What Are DES-CASE Extended Series Desiccant Breathers?
DES-CASE Extended Series breathers (DC-EX-1 through DC-EX-4) are high-airflow, long-lasting desiccant breathers with integrated check-valve technology designed for tank farms, large gearboxes, wind turbines, and remote applications. They filter incoming air to 3 μm absolute and adsorb moisture using silica gel desiccant that changes color from blue to pink when saturated — providing a clear visual service indicator without disassembly.
The Extended Series mounts via a 1-inch Female NPT (FNPT) thread and operates across a temperature range of -20°F to 200°F (-29°C to 93°C), making it suitable for both cold-climate storage and high-ambient industrial environments.
How Does the Check-Valve Technology Work?
The integrated check valve cracks at 0.1 psi (0.007 bar), allowing the breather to open only when there is meaningful pressure differential — preventing unnecessary desiccant exposure to humid ambient air during idle periods. This extends desiccant service life in applications where tanks breathe infrequently, such as remote storage or low-cycle gearboxes.
Maximum airflow at 1 psi differential pressure ranges from 27 cfm (765 l/min) for the DC-EX-1 down to 24 cfm (680 l/min) for the DC-EX-4 — a modest reduction as desiccant volume increases. Maximum reservoir fluid flow or displacement follows the same pattern, from 202 gpm for DC-EX-1 to 180 gpm for DC-EX-4.
What Size Extended Series Breather Do You Need?
DES-CASE provides application-based sizing guidelines. The correct model depends on reservoir type, volume, humidity level, airflow frequency, and ambient temperature. The four models cover the following general ranges:
- DC-EX-1: Gearbox/pump/storage tanks up to 400 gal (1,514 L); hydraulic/lube reservoirs up to 100 gal (379 L); 1.2 lbs (544 g) desiccant; water capacity 7.7 fl oz (228 ml)
- DC-EX-2: Gearbox/storage up to 600 gal (2,271 L); hydraulic up to 200 gal (757 L); 2.2 lbs (998 g) desiccant; water capacity 14.1 fl oz (417 ml)
- DC-EX-3: Gearbox/storage up to 800 gal (3,028 L); hydraulic up to 300 gal (1,136 L); 3.2 lbs (1,452 g) desiccant; water capacity 20.5 fl oz (606 ml)
- DC-EX-4: Gearbox/storage up to 1,000 gal (3,785 L); hydraulic up to 400 gal (1,514 L); 4.2 lbs (1,905 g) desiccant; water capacity 27.0 fl oz (798 ml)
DES-CASE notes that larger applications and special circumstances require more thorough analysis; contact Des-Case technical support for custom sizing.
What Materials and Chemical Compatibility Does the Extended Series Offer?
The housing combines Nylon 6/6 with 30% glass fill, polycarbonate, polypropylene, and silicone for structural durability. Seals are EPDM. Filter media is polyester and polyurethane; the hydrophilic desiccant media is silica gel.
The Extended Series is compatible with all mineral oils, most synthetic oils, and diesel fuels. For other fluid types — including specialty synthetics or aggressive chemicals — DES-CASE recommends contacting their technical support team directly before installation.
What Industries and Applications Use the Extended Series?
Typical applications span storage tanks, large gearboxes, wind turbines, and remote installations where high water adsorption capacity and infrequent service intervals are priorities. Industries listed by DES-CASE include wind energy, aviation, manufacturing, pulp and paper, petrochemical, mining, and general storage.
The check-valve design is particularly well suited to tank farm environments where multiple large-volume reservoirs cycle air slowly — the low cracking pressure of 0.1 psi ensures the breather activates reliably without restricting normal tank breathing.
Summary
- DES-CASE Extended Series breathers filter to 3 μm absolute with a check valve cracking at 0.1 psi (0.007 bar).
- Four models (DC-EX-1 through DC-EX-4) scale from 400 to 1,000 gal for gearbox/storage tanks and 100 to 400 gal for hydraulic reservoirs.
- Desiccant capacity ranges from 1.2 lbs to 4.2 lbs with water adsorption up to 27.0 fl oz (798 ml) on the DC-EX-4.
- Operating temperature range is -20°F to 200°F; housing is Nylon 6/6 glass-filled with EPDM seals.
- Compatible with mineral oils, most synthetics, and diesel fuels; contact DES-CASE for specialty chemical compatibility.
Products discussed in this episode
- Des-Case DC-EX-1 Desiccant Breather
- Des-Case DC-EX-2 Desiccant Breather
- DES-CASE Des-Case DC-EX-3 Desiccant Breather
- Des-Case DC-EX-4 Desiccant Breather
Browse all DES-CASE products on PE Energy Industrial Supply.
Related episodes
- DES-CASE KL Series Desiccant Breathers: How Steel Standpipe Design Handles Vibration and Harsh Environments
- DES-CASE Rebuildable Steel Breathers: How to Size and Rebuild RS-Series for Bulk Storage
- DES-CASE TDB Series Desiccant Breathers: How ZR Gel and 3 µm Filtration Protect Hydraulic Systems