# Refrigeration or adsorption dryer for medical air?

**What is the difference between a refrigeration dryer and an adsorption dryer?**

A refrigeration dryer cools compressed air so its water condenses and drains away; an adsorption dryer passes the air through a desiccant and reaches much lower dew points.

In the Ultra Controlo range, ULTRASEC is the refrigeration dryer, with an aluminium heat exchanger that accepts inlet air up to 70 °C. ULTRADRY is the adsorption dryer, with a pressure dew point of −40 °C to −70 °C, desiccant in easy-change cartridges, a coalescing filter at the inlet and a dust filter at the outlet.

## Sources

- [Ultra Controlo, Medical gas answers: ULTRASEC and ULTRADRY datasheets.](https://www.ultracontrolo.com/medical-gas-answers#refrigeration-vs-adsorption-dryer)
- [ultracontrolo.com: ULTRASEC](https://www.ultracontrolo.com/products/ultrasec)
- [ultracontrolo.com: ULTRADRY](https://www.ultracontrolo.com/products/ultradry)

Reviewed: 2026-10-22. Ultra Controlo engineering. https://library.ultracontrolo.com/answers/refrigeration-vs-adsorption-dryer/