrumentation
Support reliable valves, actuators and controls with dry, clean air.
Medical
Compressed Air Treatment for Medical Applications
Review air-quality, verification, reliability and application-specific planning requirements.
Application Hub
Compare All Industry Applications
Compare common risks, dryer priorities and filtration requirements across all six application guides.
Maintenance & Troubleshooting
Keep Air Treatment Equipment Performing
Use preventive maintenance and symptom-based troubleshooting to protect dew point and pressure.
Checklist
Refrigerated Air Dryer Maintenance Checklist
Inspect condensers, drains, filters, alarms and operating conditions.
Troubleshooting
Air Dryer Troubleshooting Guide
Diagnose water downstream, high dew point, alarms and pressure drop.
Drainage
How Automatic Drains Work
Understand drain failure, leakage, clogging and condensate removal.
Filtration
How Coalescing Filters Work
Learn how element condition and drainage affect aerosol removal.
Brand Guides
Compare Atlas Copco and Quincy Air Dryers
Review manufacturer-specific dryer options and compare exact models using corrected operating conditions.
Atlas Copco
Atlas Copco Air Dryer Buying Guide
Compare Atlas Copco refrigerated and desiccant dryer technologies.
Quincy
Quincy Air Dryer Buying Guide
Compare Quincy refrigerated and desiccant air dryer options.
Comparison
Atlas Copco vs. Quincy Air Dryers
Compare corrected capacity, dew point, controls, service and lifecycle cost.
Build the Right Treatment Train
Start with the air-quality requirement, not the equipment.
Define the pressure dew point, contaminants, peak CFM, operating pressure and process risk before selecting a dryer or filter. The best treatment system meets the requirement without unnecessary pressure drop or energy use.
Information to Gather Before Sizing
- Maximum and normal airflow in CFM
- Operating pressure
- Maximum compressor discharge or dryer inlet temperature
- Maximum ambient temperature
- Required pressure dew point
- Available voltage and installation location
- Application and contamination sensitivity
Related Product Categories
Shop Compressed Air Treatment Equipment
Move from education to equipment selection with the primary air-treatment categories.
Air DryersBrowse refrigerated and desiccant compressed air dryers.Shop now →Refrigerated DryersShop general-purpose refrigerated air dryers.Shop now →Desiccant DryersShop low-dew-point desiccant air dryers.Shop now →Compressed Air FiltersBrowse particulate and coalescing filtration.Shop now →Dryers & FiltersShop the complete air-treatment category.Shop now →Replacement DesiccantsBrowse activated alumina and molecular sieve.Shop now →
Frequently Asked Questions
Compressed Air Treatment FAQs
Quick answers to common dryer, filter, dew point and air-quality questions.
What compressed air treatment is typically needed for CNC machines?
CNC systems commonly use bulk-water separation, automatic drains, receiver storage, particulate and coalescing filtration, and an air dryer selected for the operating environment. Sensitive spindle-purge or air-bearing applications may also require point-of-use treatment.
Where can I compare air treatment requirements by industry?
Use the Compressed Air Treatment Applications Hub to compare common risks and treatment priorities for CNC machining, paint booths, food packaging, instrumentation, medical applications and pneumatic tools.
What is compressed air treatment?
Compressed air treatment is the process of removing water, oil, particles and other contaminants from compressed air so it meets equipment and process requirements.
What equipment is used to treat compressed air?
A complete system may include an aftercooler, water separator, receiver, automatic drains, particulate filters, coalescing filters, an air dryer and condensate treatment.
Should I choose a refrigerated or desiccant air dryer?
Refrigerated dryers are common for general indoor plant air. Desiccant dryers are used when the application requires a significantly lower pressure dew point or when piping may be exposed to freezing temperatures.
How do I size a compressed air dryer?
Use peak airflow and apply the manufacturer's correction factors for pressure, inlet temperature and ambient temperature. Do not select a dryer by nominal CFM alone.
What is pressure dew point?
Pressure dew point is the temperature at which water vapor begins to condense at the compressed air system pressure.
What does ISO 8573 mean?
ISO 8573 is a family of standards used to classify compressed air purity and test contaminants such as particles, water and oil.
Does an air dryer remove oil and particles?
An air dryer primarily controls moisture. Oil aerosols and particles require correctly selected compressed air filters.
Where should I start if water is reaching my equipment?
Check condensate drains, peak airflow, dryer operating conditions, filter differential pressure and the delivered pressure dew point.
Need Help Designing Your Air Treatment System?
Our compressed air specialists can help you compare dryers, filters, separators, drains and storage using your actual airflow, pressure, temperature and air-quality requirements.
