Nitrogen Generation Systems Deliver Low-Cost Nitrogen
High-purity nitrogen is used in a variety of applications throughout the manufacturing industry, but delivery of nitrogen in the form of dewars, bulk liquid N2 or high-pressure compressed gas cylinders is costly, unsafe and requires reliance upon a third-party supplier. For these reasons, many users are converting from traditional nitrogen delivery to on-site nitrogen generation via industrial nitrogen generators as today’s nitrogen generation systems provide a safe, reliable, flexible, low-cost solution.
What is a Nitrogen Generator?
Nitrogen generators, or N2 generators, are used in industrial applications to produce an on-site continuous supply of high-purity or ultra-high purity nitrogen, which can be utilized to improve product or process quality, provide an oxygen-free process or laboratory environment or prevent combustion in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, medical device manufacturing, electronics and other industries.
Using an existing compressed air system, nitrogen generators produce a consistent supply of nitrogen gas in-house by separating the nitrogen from the surrounding air, eliminating the need to purchase liquid nitrogen or pressurized cylinders from third-party suppliers who may subject customers to lengthy procurement processes, inflexible delivery schedules and unpredictable pricing.
Industrial nitrogen generators are available in two basic system types, as follows:
Pressure swing absorption nitrogen generators: This type of N2 generator features two towers, one for absorption and one for regeneration. Air from the compressor enters the absorption tower and contacts an adsorbent material, such as granular activated carbon, which captures the nitrogen and allows the other components of the air to pass through. The absorbed nitrogen is extracted by reducing system pressure. Capable of producing 99.999% pure nitrogen, this type of nitrogen generator is used in food, electronics, medical device manufacturing, pharmaceutical and other industries where high-purity or ultra-high purity nitrogen is in demand.
Membrane nitrogen generators: Hollow fiber membranes are used for nitrogen gas separation in this type of N2 generator. Compressed air is passed over highly selective membrane materials, which allow the nitrogen to pass through, but trap oxygen, water vapor, other gases and contaminants. This type of nitrogen generation system can achieve nitrogen gas purities of up to 99.95% per volume.
8 Industrial Applications for Nitrogen Generation Systems
Because industrial nitrogen generators produce a reliable source of high-purity oxygen on-site in a safe, flexible and cost-effective way, there are many applications that benefit from purchasing a nitrogen generation system.
Here’s a look at eight industries that use N2 generators:
Food and Beverage
Food and beverage packagers are among the most common users of on-site nitrogen generators. The produced high-purity nitrogen gas is used to control the oxygen levels in packaging for perishable foods such as meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts and dairy products to prevent spoilage and provide a cushion during transportation and storage. Nitrogen is also used for beverage storage and dispensing in breweries and distilleries.
Plastics and Injection Molding
Nitrogen generators are used by plastic and injection molders to help maintain a controlled, low-oxygen atmosphere during the process, which helps improve product quality
Electronics
Electronics manufacturers can benefit from on-site nitrogen generators during the soldering process to protect electronic components from oxidation during assembly.
Medical Device Manufacturing
Nitrogen generators provide inert gas used to displace oxygen and create a protective atmosphere during packaging and manufacturing of medical devices to prevent oxidation of materials and maintain sterility.
Chemical Processing
Many chemical processors rely on on-site nitrogen generators as nitrogen is used to blanket chemical tanks to prevent fires and explosions in dangerous atmospheres and when handling volatile materials.
Heat Treating
Many heat treaters and metal processors use N2 generators to achieve a neutral atmosphere during the annealing process in an effort to prevent oxidation and weak metallurgies.
Laboratories
In most labs, the testing environment must be free of humidity and oxygen, so many laboratories employ lab nitrogen generators to ensure the accuracy of their research.
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical manufacturers often employ nitrogen generation systems in blanketing, inerting and sparging applications to reduce moisture and oxygen in processing and packaging applications. Nitrogen may also be used in the preparation of biological specimens.
The Benefits of Industrial Nitrogen Generation Systems
Having an on-site nitrogen generator provides manufacturers with a steady and cost-effective supply of high-purity nitrogen that can be used to improve product and process quality and/or ensure safety. But there are additional benefits, including:
- Stable nitrogen costs
- A sustainable and environmentally friendly source of nitrogen
- Eliminating reliance upon a third-party supplier
- A stable, continuous, on-demand supply of nitrogen from an existing compressed air system
- Negating tank rental fees and tank storage issues
- Increasing facility safety
Generating your own nitrogen via an on-site nitrogen generator provides a flexible and reliable source of inert gas without the unpredictable pricing, procurement and delivery delays and tank rental fees typical of third-party nitrogen suppliers. To learn more about how an in-house nitrogen generation system can improve your product or process quality and ensure safety in your industrial manufacturing application, please contact the experts at JHFOSTER.