BENDIX BW2234 Manuale Utente

Pagina di 14
4
AIR DRYER AND RESERVOIR SYSTEM 
OPERATION:
 GENERAL
The Bendix
®
 AD-IS
®
 air dryer and reservoir system 
alternates between two modes or “cycles” during operation: 
the  Charge Cycle and the Purge Cycle. The following 
describes  these “cycles” of operation.
CHARGE CYCLE 
(Refer to Figure 2.)
When the compressor is running loaded (compressing air), 
compressed air fl ows through the compressor discharge 
line to the inlet (1/IN) port of the air dryer body.  The 
compressed air often includes contaminates such as oil, 
oil vapor, water, and water vapor.
Traveling through the discharge line and into the air dryer, 
the temperature of the compressed air falls, causing 
some of the contaminants to condense and drop to the 
bottom of the air dryer and purge valve assembly
 These 
contaminants are ready to be expelled at the next purge 
cycle.
 
 The air then fl ows into the desiccant cartridge, 
where it fl ows through an oil separator—or coalescing fi lter 
if equipped with a PuraGuard
®
 oil coalescing cartridge—
which removes water in liquid form as well as liquid oil and 
solid contaminants.
Air then fl ows into the desiccant drying bed and becomes 
progressively more dry as water vapor adheres to the 
desiccant material in a process known as adsorption.
Dry air exits the desiccant cartridge, through the center of 
the base assembly, then fl ows to the delivery check valve 
and through an orifi ce and into the purge reservoir.  The 
delivery check valve opens, supplying air to the pressure 
protection valves (A) through (D) simultaneously, the 
safety valve, and also to the reservoir port of the attached 
governor.  The purge reservoir fi lls, storing air that will be 
used to regenerate the desiccant during the purge cycle.  
This air is available to supply downstream components 
during the charge mode.
When the air pressure reaches approximately 106 psi, the 
four pressure protection valves will open and air will be 
supplied to the primary reservoir, secondary reservoir, and 
accessories.  If the pressure protection valves are preset 
to different values the valves will open—in order of lowest 
setting to highest setting—when charging a fl at system.  
The air dryer and purge reservoir will remain in the charge 
cycle until the air brake system pressure builds to the 
governor cut-out setting of approximately 130 psi.
PURGE CYCLE 
(Refer to Figure 3.)
When air brake system pressure reaches the cut-out setting 
of the governor, the governor unloads the compressor 
activating the purge cycle of the air dryer and reservoir. 
The governor unloads the compressor by allowing air 
pressure to fi ll the line leading to the compressor unloader 
mechanism.  This suspends the delivery of compressed air 
to the AD-IS
®
 air dryer and reservoir system.
Similarly, the governor also supplies air pressure to the air 
dryer. The pressure also moves the air dryer purge piston 
down, opening the purge valve to atmosphere and closing 
off the compressor air supply to the turbo cut-off valve 
(covered in the Turbo Cut-off Feature section of this piece).  
Water and contaminants captured are expelled immediately 
when the purge valve opens.  In addition, air—which 
was  fl owing through the desiccant cartridge—changes 
direction and begins to fl ow toward the open purge valve.  
Contaminants collected by the air dryer are removed by 
air fl owing from the purge reservoir through the desiccant 
drying bed to the open purge valve.
The initial purge and desiccant cartridge decompression 
lasts only a few seconds, evidenced by an audible burst 
of air at the air dryer exhaust.
The actual regeneration of the desiccant drying bed begins 
as dry air from the purge reservoir fl ows through the purge 
orifi ce into the desiccant bed.  Pressurized air from the 
purge reservoir expands after passing through the purge 
orifi ce; its pressure lowers and its volume increases.  The 
fl ow of dry air through the drying bed regenerates the 
desiccant material by removing any water vapor adhering 
to it.  Approximately 30 seconds are required for the entire 
contents of the purge reservoir of an AD-IS air dryer and 
reservoir system to fl ow through the desiccant drying bed.
The delivery check valve assembly prevents air pressure 
in the brake system from returning to the air dryer during 
the purge cycle. After the purge cycle is complete, the air 
dryer and reservoir system is ready for the next charge 
cycle to begin.
TURBO CUT-OFF FEATURE 
(Refer to Figure 3.)
The primary function of the turbo cut-off valve is to prevent 
loss of engine turbocharger air pressure through the 
AD-IS
 
air dryer when the dryer is in the purge mode.
At the onset of the purge cycle, the downward travel of the 
purge piston is stopped when the turbo cut-off valve (the 
tapered portion of purge piston) contacts its mating metal 
seat in the purge valve housing.  With the turbo cut-off 
valve seated (in the closed position), air in the compressor 
discharge line—as well as the AD-IS air dryer inlet port—
cannot enter the air dryer. By completing these actions, 
the turbo cut-off effectively maintains turbo charger boost 
pressure to the engine.