They are basically an oversize hairdryer, passing a high volume of air through a very hot coil.
How do Hand Dryers Work
Yes there are portable hand dryers out there that you can tote around anywhere. Most of these however are designed more for nails but can be used for hands as well.
No, unfortunately Xlerator hand dryers are not available to purchase in stores. You can contact the manufacturer directly to order one of their hand dryers.
Nextag has a list of over 1300 hand dryers to choose from. You can compare prices as well as reviews at this website; www.nextag.com/hand-dryers/stores-html
Bobrick is a good brand for hand dryers. However, there are other brands in the market for hand dryers which are also respected in the industry like Dyson and World Dryer.
Amazon.com carries a few air hand dryers, with one as low as $45. Sears and several office supplies stores also carry hand dryers, albeit they may be pricier.
The bobrick hand dryers are one of the most well used hand dryers on the market. You can find a great review at the website Appliancereviews.com.
Hand dryers can be more economical in the long run provided that they are energy efficient. You should show your employer the energy efficient models.
There is a chance, but modern hand dryers have fail-safes that shut down the device if it overheats.
Hand dryers for restaurants can be found at many online stores that specialize in hand dryers, such as www.handdryerworld, or www.webstaurant.com. You can also purchase them at your local commercial restaurant supply store. There are several online retailers for hand dryers,the electric kind are considered to be more eco friendly. The would suggest ordering from a reputable retailer like www.Handdryersandmore.com . Contact the business in your area that deals in restaurant FFE: furniture, fixtures, equipment. If it doesn't offer hand-dryers, it can surely direct you to the party in your area that does.
There are some air hand dryers for personal use, but you'll have to buy them through commercial channels, and they won't be cheap when not bought in bulk.
With hand-driers there is no friction or rubbing (as there would be with a towel).