Particle and Desiccant Breathers

The Particle and Desiccant Breathers from STAUFF are the reliable solution for removing moisture and dirt particles from the incoming air and thus extending the service life of hydraulic fluids and system components. They prevent condensation caused by temperature fluctuations and reduce the ageing process of the fluid - a decisive contribution to the operational reliability and efficiency of hydraulic systems.

The dehumidifiers guide the incoming air through several stages:

1. Coarse filter removes larger particles.
2. Dryer material binds moisture and prevents condensation.
3. Fine filter element (e.g. glass fibre fleece) filters the smallest dirt particles down to 3 μm.

Optional integrated non-return valves isolate the dryer material from the atmosphere outside the ventilation and thus extend the service life. The degree of saturation of the dryer material is indicated by a colour change (standard: red → orange). With the SDB and SDBL series, the dryer material and filter element can be easily replaced, while the SVDB series is replaced as a complete unit.

Products in the SDB series are particularly stable and robust for heavy-duty applications. The SDBL series is the all-rounder or flexible all-rounder: compact with a low overall height, many adaptation options and screw-in accessories, such as inserts for oil separation. The programme is complemented by the SVDB, which is simple in design, inexpensive and easy to replace: dispose of the old component, screw on the new one.

The Particle and Desiccant Breathers are used wherever hydraulic tanks need to be ventilated without allowing moisture or dirt to penetrate. As a general rule, every hydraulic tank must be ventilated because the volume of hydraulic oil is constantly changing during operation. The type of ventilation required depends largely on the environment.

In rather dry climate zones - such as typical factory halls in Central Europe - the separation of solid particles such as dust takes centre stage. Classic ventilation filters are suitable for this. However, the more humid the ambient air is, the more important it is to dehumidify the intake air in order to reliably prevent condensation in the tank and the associated damage.

Typical locations for ventilation filters and dehumidifiers:

• Stationary hydraulic systems

• Mobile machines and vehicles

• Industrial units and gearboxes

• Wind turbines (ventilation of large dry gearboxes)

• Ship and lock hydraulics

• Bulk handling, e.g. storage tanks for sensitive media

• Paper industry and other humid environments

• Mining - especially mobile machines with highly fluctuating loads

Applications outside of classic hydraulics:

As with many STAUFF components, use is not limited to hydraulics. The compact air dryers are also used in other areas, including

• Bulk handling: to protect sensitive media in storage tanks

• Gearboxes for large wind turbines: where quality and long maintenance intervals are crucial

• Industrial plants in general that use storage or process containers that need to be kept dry

STAUFF solutions are particularly impressive where service work is difficult to access or expensive - for example on wind turbines - thanks to their high reliability and low maintenance requirements.

Whether a tank dehumidifier is required is primarily determined by the relative humidity at the place of use and the criticality of the application.

Tank dehumidifiers are particularly important:

• if the systems are operated in a humid environment

• if there is a risk of moisture leading to corrosion, oil ageing or a drop in performance

• when systems are difficult to reach and low-maintenance long-term operation is required (e.g. wind power)

In dry environments, a conventional ventilation filter, which primarily removes dust and solid impurities from the air, is often sufficient.

The demand for tank dehumidifiers varies greatly geographically. STAUFF branches in regions with high humidity - such as Brazil, India, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam or Singapore - therefore sell proportionally significantly more dehumidifiers than branches in drier regions of Europe. The reason: the closer the degree of air saturation is to the maximum, the more moisture would enter the hydraulic system when the tank breathes.