Air Dehydrating Breathers
threaded and/or flanged connection, with mechanical valve
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Air dehydrating breathers are transparent hollow cylinder tubes which contain chemically pure silicium salt (silicagel) with coloured indicator. The air breathed inside the transformer due to the thermal contraction of the oil mass, passes through the silicagel.
The silicagel absorbs the humidity, indicating the saturation degree by changing colour as follows:
ORANGE silicagel completely dry
GREEN silicagel saturated with humidity
The salt contained in the breather, when saturated, may be easily removed and regenerated by heating it, inside a ventilated oven, at 120° – 150°C, until the colour becomes orange again.
The specific property of the silicagel is its high absorption power of humidity. This is total until the salt has absorbed water for about 15% of its weight, and saturation is reached when the salt has absorbed water for 30 to 40 % of its weight.
2. TECHNICAL FEATURES
The upper and lower parts are made in a non-porous corrosion-proof aluminium alloy casting. The hollow cylinder is made of plexiglas and it is protected by a stainless steel cylinder, with windows which allow the visual control of the silicagel colour.
On the bottom side of the breather, a mechanical valve prevents continuous air contact with the silicagel and allows the air to pass in both direction (inlet or outlet) only when there is pressure deficiency or excess inside the transformer.
Pressure values for air passage into the dehumidifier are: 0.003 kg/cm2 inlet , or 0.005 kg/cm2 outlet
The hollow container and the mechanical valve are separated by a drilled plate with a labyrinth system, which have the double purpose of diffusing inlet air uniformly, and of avoiding that any salt dust may damage the closing system.
3. PROTECTION OF OUTER SURFACES
Outer surfaces in aluminium alloy are covered with a double coat of high protective paint against all weather conditions, and temperature between – 40°C and + 100°C. All the screws are made in mild steel zinkplated; upon request in stainless steel.
Download full catalogue: VC-breather-full-catalogue.pdf
VCP breather 3600 with flange adaptor 3538: VC-breather-3600-3538.pdf